Musical Theatre Coach Reacts (BRING HIM HOME, Colm Wilkinson & Alfie Boe) Les Mis 

Saw Alfie sing at the Les Mis Concert last summer at The Gielgud Theatre. Just as Alfie walked forward tp sing, a reverent hush fell over the theatre. You could have heard a pin drop. He held the audience spellbound, we could barely breathe it was so touching and beautiful. The was a slight pause after the last note of ...home and then we all stood to applaud. The theatre erupted. It’s one of those magical moments that will stay with you for the rest of your life. Afterwards, he was so gracious at the stage door. Signing autographs and posing with fans for photos. I asked for a hug for a fellow northerner, and he obliged! Fabulous day with superb memories.

Well spoken. It’s definitely not about who did it best; it’s about appreciating both performances for their contributions to the role.

Here we go again. The trademark Marc Daniel Patrick "this performance is a masterpiece so I'm going to smile helplessly like a lovestruck Marius seeing Cosette" smile. What a mood. That's the expression on my face the entire time when I listen to either Colm Wilkinson or Alfie Boe.

I saw Colm opening night in NYC. This song literally stopped the show. It took a long time for us to finally stop clapping, sit down and let the show go on. Grown men were sobbing. I so enjoy seeing that look on your face of appreciation and respect for the music and the artists. Thanks for making this. Also, the explanation of the emotions during the Alfie version was so spot-on. Please, please can you do Philip Quast doing STARS and George Hearn doing MY FRIENDS from Sweeney Todd. Pleeeese

You have to listen to the encore performance of the 25th. It has both men singing, plus to more amazing men, a quartet of this song. It is heart stopping! When Alfie comes in, your mouth will drop. So good. The whole song. So freaking good.

Colm Wilkinson could sing a page of the phonebook and make me cry.

For me, listing to Alfie is "perfect" singing, but listing to Colm "hurts"... I feel the pain... It truly sounds like pleading to me, where-as (for me) Alfie is "just" putting on a phenomenal vocal performance. Amazing to hear, but I really feel Colm. Both of them are amazing, but its Colm for me.

Every time I hear Colm singing this… man, I just love it. Best Valjean ever

Alfie Boe's singing was so effortless, so elegant and airy. Especially the ending. It was just so beautiful

I flew to London just to hear Alfie sing! It was my birthday present to myself 10 years ago!

I had the utterly transformative experience seeing Colm during his short reprise of the role in Toronto. Front row center! I will never, ever forget it!

Vocally Alfie just slays my life every time. The person time I heard him sing it I cried. He is so precise and internal the way he sings. This is my favorite musical theater that I’ve sang so many times. Alfie inspires me and I always want to do it justice every time I sing it, partly because of him

What I personally enjoyed so much about both performances of this song is the delicate tenderness that each portrayed. It felt like being privy to a private moment of prayer, fear, hope, worry, tenderness, etc. . . . something that isn't portrayed by men very often either onscreen or off in reality. So it felt like a holy moment. And it was.

Thank you so much for your comments and analysis. This is absolutely one of my favorite songs in musical theater! I've seen Les Mis over thirty times on Broadway and had the pleasure of seeing a performance by Colm Wilkinson as Jean Valjean. He's absolutely amazing. I've never seen Alfie Boe play the part, but his performance is superb as well. Another vocalist I've seen in person is Ramin Karimloo who had me in tears even after seeing this song performed so many times. I'm constantly blown away by the talent, artistry, and magnificence of these singers. Your analysis reminds me that they've also worked incredibly hard to perfect their craft and that it takes a singular determination. Thank you. On another note...your facial expressions make me smile and sometimes crack up because I feel their music through you. It's like watching a kid in a candy store. I love it!

You should analyze Ramin Karimloo singing “Til I Hear You Sing” and “Bring Him Home”

Thank you for showing Alfie's interpretation of 'Bring Him Home'.

Very lucky to see Alfie Boe sing “Bring Him Home” with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir several years. He was so intimate and powerful.

Wilkinson’s performance always bring tears to my eyes, perhaps, that’s what I feel a prayer in such a hopeless situation should be?

Every time I watch Alfie sing this, I get something in my eyes.

I love Colm's raspy, earthy take most, but Alfie's tone is so pure, it just draws you in

Alfie's eyes just touch my soul and break my heart all at once.

