As intense and visceral as this song is, Javert's Suicide from this concert is even moreso as you can watch this carefully controlled man come apart as his world no longer makes sense. What Quast does with a simple "adjustment" to his wig is amazingly telling.
We are so lucky that this 10th Anniversary Concert was filmed. For eternity we have these masterful performances. I have seen other but they do not compare.
I’m Australian in my forties and grew up watching Phillip Quast singing nursery rhymes on Play School, a preschool education show. If only we knew what was to come.
Yeah me too, I remember when the 10th anniversary concert video was released and we as a family sat down to watch it and I was very confused why my favourite playschool singer was dressed dark and moody 🤣
This is from the 10th anniversary show. The whole thing is incredible from start to finish. They called it the "dream cast' concert and it really was. You can find the whole things here on RUclips
The only problem with it is they cut some of the best moments. Like “Valjean’s Confession” or Jean Valjean’s solo in “The Waltz of Treachery” for example.
I watched an interview with John Denver years ago - after he had done a duet with Placido Domingo - Mr. Domingo responded to a question from John about how he had so much feeling in his singing. The advice - feel the words. If you sing the word love, sing the emotion. I think that’s what Philip Quast does here. When he sings the word light - he sings it lightly. Lovely.
Nobody can sing this song with the same passion as Philip Quast. I’ve heard so many versions but nothing beats this one! And how he sings the word Witness is just sublime!
Saw him on Broadway with most of the players from the 10th anniversary show. My girlfriend; now wife, had to drag me to the theater that night. Once there, I was agog for three hours. The talent was off the charts. Became a show nerd from then on. Thanks, Honey.
I would love to see your reaction to one song by every main character in this concert: Wilkinson, Salonga, Henshall, Ball...best cast ever, of course they are considered the dream cast!
Lewis's rednition of Stars is absolutely amazing, but Quast launches it into a realm that is light years beyond what anyone has ever been able to do. Stunning diction and intepretation with every syllable that pours out of his soul.
Stars and Confrontation are one of my favorites from the 10th anniversary concert. The way Quast gets up from his seat, in the dark, as Ruthie turns around and walks over to the mic and *boom* he's just there like an absolute menace! Whoever designed his costume to make him look tall and terrifying deserves an award. The first time I watched, it actually scared me a little. And then there's the voice drop he does when he sings 'different chain'. Goosebumps! You should react to that.
I remember watching this on VHS with my grandparents, mum and aunt when this first came out. This piece is my absolute favourite, I will sing this at any given opportunity! I try to model my performance on Philip's and it just doesn't seem right! His performance is flawless, the emotion he puts into it is like no other
True, it is easy to have empathy for Javert considering he was going though a period of France during the Enlightenment that was flipping everything about society upside down. Here, Javert sees himself as, or desires to be, this unfaltering sentinel.
I adore the entire 10th Anniversary concert, but it's this song that I come back to the most. Not just because Philip has an incredible voice but he actually_ acts_ at the same time. That simple act of looking up at the stars is everything to me because I believe it give's Javert a touch of humanity. The way he looks up at them with such reverence and wonder is almost childlike. Yet, you wouldn't believe how many other Javert peformers I've seen fail to do this and it's always a total deal-breaker for me.
Philip Quast does a wonderful video showing how he uses assonance and consonance to put the correct focus on his tones. I saw him in London in Les Miserables and my life was totally changed.
There's some absolutely phenomenal subtleties that I would've missed if you hadn't first pointed out how happy he looked when admiring the stars. At the end, his determined eyes shift to a little sad on "Lord let me find him." He brings back the determination in "safe behind bars." After he realizes he "will never rest" his eyes show a true sadness that carries through to the end of the song. Just an awe-inspiring acting job.
Also, Javert wasn't evil. He was misguided, strict, traumatized and sad. But never evil. And Quast understood and did it like that cause he understood it.
I didnt know there were people reacting to this,I've watched the 10th anniversary of Les Mis so many times I've lost count,Lea Salonga,Philip Quast,Michael Ball,Colm Wilkinson,Ruthie Henshall..etc etc. So so much ridiculous talent. And Philip Quast's Javert is so perfectly cast,he's got it all.
Thankyou for introducing me to this performance and your reaction. I would love for you to react to a group from called Collabro who were on B.G.T I think you would like it
I saw Philip perform Javert during the first run of Les Mis in Sydney back in the 80s. He was magnificent and truly deserves being one of the Dreamcast.
Over the years I've had many favourite songs from Les Mis but I keep coming back to Philip Quast's Stars as my favourite of all time. I'm so looking forward to the International verson of Les Mis coming to Australia in 2025.
Love Philip Quast. This is one of my favourite performances ever but what we've not really heard here is the consideration and meticulousness of every syllable and sound in the writing here. Someone else's brilliance came before to give every actor and singer their character and voice. The writer is really the voice of every character. I balk at the phrase in a programme that an actor "originated" a role when every word they utter and almost every nuance behind that character has come from the writer.
