Les Miserables - Page 2

ASUADPi · #1 12-27-2012, 08:40 AM

I read an article that said that Amanda essentially struggled with those high soprano notes. I've never understood why they (producers, directors) do that. Why cast someone who can't sing the part. They did it in Phantom of the Opera with Minnie Driver who didn't do any of the singing for Carlotta (as Carlotta is an operatic soprano and Minnie Driver is an alto). Then now with Amanda. They are so many talented actresses out there that can sing the part, cast them.

On youtube, Les Mis posted "official" videos of behind the scenes. One is Hugh Jackman talking about how in one of the songs (totally blanking now) Colm Wilkinson (original Valjean in both London and Broadway), made the notes higher and then all the other Valjeans just kind of followed suit. Well when Colm was on set for his part as the bishop he and Jackman talked and Colm told Jackman that the role was his now and make it his own, just like he did when he originated the roles.

I wish I could see it but I'm truly cash poor until next payday, so I will be seeing it next weekend (not like its not going to be there).

AlphaFrog · #2 12-27-2012, 08:50 AM

^^ I actually read that Minnie was the one who refused to sing for Carlotta - apparently she us capable and the producers wanted her to, but she didn't feel she could do it justice.

And, by the way, "alto" is not a term used in labeling fach (operatic voice parts). It's Soprano, Mezzo Soprano, and VERY RARELY Contralto.

ASUADPi · #3 12-27-2012, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlphaFrog

^^ I actually read that Minnie was the one who refused to sing for Carlotta - apparently she us capable and the producers wanted her to, but she didn't feel she could do it justice.

And, by the way, "alto" is not a term used in labeling fach (operatic voice parts). It's Soprano, Mezzo Soprano, and VERY RARELY Contralto.

Minnie Driver isn't an opera singer, hence my saying she is an alto is correct.

AlphaFrog · #4 12-28-2012, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ASUADPi

Minnie Driver isn't an opera singer, hence my saying she is an alto is correct.

Alto isn't a voice type, regardless of genre. It's very commonly used incorrectly in this manner.

"Alto is the term used for a designated vocal line in choral music based on vocal range. The alto part in choral music may range as much as two octaves, approximately from G3 (the G below middle C) to F5 (the F in the second octave above middle C), though not often in one work, and is usually sung by female voices."

Either way, if the producers said Minnie has the chops for Carlotta, she's very likely not a contralto. I can't find any reliable reference to her voice type at all.

ASUADPi · #5 12-28-2012, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlphaFrog

Alto isn't a voice type, regardless of genre. It's very commonly used incorrectly in this manner.

"Alto is the term used for a designated vocal line in choral music based on vocal range. The alto part in choral music may range as much as two octaves, approximately from G3 (the G below middle C) to F5 (the F in the second octave above middle C), though not often in one work, and is usually sung by female voices."

Either way, if the producers said Minnie has the chops for Carlotta, she's very likely not a contralto. I can't find any reliable reference to her voice type at all.

Wow lets freak out because I'm not an vocal officienado. Really, is it that big of a frickin' deal that I called her an Alto?

I am a first soprano, but I'm sure to you that is incorrect as well.

/please return to the regularly scheduled thread because I am officially done responding to this argument over vocal types.

irishpipes · #6 12-28-2012, 06:17 PM

Real people very often refer to female singers as altos, seconds, and firsts. Maybe it isn't technically correct, but everyone knows what they mean. What is the big deal?

Gusteau · #7 12-29-2012, 09:05 PM

I went to see it this afternoon with my sister; we both loved it!

A lot of the reviews I read were critical of the way it was filmed, that is, with so many close ups. Those reviews felt like that made it lack the epic quality a story like Les Miserables should have. While there were a few scenes where I'd agree ("One Day More") I generally really liked that. I felt like the close ups were very intimate and helped to personalize a very large cast of characters for the audience. I also loved the way "At the End of the Day" was staged in that tunnel/corridor.

They made some changes in the order of the action, but I thought they were appropriate. Moving "I Dreamed a Dream" after "Lovely Ladies" was a great choice. I started to worry that they had cut the first "Do You Hear the People Sing?" when it didn't come after "Red and Black," but I loved what they did with it!