I like how you gave us a small history lesson with this one. This song gives me goosebumps! Literal shivers up my spine each time I hear it. But seeing it live or watching someone perform it literally stops my heart...

Looks at that one dislike: must be Javert!

Colm Wilkinson totally naiks the perfect combination and transmiting clearly and powerfully Jean Valjean. Both are great singers, Colm just makee you really feel the song.

The lyrics really hit home when Alfie sings this song, he really puts the emotions into it. I also think by not over distorting the vowels you can believe this is a man genuinely praying to God and not just giving a concert performance.

This song makes me cry every single time.

I was so lucky to see Alfie Boe perform this role in London in 2011. I had seen this show on TV a few months before the show and I thought I was prepared to see it live ... I wasn’t! He was magnificent and I cried throughout the entire song. I had seen Les Mis on stage three times before but nothing will compare to seeing Alfie’s performance.

Whether Colm or Alfie, the performance is timeless and so visceral. What is much more moving to me are the facial expressions of Marc. To watch him watching the performances is enough to make me feel his emotions...enough to bring tears.

See, now I want to see you try to dissect the Four Valjeans version from the end of the 25th Anniversary concert. (Colm can still hold that high note for days!)

Colm was my first Jean Valjean & with Philip Quast as Javert in the 10th Anniv Performance was perfection to me. I believe Cameron Macintosh called it his dream cast. But Alfie Boe was also perfect for the 25th anniversary performance. Very dramatic, vocally superior, mesmerising.

i was trying to think of how alfie's voice made me feel when he sings this song and i remembered it as soon as i heard his voice it makes me ASCEND that is the only way i could describe it literally sounds like something you would hear in a church or in heaven idk

This song was added to Les Miserables for Him, before it was not in the show and they added it to suit his voice this is why he sings it the best.

From the first time I heard him sing, I have loved Alfie Boe's beautiful voice. He gets so into the moment in this song, and just owns it. It comes from his very soul.

I saw Wilkinson in the London production. I’ll ever forget it or him. He was magnificent! I couldn’t imagine anyone else in this role until I saw Boe. You’re right: two different men, two different deliveries, two incredible performances. So glad these videos are available. I also enjoyed watching you watching them!

I saw an interview with Alfie Boe he said he went into a "trance" as he performed and that he was startled to see the audience as he finished song.

Ok but I need to see that dreamy admiration look while listening to the 4 tenors during the 25th anniversary...

i've heard Alfie Boe singing live and he's absolutly amazing, but Colm Wilkinson will be always my Valjean.

Colm used to be my favourite and then I saw Alfie do this in London and fell in love with his version.

Empty Chairs at Empty Tables sung by Michael Ball would be awesome to see too

Have you ever done the video of the quartet of this song, it's Alfie Boe and Colm and two others and it's AMAZING

As a classically trained singer, Alfie Boe’s approach to the “o” vowel in home. Over opening can cause stress in muscles where you don’t want it to be. A closed vowel still has plenty of acoustic space for the sound to be created. Bear in mind, Alfie does not need a microphone. He’s sung over orchestras in opera houses his entire career.

Colm and Alfie's renditions were unique and great. Colm's raw emotion in every note was powerful and holds you entranced with each one. Alfie's rendition was smooth, subtle, yet powerful. His transition from note to note was so pure and just blended perfectly till the last note. Both were amazing. So grateful to have witnessed both.

Please react to Philip Quast singing Javert's Suicide or Stars in the 10th Anniversarie of Les Mis!!!

I will probably always think of Colm as "my Valjean". My introduction to Les Mis was the 10th anniversary concert so those performers will always hold a special place in my heart. While I do like Alfie, and think he has a fantastic and powerful voice, in my opinion Colm is the better actor. Also... Bring Him Home was written specifically for Colm - that's pretty hard to compete with.

Alfie gets that sound by perfectly placing the voice in the mask of his face. If you watch closely you can see him subtlety raising his eye brows and placing his voice through the mask and forehead. Colm doesn't, he has a little more tension in the larynx so he has to open his mouth more to get the resonance and volume. Alfie's technique is perfect. I'm not slamming Wilkinson in anyway, his approach is more pop whereas Alfie is more classical/operatic.

I would love to see The Confrontation from Les Mis, every performance is different and there is sure a lot to unpack

Wilkinson and Alfie Boe are both too good! it’s so hard to choose one over the other, but i have to say that Alfie made me fall in love with this song i LOVE his interpretation!