Loved watching this breakdown of his performance! I remember when this aired on PBS back when I was 9. I was mesmerized by his talent and the rest of the cast, and to this day it's my favorite rendition of Stars ever.
I am new subscriber and I’m glad I found you. I enjoy your enjoying the music. You make me see and hear things even though I have heard it again and again. Thanks for making me love great music more perfectly. Thanks.
I really enjoyed this video. Thank you Nick for articulating why Philip Quast is so brilliant and why this performance is so exceptional. I saw Philip in concert in London two days ago and he sang Stars (in a fairly small room) and the GOOSEBUMPS! ❤
Other standout performances: -Barry James as Thenardier (stage) -Adeel Akhtar as Thenardier (2018 mini series, not singing) -Stanley Allyn Owen - Close every door (stage, phenomenal) -David Oyewolo in the miniseries from 2018. He was incredible as a non-singing Javert -Sheree Rene Scott as Ursula, Poor unfortunate Souls -Les Mis Empty chairs at empty tables at from the 2012 movie - rips my heart out every time.
What a great analysis! I had always admired this performance, but hadn't noticed quite as many details as you pointed out. I will absolutely check out his interview. I would honestly watch a 3+ hour video of you reacting to the entire 10th anniversary Les Mis show! Specifically I would love to see Bring Him Home and Empty Chairs at Empty Tables. This focus on the performance, on acting out the text and REALLY feeling it reminds me of Lara Fabian's live performance of Je suis malade. Absolutely gut wrenching and stunning. You can see it on her face, in her eyes, in her voice, that she is feeling every single emotion, and her voice is unreal! There's a version that has both French and English lyrics if you aren't bilingual (🍁) that would greatly enhance the viewing experience (because the lyrics really are powerful). I would love to see your reaction to that! Not enough people have done a reaction, in my opinion!
Les Mis was the first musical I ever saw. Went for a girl, of course. I was a teenage partier, football player, beer-drinking brawler who only vaguely even understood that stage acting was something that some adults sometimes did. We were late and I entered to “I dreamed a dream.” That was quite an introduction! Ha. The next moment that stuck with me was “Stars.” It was just so masculine. And, it was a form of masculinity I had never seen before. The dignity. The purpose. The power. It was really something. Later, Enjolras caught my attention. Gavroche, Eponine, etc. The characters were so rich and so well-developed, despite minimal attention. Something about the singing and the music that taught you more about the character in 4 minutes than you ever could have learned otherwise. So many things about the show were impressive. I eventually bought the highlights and then the complete symphonic recording. Eventually I had the London and Broadway double discs and the original French concept album. Ha. And, I loved so many different performances by so many different actors, but the granddaddy of them all was “Stars” by Phillip Quast. It’s not even my favorite song in the show. But, what he adds to it brings it to a level that not even all the amazing Fantines and JVJs could quite reach for me. Anthony Warlow as Enjolras was another one that really got me, too. Def a big surprise for someone like me that was more into music like NIN and Ministry at the time. Ha. So, thanks for reacting to this. Love your Floor Jansen stuff, too. Def becoming one of my fave reactors. Keep up the good work!
Your reaction brought me back to when I first watched this production on VHS. I was an instant fan, and was so moved...I was a kid! and now in my 40's I'm still moved every, single time!! I love music too!! New subscriber!!!
has anybody at any time given a more masterful performance than this?. I do not think so furthermore do not think I have enough years left to see anybody be his equal
Just do a series of you reacting to all the Les Mis 10th anniversary concert. I came across your channel because of your reaction video on Lea Salonga singing onmy own. What i find interesting about your reaction is that you go to the book and talk about the context of what the artist is singing.
Russell the Crow has had his redemption and that’s the performance he should have given in the 2012 rendition. You’ll thank me later … LoL ruclips.net/video/_AlC__ouuMo/видео.html
I can't blame Russell Crow for bad direction. The cast of the movie had great acting and musical talent, but the way they did the production was bad for both performance and overall health.
@@JohnCrawford1979 Russell did not act or sing well. You can't just blame direction for that. The acting maybe, although why anyone told him to act as though he was bored I'll never know. But his vocals could never be good enough for musical theatre. He should still to his band. No amount of direction was going to give him a better than weak voice. I blame the casting director. They should never ever have cast him.
Love this video and you hit the nail on the head with everything you said, apart from one thing. Javert is not the villain in Les Mis, The Thenardiers are the villains, Javert is the antagonist for sure but he's not a 'bad guy'. He's just to set in his ways and stuck living in his faulty ideology. Javert is my favourite character in Les Mis and Philip Quast is my favourite Javert by a million miles. I never get tired of hearing him sing 'Stars' or 'The Confrontation', Javert's suicide tears me up though and his performance of it is bother Sublime and heartbreaking. His facial expressions in the TAC just topped off his whole perfomance. He has very emotive eyes when he's acting as well. Cheeky little footnote here, Philip Quast is the man who made Javert sexy, I suspect it wasn't intentional but still. Sigh 😌😍♥♥♥
@@nickhiggsthesinger He was a very complex man and imo was just as much a victim as anyone else of everything that was wrong with French society at that time. The Thenardiers brought their bad fortune on themselves though and they were child abusers and robbers and at least one of Thenardier’s gang was a serial killer.