I thought Hugh Jackman and Anne Hathaway were just incredible. Every scene of Anne Hathaway's was a knockout. "What Have I Done?" and "Bring Him Home" were real standouts for Jackman. I felt Eddie Redmayne was both fantastically cast and nice to look at as Marius - "Empty Chairs at Empty Tables" made me cry. I liked Amanda Seyfried too, even though Cosette is a character I don't particularly care for. I found her to be a very likable Cosette. Russell Crowe's Javert was disappointing for me. His singing was not on the same level as the rest of the cast, but I would have forgiven him Rex Harrisoning it if his performance had been less stoic.

I will definitely buy the DVD!

ASUADPi · #8 12-29-2012, 09:14 PM

OMG I when I saw it yesterday, I too was like "OMG they took out Do You Hear the People Sing" but then they did it during the funeral, so I was relieved.

Hugh Jackman was amazing as Valjean.

Amanda was okay as Cosette, but Cosette is truly my least favorite character of the play. I'm a huge Eponine fan.

SWTXBelle · #9 12-29-2012, 09:18 PM

Poor Cosette. It's not her fault. She just really doesn't have much to do other than be beautiful.

Gusteau · #10 12-29-2012, 09:26 PM

You're right SWTXBelle, poor Cosette doesn't have a lot to work with. I haven't read the book, but I imagine there's a lot more room for her character to develop in a thousand or so pages.

SWTXBelle · #11 12-29-2012, 09:28 PM

I've read the novel - but it's been years - and Cosette is not a character who really stands out compared to the others. Curse of the ingenue and why I hated always having to play one.

ADPiEE · #12 12-30-2012, 05:22 PM

OK am I the only one that thinks Hathaway was less than stellar in her singing?? I really felt they should have chosen someone else for that singing part--I was so disappointed. Her acting was great but I just didn't like her singing. Having said that, I've seen the Broadway version and I think the movie would be a let down to anyone who's seen it live.
I thought everyone else did pretty well. I saw it with my husband and he absolutely hated it, thought it was too long and stretched out and he hated how the speaking parts were sung. I thought the children in the film did amazing!

ASUADPi · #13 12-30-2012, 09:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ADPiEE

OK am I the only one that thinks Hathaway was less than stellar in her singing?? I really felt they should have chosen someone else for that singing part--I was so disappointed. Her acting was great but I just didn't like her singing. Having said that, I've seen the Broadway version and I think the movie would be a let down to anyone who's seen it live.
I thought everyone else did pretty well. I saw it with my husband and he absolutely hated it, thought it was too long and stretched out and he hated how the speaking parts were sung. I thought the children in the film did amazing!

If hubby hated the speaking parts that were sung, and that he thought it was too long, don't take him to see the musical because the whole thing is sung and it is much longer than the movie.

indygphib · #14 12-30-2012, 05:57 PM

Off to see it in a couple of hours - I can't wait!

indygphib · #15 12-31-2012, 10:40 AM

Saw Les Mis last night. My take:
As much groaning and eyerolling I did at Anne Hathaway's version of I Dreamed a Dream from the movie trailer, I figured out that the reason why I didn't like it: the first part of the song is a little low for her vocal range - she did WAY better with the higher notes. Anything she sung after the first half of the song sounded fantastic. Solid performance.

Hugh Jackman made a good Valjean. Definitely not the best I have seen, but he held his own. Can't say the same for Russell Crowe. His voice was WAY too thin to handle Javert.

Sacha Baron Cohen and Helena Bonham Carter actually weren't bad as the Thenardiers. They did a lot better than I expected, but I didn't have high expectations for them in the first place.

They did the right thing by casting stage actors for Enjolras, Marius, and Eponine for the movie. Marius sounded great but he looked like Howdy Doody and I couldn't get over all the spackle they put on his face in an attempt to cover his freckles. The guy who played Enjolras should have been cast as Marius. The girl who played Eponine did the role some justice. Eponine is always a crapshoot: she's either played well as the streetwise kid or she comes off as a whiner and you're glad she gets a cap busted in her at the barricade. Fortunately the movie casting was the former.

Speaking of Eponine, I was BEYOND PISSED that they cut her part from the finale. Note to Hollywood: the part of the ending before the company starts singing is sung by Eponine, Fantine, and Valjean and not just Fantine and Valjean only. That actually ruined the movie for me.