I'm so pleased that you decided Alfie Boe was good enough for your video.

I've given my thumbs up before even seeing the video. I'm so excited. I can't wait. Love your channel, Marc.

That would be Cameron Macintosh, not MacIntyre

Look it up Marc , bring him home was not in the original composition it was added due to Colms range . At the time you did not get opera singers in for musicals . Colm is the god of musical singing not opera. His voice, his body language he is just amazing brings me to tears

I love how you explain that they have their own interpretations and one isn’t the winner over another. God given talentsis what it is , plus the desire in each singer/actor to practice and achieve. Les Miz is my all time favorite, even though I love most musicals. I don’t see how Les Miz can ever be topped! I love your show, too. You feel each song, and you know each one deep in your heart. I would love to see you coach a singer.

Funny that Alfie's arm movement reminded you of Jesus on the cross. Your comments about the song being "the prayer" and the "You can take, you can give" lyric reminded me of "Gethsemane" from JCS. Never made that connection before.

I love Marc Daniel Patrick's insights -- and the comments on this page. One of my favorite Bring Him Home performances by Alfie occurred when he was on Broadway and did a guest appearance on The Today Show. He sang for hosts Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotbe. Kathie Lee (as a singer herself) was blown away. It's really hard to find on youtube but it does exist.

I saw Les Miserables Staged Concert at the Gielgud Theatre with outstanding Mr Alfie Boe last August 28th and it was absolutely fantastic! A memory for the rest of my life 🎼🎵🎶🎶🎵

Colm will always be the benchmark, especially since the song was written by/for his voice and delivery. Look up the video on here “Les Miserables - The Writing of “Bring Him Home”” for the creation story of this specific number in the show and how instrumental Colm was to its creation.

Alfie Bowe is able to get that ‘crystal clear tone without opening his mouth much’ because he’s developed a mature head voice. Head voice is something of a lost art because no one teaches it. His tone is absolute perfection as it’s a marriage of athletic breath support and head voice.

I love them both so so much with different interpretations of the song however!!!.... I’d be voting for Alfie on this with his meek internal feelings almost into crying. His acting comes out of his voice that’s almost or is GOLDEN. He is telling the audience that he IS Valjean himself. He is talking to God. Anyway, I’m not being demanding here but if you may review the proper song for my own satisfaction: “Stars” with Philip Quast vs Norm Lewis

I saw Alfie Boe reprise his role as Valjean last summer in the concert they did on West End, in person his voice is just so rich and envelopes you. Michael Ball played opposite as Javert and it was INCREDIBLE. All the hairs on my arms stood on end. Love your videos Marc!

I literally cried everytime Alfie sing and I stop just to listen to your comment and cried again when you play the video... the way he sing this song hit so hard.. I sing this to my self when my father was sick... so i love how he interpreted the song like he’s praying to God... like hmmm 🥺🥺

Both different but so beautiful. So lucky to have seen Colm’s concert twice before COVID. He still sang this and Music of the Night as great as when he was on stage performing as Valjean and the Phantom.

Thanks so much for taking my suggestion! I love Colm's interpretation (he's so obviously Irish in his pronunciations) and it totally has an amazing impact and influence on all future Valjeans. For me, its just as you said. Colm is very physical in his performance, using those physical queues to drive the emotion. Alfie is almost the opposite. He's using the emotion to drive the physical queues. When I am singing myself (not well but passionate) and I am overcome by the emotion of a song, I will often close my eyes to really internalize that feeling. This may be why his performance resonates so much with me. It also makes the "eye-contact" he does make even more poignant and powerful. I loved watching this an appreciating it through new eyes. You hit on a lot of points I always feel watching these performances. Keep up the great videos!

I could never articulate this so well, but you grasp my emotion. So well said!!

Why do you do this to me!? I opened RU-vid and was so excited to watch.... and it’s 19 hours away

Wilkinson definitely has a very unique sound because of his diction. And his diction drives me up the wall. His vowels wander and shift throughout the note. He makes diphthongs and triphthongs out of words that don’t have them. I guess it may be his accent, but there are correct ways of singing words according to IPA. It’s a very pretty sound, and he makes this sound effortless. As to how Alfie can create so much sound with his mouth less open, I think it’s because he’s employing a soprano like dome and float. Tenors usually hook and cover (think Franco Corelli); sopranos dome and float (thing Monserrat Caballe). It’s allowing him to spin the sound through a smaller space. That’s my guess. I really like Alfie Boe. Being classically trained Boe has the ring to his voice that Wilkinson doesn’t have.