@@layla-loon75 Javert's role is much deeper than that in all actuality and I agree he isn't necessarily the villain. Many of the good events that transpired for Valjean only occurred because of the choices he was frequently forced to make due to Javert pursuing him. When Hugo wrote the novel he intended to parallel the concept of the old and New Testatment from Scripture and that theme was surpirisingly pulled through to the musical. Javert represents the Law (old Testament) and Valjean represents grace (New Testament). When Christ was glorified at the right hand of the father the law was fulfilled and we are no longer bound by it. In other words the law and grace cannot coexist. Thus when Javert realizes this he kills himself. He wasn't actually concrete in his thinking or rigid he was simply a product or representative of the law. Not mans law but God's law. It's a very simplistic way of putting it but it was some of the thinking behind Hugo when he wrote the novel. In fact look at what Valjean says after meeting with the bishop. He acknowleges his sin "As I stare into the void To the whirlpool of my sin I'll escape now from that world From the world of Jean Valjean Jean Valjean is nothing now Another story must begin" That correlates to scripture where it says that " 2 corinthians 5:17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, they are a new creation: old things are passed away; behold, all things are made new". Remember the Bishop says "I have bought your soul for God". His redemption follows acknowledging his sin. Of course that is a very general and people have literally written papers on the parallels between scripture and the symbolism Hugo conveyed in this story. I also agree the Thenardier's are the villains. The ending of the show referring to the world beyond the barricades is also symbolic and intentionally references the 1000 year reign of Christ on the earth prophecied in scripture. Only a storyline that correlates so closely to scripture could end with nearly every single person dying with the exception of a few people and yet be uplifting to the point of bringing people to tears. I can't think of anything that even comes close to Les Miserables on every level.
I love this reaction, you highlighted all my favourite parts of this performance. He is just amazing! I have never seen him sing Javert live, but was lucky enough to see him sing Ben in Follies and the part where his character falls apart mid song was so uncomfortable as it was so real, it felt like he as the actor was falling apart.
I agree about the pronunciation being so clear but also his dynamic contrasts are so amazing. The movie version with Russell Crow had virtually no dynamic contrasts. The 2nd verse obviously needs to be quietier in reference to the stars and not as much as Jean Valjean. I'm working on singing this in the near future and Philip Quast definately interprets the song the best. The long note at the end is brutally hard. I've only managed it once during practice. I know I need to get a deep, yet fast catch breath just before the last two notes on "the stars."
I was completely spoiled by this 10th Anniversary Concert being my introduction to Les Mis… I compare every other version back to this and am always disappointed 🤦♀️😁😁. Utter perfection by every performer in every character!! 🐨🐨🇦🇺🇦🇺 You need to watch the end of this 10th Anniversary to see the worldwide cast of Valjeans all singing One Day More in their own language!! Brilliant!!
This is kind of a commentary on the Russell Crowe, Hugh Jackman of it all. Jean Valjean and Javert are mirrors. Yes, Javert is a foil, but he is also Valjean’s mirror the entire time. A man who holds his values no matter what. Willing to die for them. They both are extreme in different ways. And in the end there is respect. If you are casting, I think you have to look for as much chemistry between Javert and Jean Valjean as you do between Marius and Cosette. IMO Javert and JVJ should have the most chemistry. It’s such an important relationship to the story.
And this is why I think the movie didn’t work aside from Crowe’s singing (which I don’t think was his fault). I think they were a miss-match. Crowe and Jackman, that is. It should be, essentially, the same man, brought up in two different ways, but his essence is the same.
There's a reason they called this the "Dream Cast." Every performance was epic! Please check out Michael Ball's "Empty Chairs at Empty Tables" and his duet with Lea Salonga singing "A LIttle Fall of Rain." Actually just react to whole concert! LOL
I very much enjoyed this video, thank you for this. I used to find Javert very irritating in his strong-minded attitude - until I saw Philip Quast's performance. I absolutely fell in love with the character, and I found it amazing to see him explaining how he thought carefully every single aspect about it. So amazing!
I don't think Valjean is a villain, he's an antagonist, but not a bad person, just has a black and white concept of the world. 😅 I hope you've had the chance to listen to him singing "Lilly's eyes" from Secret Garden. Oh, my God! He's brilliant, he's so good delivering the message and emotions.
This song recalls back to Homer and classic storytelling in that traditional sense of "hear O' muse and help me recall...." It's like the combination of prayer and oath, because Javert calls upon the Lord, with the stars as celestial, angelic beings that keep the order of the universe, and seeks their assistance to find Jean Valjean and bring him to justice.
The 10th anniversary concert is one of the best all around (Ruthie Henshall's I Dreamed A Dream is perfect!). Quast brings so much to this role, he's incredible! I don't think Javert is a villian though. He's definitely an antagonist, but like you said, he thinks he's right (and lawfully, he is, even though he takes it a bit too far).