I love how he feels the music. Every time I‘m like „Yes man, this is how you have to listen to this“. Musical goes straight to the heart and he shows this perfectly😍👍

Alfie’s version almost sings like a lullaby. There’s definitely a sweetness to it.

Alfie Boe and the 25th Anniversary concert is my favorite Les Mis cast. I've seen it online but their performances are truly sublime.

First time I've watched your video & I'm sorry,its Alfie Boe for me.........watching video clip & then looked at YOUR face & we had the same expression hearing wonderful music...but usually I have tears in my eyes! Glad to see others commented on it!

I can see the passion in your face as you were listening 🎶. Beautiful

Please react to Ramin Karimloo's Bring Him Home. He's an amazing Valjean. PLEASE 😭😭🙏🏼🙏🏼 and Till I Hear You Sing, Music of the Night, From Now On, High Flying Adored, Still, Being Alive and all his songs cuz he sang them all beautifully lol jk with all his songs haha but PLEASE. 🙏🏼 Please react to his duets with Sierra Boggess as well like Phantom of the Opera, Point of No Return,Poison and Wine, I'd Give It All For You, Once Upon Another Time. Do you react to bootlegs? 😬 jk✌🏼dang even their bootlegs are sooo good 😩😭 please react to Sierra's other solos too like Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again and Love Never Dies. Thank you in advance!!! 🙏🏼❤️

Alfie Bow looks like he is actually praying.... ❤️ both, but Alfie has the win for me!

First few notes from Alfie Boe I had tears already

Cannot wait for this Marc 2 heavyweights of MT had the pleasure of seeing both of them when they were /are in their prime

These are two stunning different interpretations of this song. Both are amazing. The song was written for Colm & he sings it brilliantly, but Alfie sings it so amazingly too, more like a prayer and a bit more subtle than Colm who tends to be slightly more physical. It’s also amazing to hear Colm end this song with a C# rather than the written C (not here, but in other performances). I’ve seen Colm perform this song & role many times & Alfie as well. I think they are amazing. Each brings his own strengths to the role. This song can’t but uplift one’s spirit when either of these two are performing it- breathtaking!

I’d love to see a reaction to Audra McDonald. ANYTHING by Audra McDonald. (Sun and the Moon and I’ll be Here are personal favorites. Also anything from Ragtime)

I just found your reviews. I’m in love. You have such a direct, but kind way of analyzing someone’s voice & interpretation. Can wait to watch more!

So interesting to hear your expert opinions. Love both interpretations, but Alfie is just so brilliant!

That's a genuine appraisal of two great singers, giving their own version of a brilliant emotional song. Like you say there are no winners or losers just two great voices.

I was fortunate to see Colm Wilkinson on Broadway during the first year. He and the entire original Broadway cast were incredible and gave one of the best performances I had ever seen on Broadway. His accent added to this music and songs. His acting and his expertise bringing Valjean to life is a great memory. One of the finest Broadway performances in its history.

Thank you Marc for this reaction. I have watched both of these performances many times, Colm set the bar...Alfie sets a different bar. I cry every time i watch Alfie, I get sad with Colm, but i just don't feel the same deep down emotion. Love the videos, please continue. If you could get to Murray Head in Chess, I'd love that. Best Wishes.

Colm and John Owen Jones are my favourites although Alfie has a beautiful voice. JOJ is absolutely fabulous. His Bui Doi is one of my favourites.

So happy i've found your channel. I'm a big musical theatre fan that knows nothing about musical theory, so I really appretiate the little details you point out and all these insights on how it is meant to be sung and all, and how sweet and positive you're about it. That's a rare combination on RU-vid.

Alfie Boe singing this song reduces me to tears every single time

OMG love this. Please do more side by sides from old vs new versions of the same Les Mis song. This is by far one of my fav 3 Broadway shows ever (Fiddler, Les Mis, Phantom are all tied)

I saw the original show with Colm [Michael Ball then aged 22 was a wonderful Marius!]. I also saw Alfie Ball in the role. Both wonderful but I have seen the superlative John Owen Jones twice sing Valjean and he is brilliant. A wonderful 'Phantom' too. I would be interested in your view of his singing. [Yes, I am a Les Mis nut!]

This is my single favorite performance of any song by anyone-Colm. OH thank you. And now I love Alfie, too!

I love that there wasn't a "winner" - I agree, both are brilliant. I enjoy your videos, thank you for pointing out voicing techniques that untrained people like me wouldn't know!

With apologies to all those of you who love Colm Wilkinson, I just have to put my two cents in about his singing. To my ear, his vowels are always too widely spread; his mouth is opened too wide as he sings the vowels, which flattens the vowel and which makes him sound sometimes sharp or just on top of the pitch and at other times, flat or just under the pitch. I also noted that his low notes, especially the first note of the song, may be out of his range which causes the word, "God," which starts the first sentence, to be lost. Alfie Boe is not just classically trained, he originally trained as an opera singer. His projection of emotion is not forced, and when he sings powerfully, it is clear to me, also a trained singer, that the sound is coming from deep within, down in the bottom of his lungs and supported from low in his abdomen. I don't know why he doesn't open his mouth more when he starts the piece, but I would guess it has to do with the way he creates a softer sound, with less volume, but with no less support. Boe can switch from chest to head tone effortlessly, which makes that last note of the song just ring. Regarding Boe's mouth position, a vocal coach once said to me that you can create any vowel you want without changing the position of your lips. Vowels are created in the way you configure the inside of your mouth, not the outside. That, to me, is the biggest difference between the two men. Wilkinson sings his vowels with his mouth and his lips, opening his mouth waaaaay too much, which is why I think his vowels are too broad. Boe opens his lips, sometimes barely, but he's creating his vowels inside his mouth, and projecting the sound out of his lips by supporting, not forcing, the air through and out his mouth with his diaphragm. All of which gives a rounder tone to his voice. I think. About creating vowels with the inside of your mouth - a voice teacher coached me to sing with the feeling of holding a hot potato in my mouth. That's the palate-lifting, tongue-flattening area you create to resonate the sound of your voice.

Alfie Boe will always be my favourite ValJean. It makes me sad more people don't react to this version of the show.

OHHH MYY GOOODDD thankyou for doing bring him home!! for me colm wilkinson will always be my jean valjean but alfie boe's voice is such amazing😂😂

Here we go again. The trademark Marc Daniel Patrick "this performance is a masterpiece so I'm going to smile helplessly like a lovestruck Marius seeing Cosette" smile. What a mood. That's the expression on my face the entire time when I listen to either Colm Wilkinson or Alfie Boe.

Do you think Alfie goes for a quieter, more subdued sound in the beginning because he imagines himself when in character as Valjean because he sings this during the night/early morning as the only one on stage "awake" at the barricade? And a quiet moment where Valjean allows himself a moment of vulnerability because he is scared about losing Marius, not being able to save him and he getting killed also?

How dare you make us cry our eyes out not once but twice!

I grew up watching this version, this was my introduction to musical theatre and will forever be my favourite!!! Nothing will ever beat it and when I finally got the chance to see it live I think I sobbed most of the way through because of how much the music means to mean. Thanks for reacting to this as I love hearing a deeper breakdown of music that I love. The only regret I’ve had in life is never being confident enough to pursue musical theatre as a career or even as a hobby

You give the best insight...so very thoughtful.

All the Valjeans are great in their own ways but Colm will always be “my” Valjean

I think that there is a real danger in trying to analyse a "magical moment", in that in doing so one can easily destroy the magic one is trying to analyse.. I am reminded of the old adage that, "Those Who Can, Do.. Those Who Cannot, .....become Critics..."!. To me personally and it is an entirely subjective opinion, Colm Wikinson delivers an epic, almost operatic in proportions rendition, whilst Alfie Boe with a more understated version, brings a unique, ethereal element of a totally believable, actual prayer, which is spine tingling whenever I listen to it.. Colm Wilkinson for all his obvious talent, does not...!

Alfie Boe is the only Tenor singer that I know who can sing so powerful and yet soothingl and crystal clear all at the same time. He's like the male version of Lea Salonga (for me) which make thier unison so perfectly on spot, in this particular concert. ♥

I just came upon your site. I must say, to watch ‘your’ facial expressions while watching the performers is most endearing. The respect you show is wonderful. I will continue to watch your site and ‘learn’ from you. Bless you.