I saw a video of him next to a video of Russel, and not only is Russells voice weak and monotone, he doesn't even make up for it by putting any effort into his acting. He looked half asleep and sang like a whisper. The acting and vocals from Philip are to notch.
Great reaction! I have to laugh when see that you so much want to participate the singers you are listening to. Many times then you just have to bite on your underlip to prevent that 🙂
This performance is all one needs to understand how Russell Crowe was so incredibly out of his depth in the movie. Now when do we get your version? 😜⭐🌟🌠
@@nickhiggsthesingerI saw a video explaining everything that's wrong in that nightmare of a movie, we should blame the director mostly (and after Cats, he should be banned from directing more musicals, The King's Speech is a good movie, so stay without songs man! 🙏).
Hey nick, im a baritone but i want to sing tenor in our church… the problem is that the highest note i can sing is a F after that my voice breaks and everything just closes down. Do you think its possible to expand the range by a few notes for example up to an A or even B?
I think the female version of this clearness of pronunciation is probably Lea Salonga I highly recommend checking out the Notre Dame Medley of Ringmasters: ruclips.net/video/Qo_N9_ZFBhs/видео.html
Great video, but I have to disagree that no villain thinks they are a villain. Case in point: the Thernadiers. They delight in being unapologetically vile and their last line is a mocking "see you all in hell." And that's what makes them such fantastic characters.
He's not really a villain. He's upholding the law what they thought in the 1800s France. He's a police officer who really believed in what he was doing
Police can be villains, too. Although, it is from France that we get this notion of villain, which, in its original sense, it is difficult to simply be the 'bad guy' or 'evil.' The traditional villain was essentially the middle class merchant, and somewhat a penny pincher always fussing about economic issues. They were in contrast to the novels who considered the village merchant a busy body always harping about finances and ways to make a profit. Of course, nobles didn't have to worry about such things as they owned the land, so they were getting paid rent, rather than having to pay rent. The storytellers often poked fun of the merchants for this reason, because novels were the paying audience. It took some time, and was around the Enlightenment period that tables had turned a bit - or at least people became more distrusting of monarchs and saw the nobility the villains in the more modern sense of bad guys and evildoers.
Are you aware the title is professional singer reacts. Are you aware that you can google the actual song with no commentary? I'm sure you are. So what exactly was the point of your comment. You come onto someones site to criticize them for doing exactly what they said they were going to do. Not the way in which they did it but the fact they did it at all. Good Grief.
I was there that evening and what a night it was! Philip Quast is without a doubt the best Javert ever.
So jealous that you got to see this concert live! I can't imagine how incredible it was to be in that room.
I would have killed to see this live. Everyone in that casting is my favorite in their respective roles.
So lucky. I have watched the concert so often. -DVD is scratched! now I watch it online.
As intense and visceral as this song is, Javert's Suicide from this concert is even moreso as you can watch this carefully controlled man come apart as his world no longer makes sense. What Quast does with a simple "adjustment" to his wig is amazingly telling.
We are so lucky that this 10th Anniversary Concert was filmed. For eternity we have these masterful performances. I have seen other but they do not compare.
I’m Australian in my forties and grew up watching Phillip Quast singing nursery rhymes on Play School, a preschool education show. If only we knew what was to come.
One of the biggest reasons I couldn't be afraid of his Javert. It's hard to fear someone you've seen sing Mr Frog and pretend to be a Frog.
Him singing about frogs is one of my favourite clips ever.
The fact he could get his foot around the back of his head!
Yeah me too, I remember when the 10th anniversary concert video was released and we as a family sat down to watch it and I was very confused why my favourite playschool singer was dressed dark and moody 🤣
This is from the 10th anniversary show. The whole thing is incredible from start to finish. They called it the "dream cast' concert and it really was. You can find the whole things here on RUclips
The only problem with it is they cut some of the best moments. Like “Valjean’s Confession” or Jean Valjean’s solo in “The Waltz of Treachery” for example.
I watched an interview with John Denver years ago - after he had done a duet with Placido Domingo - Mr. Domingo responded to a question from John about how he had so much feeling in his singing. The advice - feel the words. If you sing the word love, sing the emotion. I think that’s what Philip Quast does here. When he sings the word light - he sings it lightly. Lovely.
Nobody can sing this song with the same passion as Philip Quast. I’ve heard so many versions but nothing beats this one! And how he sings the word Witness is just sublime!
Saw him on Broadway with most of the players from the 10th anniversary show. My girlfriend; now wife, had to drag me to the theater that night. Once there, I was agog for three hours. The talent was off the charts. Became a show nerd from then on. Thanks, Honey.
I saw Phillip Quast live and he is truly stunning in person!
I would love to see your reaction to one song by every main character in this concert: Wilkinson, Salonga, Henshall, Ball...best cast ever, of course they are considered the dream cast!
Lewis's rednition of Stars is absolutely amazing, but Quast launches it into a realm that is light years beyond what anyone has ever been able to do. Stunning diction and intepretation with every syllable that pours out of his soul.
An absolute masterpiece of a performance.
He stands supreme in this role and is quite simply beyond comparison
Stars and Confrontation are one of my favorites from the 10th anniversary concert. The way Quast gets up from his seat, in the dark, as Ruthie turns around and walks over to the mic and *boom* he's just there like an absolute menace! Whoever designed his costume to make him look tall and terrifying deserves an award. The first time I watched, it actually scared me a little. And then there's the voice drop he does when he sings 'different chain'. Goosebumps! You should react to that.
@sepnyte9422 • My favourites, too.
The didn't need to make him look tall, PQ is about 6'2" or 6'3". I love everything Philip Quast does even his tv work. He's also a very handsome man.
Philip Quast ruined me for all other Javiers. This performance is burned into my brain forever in the best possible way ✨️🔥
I believe that he was an actor who became a singer, and wow, .so nice to share your appreciation of this performance, so memorable
I remember watching this on VHS with my grandparents, mum and aunt when this first came out. This piece is my absolute favourite, I will sing this at any given opportunity! I try to model my performance on Philip's and it just doesn't seem right! His performance is flawless, the emotion he puts into it is like no other
The only thing I'd add is that I wouldn't call Javert a villain. Antagonist, absolutely, but not a villain.
True, it is easy to have empathy for Javert considering he was going though a period of France during the Enlightenment that was flipping everything about society upside down. Here, Javert sees himself as, or desires to be, this unfaltering sentinel.
I adore the entire 10th Anniversary concert, but it's this song that I come back to the most. Not just because Philip has an incredible voice but he actually_ acts_ at the same time. That simple act of looking up at the stars is everything to me because I believe it give's Javert a touch of humanity. The way he looks up at them with such reverence and wonder is almost childlike. Yet, you wouldn't believe how many other Javert peformers I've seen fail to do this and it's always a total deal-breaker for me.
I LOVE LÉS MISERABLES SO MUCH!!!!!!!!
Great pick. LOVE this performance. His diction alone. Also putting in the Quast Masterclass bit is good stuff. i often revisit that one.
So amazing! Thanks for tuning in
This is my favourite singer of this song. It's wonderful.
Philip Quast does a wonderful video showing how he uses assonance and consonance to put the correct focus on his tones. I saw him in London in Les Miserables and my life was totally changed.
ruclips.net/video/Y6F5QgCXT4c/видео.htmlsi=Bi8UxnuwgIlv531p
Just caught your review. He is so amazing and I'm so glad you mentioned the fact that you can understand every word. SO IMPORTANT.
There's some absolutely phenomenal subtleties that I would've missed if you hadn't first pointed out how happy he looked when admiring the stars. At the end, his determined eyes shift to a little sad on "Lord let me find him." He brings back the determination in "safe behind bars." After he realizes he "will never rest" his eyes show a true sadness that carries through to the end of the song. Just an awe-inspiring acting job.
Also, Javert wasn't evil. He was misguided, strict, traumatized and sad. But never evil. And Quast understood and did it like that cause he understood it.
Javert believed.. with all his heart and soul, that he was the rampart of good in a world of evil. Please.. dig deeper in the text.
I didnt know there were people reacting to this,I've watched the 10th anniversary of Les Mis so many times I've lost count,Lea Salonga,Philip Quast,Michael Ball,Colm Wilkinson,Ruthie Henshall..etc etc. So so much ridiculous talent. And Philip Quast's Javert is so perfectly cast,he's got it all.
I actually saw Philip Quast perform in the original Sydney production-brilliant!
😮 oh, You a lucky Person...❤
He's not just singing the words. You feel his frustration
Thankyou for introducing me to this performance and your reaction. I would love for you to react to a group from called Collabro who were on B.G.T I think you would like it
Came here to recommend the callabro cover of stars, it's so good
I saw Philip perform Javert during the first run of Les Mis in Sydney back in the 80s. He was magnificent and truly deserves being one of the Dreamcast.
Over the years I've had many favourite songs from Les Mis but I keep coming back to Philip Quast's Stars as my favourite of all time. I'm so looking forward to the International verson of Les Mis coming to Australia in 2025.
Love Philip Quast. This is one of my favourite performances ever but what we've not really heard here is the consideration and meticulousness of every syllable and sound in the writing here. Someone else's brilliance came before to give every actor and singer their character and voice. The writer is really the voice of every character.
I balk at the phrase in a programme that an actor "originated" a role when every word they utter and almost every nuance behind that character has come from the writer.
Loved watching this breakdown of his performance! I remember when this aired on PBS back when I was 9. I was mesmerized by his talent and the rest of the cast, and to this day it's my favorite rendition of Stars ever.
I am new subscriber and I’m glad I found you. I enjoy your enjoying the music. You make me see and hear things even though I have heard it again and again. Thanks for making me love great music more perfectly. Thanks.
Thank you so much! If you click the bell next to subscribe, it will notify you when I post again! 🙂
I really enjoyed this video. Thank you Nick for articulating why Philip Quast is so brilliant and why this performance is so exceptional. I saw Philip in concert in London two days ago and he sang Stars (in a fairly small room) and the GOOSEBUMPS! ❤
You should hear Phillip Quast and Anthony Warlow sing ‘Lily’s Hazel eyes’ from the Secret Garden
Best song in the show, best Javert in history. Thank you for this analysis!
Thank you for this , you gave me a whole new level of appreciation for his artistry.
Other standout performances:
-Barry James as Thenardier (stage)
-Adeel Akhtar as Thenardier (2018 mini series, not singing)
-Stanley Allyn Owen - Close every door (stage, phenomenal)
-David Oyewolo in the miniseries from 2018. He was incredible as a non-singing Javert
-Sheree Rene Scott as Ursula, Poor unfortunate Souls
-Les Mis Empty chairs at empty tables at from the 2012 movie - rips my heart out every time.
What a great analysis! I had always admired this performance, but hadn't noticed quite as many details as you pointed out. I will absolutely check out his interview. I would honestly watch a 3+ hour video of you reacting to the entire 10th anniversary Les Mis show! Specifically I would love to see Bring Him Home and Empty Chairs at Empty Tables.
This focus on the performance, on acting out the text and REALLY feeling it reminds me of Lara Fabian's live performance of Je suis malade. Absolutely gut wrenching and stunning. You can see it on her face, in her eyes, in her voice, that she is feeling every single emotion, and her voice is unreal! There's a version that has both French and English lyrics if you aren't bilingual (🍁) that would greatly enhance the viewing experience (because the lyrics really are powerful). I would love to see your reaction to that! Not enough people have done a reaction, in my opinion!
He’s my favorite. Absolutely incredible!
Undoubtedly the BEST .
Les Mis was the first musical I ever saw. Went for a girl, of course. I was a teenage partier, football player, beer-drinking brawler who only vaguely even understood that stage acting was something that some adults sometimes did.
We were late and I entered to “I dreamed a dream.” That was quite an introduction! Ha. The next moment that stuck with me was “Stars.” It was just so masculine. And, it was a form of masculinity I had never seen before. The dignity. The purpose. The power. It was really something.
Later, Enjolras caught my attention. Gavroche, Eponine, etc. The characters were so rich and so well-developed, despite minimal attention. Something about the singing and the music that taught you more about the character in 4 minutes than you ever could have learned otherwise.
So many things about the show were impressive. I eventually bought the highlights and then the complete symphonic recording. Eventually I had the London and Broadway double discs and the original French concept album. Ha.
And, I loved so many different performances by so many different actors, but the granddaddy of them all was “Stars” by Phillip Quast. It’s not even my favorite song in the show. But, what he adds to it brings it to a level that not even all the amazing Fantines and JVJs could quite reach for me.
Anthony Warlow as Enjolras was another one that really got me, too.
Def a big surprise for someone like me that was more into music like NIN and Ministry at the time. Ha.
So, thanks for reacting to this. Love your Floor Jansen stuff, too. Def becoming one of my fave reactors. Keep up the good work!
Your reaction brought me back to when I first watched this production on VHS. I was an instant fan, and was so moved...I was a kid! and now in my 40's I'm still moved every, single time!! I love music too!! New subscriber!!!
has anybody at any time given a more masterful performance than this?.
I do not think so furthermore do not think I have enough years left to see anybody be his equal
Just do a series of you reacting to all the Les Mis 10th anniversary concert. I came across your channel because of your reaction video on Lea Salonga singing onmy own.
What i find interesting about your reaction is that you go to the book and talk about the context of what the artist is singing.
Incredible performance!
Waiting for your own recording of this! 😃
Very interesting take on the villain song. I never thought of it that, listening to a villain song or piece out of context and viewing it as the hero.
Love this version.
Really enjoyed this. Thank you.
I’m just here for Russell Crowe jokes.
Hahahah yes 😂
Russell the Crow has had his redemption and that’s the performance he should have given in the 2012 rendition. You’ll thank me later … LoL ruclips.net/video/_AlC__ouuMo/видео.html
It also helps to have Jeff Leyton dieting with you too❤
I can't blame Russell Crow for bad direction. The cast of the movie had great acting and musical talent, but the way they did the production was bad for both performance and overall health.
@@JohnCrawford1979 Russell did not act or sing well. You can't just blame direction for that. The acting maybe, although why anyone told him to act as though he was bored I'll never know. But his vocals could never be good enough for musical theatre. He should still to his band. No amount of direction was going to give him a better than weak voice. I blame the casting director. They should never ever have cast him.
You should listen to him on The Complete Symphonic Recording of Les Miserables. He sounds great on that
Love this video and you hit the nail on the head with everything you said, apart from one thing. Javert is not the villain in Les Mis, The Thenardiers are the villains, Javert is the antagonist for sure but he's not a 'bad guy'. He's just to set in his ways and stuck living in his faulty ideology. Javert is my favourite character in Les Mis and Philip Quast is my favourite Javert by a million miles. I never get tired of hearing him sing 'Stars' or 'The Confrontation', Javert's suicide tears me up though and his performance of it is bother Sublime and heartbreaking. His facial expressions in the TAC just topped off his whole perfomance. He has very emotive eyes when he's acting as well. Cheeky little footnote here, Philip Quast is the man who made Javert sexy, I suspect it wasn't intentional but still. Sigh 😌😍♥♥♥
Ah! Very well said - I think you’ve changed my mind about Javert ☺️ Thank you for your insight!!
@@nickhiggsthesinger He was a very complex man and imo was just as much a victim as anyone else of everything that was wrong with French society at that time. The Thenardiers brought their bad fortune on themselves though and they were child abusers and robbers and at least one of Thenardier’s gang was a serial killer.
@@layla-loon75 Javert's role is much deeper than that in all actuality and I agree he isn't necessarily the villain. Many of the good events that transpired for Valjean only occurred because of the choices he was frequently forced to make due to Javert pursuing him. When Hugo wrote the novel he intended to parallel the concept of the old and New Testatment from Scripture and that theme was surpirisingly pulled through to the musical.
Javert represents the Law (old Testament) and Valjean represents grace (New Testament). When Christ was glorified at the right hand of the father the law was fulfilled and we are no longer bound by it. In other words the law and grace cannot coexist. Thus when Javert realizes this he kills himself. He wasn't actually concrete in his thinking or rigid he was simply a product or representative of the law. Not mans law but God's law. It's a very simplistic way of putting it but it was some of the thinking behind Hugo when he wrote the novel.
In fact look at what Valjean says after meeting with the bishop. He acknowleges his sin
"As I stare into the void
To the whirlpool of my sin
I'll escape now from that world
From the world of Jean Valjean
Jean Valjean is nothing now
Another story must begin"
That correlates to scripture where it says that "
2 corinthians 5:17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, they are a new creation: old things are passed away; behold, all things are made new". Remember the Bishop says "I have bought your soul for God". His redemption follows acknowledging his sin.
Of course that is a very general and people have literally written papers on the parallels between scripture and the symbolism Hugo conveyed in this story. I also agree the Thenardier's are the villains. The ending of the show referring to the world beyond the barricades is also symbolic and intentionally references the 1000 year reign of Christ on the earth prophecied in scripture. Only a storyline that correlates so closely to scripture could end with nearly every single person dying with the exception of a few people and yet be uplifting to the point of bringing people to tears. I can't think of anything that even comes close to Les Miserables on every level.
I agree with all you say . I didn't see him as a villain , he was just "doing his job" . He certainly had THE BEST song in Les Mis.
I love this reaction, you highlighted all my favourite parts of this performance. He is just amazing! I have never seen him sing Javert live, but was lucky enough to see him sing Ben in Follies and the part where his character falls apart mid song was so uncomfortable as it was so real, it felt like he as the actor was falling apart.
God, I love this so much. I love Javert, I love Philip Quast, I love "Stars" ♥ can't get enough
I agree about the pronunciation being so clear but also his dynamic contrasts are so amazing. The movie version with Russell Crow had virtually no dynamic contrasts. The 2nd verse obviously needs to be quietier in reference to the stars and not as much as Jean Valjean. I'm working on singing this in the near future and Philip Quast definately interprets the song the best. The long note at the end is brutally hard. I've only managed it once during practice. I know I need to get a deep, yet fast catch breath just before the last two notes on "the stars."
This is perfect for me. I have an audition next month for the part of Jevert in one of the upcoming shows next year in the UK.
I was completely spoiled by this 10th Anniversary Concert being my introduction to Les Mis… I compare every other version back to this and am always disappointed 🤦♀️😁😁. Utter perfection by every performer in every character!! 🐨🐨🇦🇺🇦🇺
You need to watch the end of this 10th Anniversary to see the worldwide cast of Valjeans all singing One Day More in their own language!! Brilliant!!
This is kind of a commentary on the Russell Crowe, Hugh Jackman of it all. Jean Valjean and Javert are mirrors. Yes, Javert is a foil, but he is also Valjean’s mirror the entire time. A man who holds his values no matter what. Willing to die for them. They both are extreme in different ways. And in the end there is respect. If you are casting, I think you have to look for as much chemistry between Javert and Jean Valjean as you do between Marius and Cosette. IMO Javert and JVJ should have the most chemistry. It’s such an important relationship to the story.
And this is why I think the movie didn’t work aside from Crowe’s singing (which I don’t think was his fault). I think they were a miss-match. Crowe and Jackman, that is. It should be, essentially, the same man, brought up in two different ways, but his essence is the same.
There's a reason they called this the "Dream Cast." Every performance was epic! Please check out Michael Ball's "Empty Chairs at Empty Tables" and his duet with Lea Salonga singing "A LIttle Fall of Rain." Actually just react to whole concert! LOL
I very much enjoyed this video, thank you for this. I used to find Javert very irritating in his strong-minded attitude - until I saw Philip Quast's performance. I absolutely fell in love with the character, and I found it amazing to see him explaining how he thought carefully every single aspect about it. So amazing!
No one sings this song better. He will always be Javert
Best ever and saw him play Javert on the West End.
I don't think Valjean is a villain, he's an antagonist, but not a bad person, just has a black and white concept of the world. 😅 I hope you've had the chance to listen to him singing "Lilly's eyes" from Secret Garden. Oh, my God! He's brilliant, he's so good delivering the message and emotions.
you are good Nick
I love the 10th anniversary concert, I watch it multiple times a year for a decade now, do God On High next!
Yes it’s so good! Ok I will do that one next time - make sure to subscribe and hit the notification icon so you know when I post 😊
This song recalls back to Homer and classic storytelling in that traditional sense of "hear O' muse and help me recall...." It's like the combination of prayer and oath, because Javert calls upon the Lord, with the stars as celestial, angelic beings that keep the order of the universe, and seeks their assistance to find Jean Valjean and bring him to justice.
The best Javier ever ❤❤
Yes! So good. My absolute favourite
bravo
The last note is 12 macro beats, 48 micro beats, with ritardando. It's ridiculously long. I need a lot of luck to nail it!
The 10th anniversary concert is one of the best all around (Ruthie Henshall's I Dreamed A Dream is perfect!). Quast brings so much to this role, he's incredible! I don't think Javert is a villian though. He's definitely an antagonist, but like you said, he thinks he's right (and lawfully, he is, even though he takes it a bit too far).
I don’t know ow if you’ve already reacted to Bring Him Home or Empty Chairs At Empty Tables but I’d really like to see you do a video for them.
Not yet! I’ll do an entire Les Mis series!!
@@nickhiggsthesinger Can’t wait to see it!
@@nickhiggsthesinger Yes!!
@nickhiggsthesinger Will you do One Day More from 25th Anniversary? Because there is so much there.
I saw a video of him next to a video of Russel, and not only is Russells voice weak and monotone, he doesn't even make up for it by putting any effort into his acting. He looked half asleep and sang like a whisper. The acting and vocals from Philip are to notch.
Quast is still my favorite Javert. I love Norm Lewis too but Quast owns that role.
Great reaction! I have to laugh when see that you so much want to participate the singers you are listening to. Many times then you just have to bite on your underlip to prevent that 🙂
I just saw the World Tour and how I missed Paul's power .
This performance is all one needs to understand how Russell Crowe was so incredibly out of his depth in the movie. Now when do we get your version? 😜⭐🌟🌠
Nick’s face is too boyish for Javert. If it wasn’t for his baritone voice he’d be better suited for one Marius or Enjolras.
I’ll take boyish as a compliment 😂
He really was out of his depth. Quast is so incredible it makes all other versions seem pretty weak
@@nickhiggsthesingerI saw a video explaining everything that's wrong in that nightmare of a movie, we should blame the director mostly (and after Cats, he should be banned from directing more musicals, The King's Speech is a good movie, so stay without songs man! 🙏).
😊@@nickhiggsthesinger
Quast and Jeff Lewis are the best Javerts. Jeff Lewis is alone on S-Tier and Quast is on God Mode
Hey nick, im a baritone but i want to sing tenor in our church… the problem is that the highest note i can sing is a F after that my voice breaks and everything just closes down. Do you think its possible to expand the range by a few notes for example up to an A or even B?
I think the female version of this clearness of pronunciation is probably Lea Salonga
I highly recommend checking out the Notre Dame Medley of Ringmasters: ruclips.net/video/Qo_N9_ZFBhs/видео.html
Great video, but I have to disagree that no villain thinks they are a villain. Case in point: the Thernadiers. They delight in being unapologetically vile and their last line is a mocking "see you all in hell."
And that's what makes them such fantastic characters.
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!!!!!
He's not really a villain. He's upholding the law what they thought in the 1800s France. He's a police officer who really believed in what he was doing
Police can be villains, too. Although, it is from France that we get this notion of villain, which, in its original sense, it is difficult to simply be the 'bad guy' or 'evil.' The traditional villain was essentially the middle class merchant, and somewhat a penny pincher always fussing about economic issues. They were in contrast to the novels who considered the village merchant a busy body always harping about finances and ways to make a profit. Of course, nobles didn't have to worry about such things as they owned the land, so they were getting paid rent, rather than having to pay rent. The storytellers often poked fun of the merchants for this reason, because novels were the paying audience. It took some time, and was around the Enlightenment period that tables had turned a bit - or at least people became more distrusting of monarchs and saw the nobility the villains in the more modern sense of bad guys and evildoers.
Please watch his Masterclasses, then you know how he does sing
If I wanted to hear gibber jabber through the whole thing, I'd put on a mask and go to the damn theater to be miserable.
Damn Michael chill out
Are you aware the title is professional singer reacts. Are you aware that you can google the actual song with no commentary? I'm sure you are. So what exactly was the point of your comment. You come onto someones site to criticize them for doing exactly what they said they were going to do. Not the way in which they did it but the fact they did it at all. Good Grief.
@@jekenzeR You should know.
Enjoyed your input ,but can we get to the end so I can go to bed 😂