Les Misérables
Basil Poledouris
" Basil reaches momentum again! "Written by Thomas Glorieux - Review of the regular release
Les Misérables is an 1862 French novel by author Victor Hugo and is widely considered to be one of the greatest novels of the nineteenth century. It follows the lives and interactions of several French characters over a seventeen-year period in the early nineteenth century. This novel has seen countless movie adaptations, Television productions, animations, musicals and plays. This movie version starring Liam Neeson, Geoffrey Rush, Uma Thurman, and Claire Danes is perhaps one of the more widely known productions of this famous novel. Not the least due to Basil Poledouris' winning score.
That score is divided into 4 parts, 4 long suites that deliver a beautiful, powerful, relaxing and resolving listening experience. We open with "Suite I: Valjean's Journey" and immediately opens the album with the wonderful main theme. Reminding me every time of Sommersby for whatever reason, it is an easy and yet again powerful Poledouris theme that he could deliver so easily during that time.
The second part will however deliver the people the most joyous part of all, if only because Poledouris goes for a more powerful approach in this one. "Suite II: Vigau" dares to deliver a powerful militaristic performance of the main theme, followed by surging dramatic moments and powerful encores. Despite being the longest track, it is one that captures my attention every time.
Track 3 or the third part of the score is by far the most relaxing one. It unleashes one powerful outburst near the end, but apart from that it delivers calm, beautiful and soft music that quite essentially goes deeper into the tragic tale of Les Misérables. Highlighting for once the dramatic moments with beautiful solos for harp and violin, "Suite III: Paris" surely makes an impact on you as well.
But the fourth part is definitely the most tragic one. "Suite IV: The Barricades" bursts into the forefront with a militaristic variation on the main theme, and follows after that with memorable moments such as "Farewell" and "Javert's Suicide" as the biggest highlights. Especially the final theme statement is one to remember.
Sadly such a wonderful album is only hindered when you experience amateurism at its finest. Each of the four track times on the back cover and booklet are incorrect, they differ from one minute to even 10 minutes as in the third track. Meaning what essentially sounds like a 64 minute listen is actually in truth only a 49 minute experience. But don't let that fool you, it doesn't hinder the listening experience once. Even the decision to deliver the music in 4 suites isn't such a bad part whatsoever. It fades down between each track, making the experience just as normal as tracks flowing into one another. Making my point that Les Misérables is a dramatic highnote in the career of Basil Poledouris. Though it doesn't reach the ultimate peak of Farewell to the King, it quite essentially proves what a dramatic and melodic heart Basil Poledouris possessed.
Tracklisting
1. Suite I: Valjean's Journey (6.09) Excellent track
a) Theme from Les Misérables
b) The Bishop
c) Javert
d) The Quarry
2. Suite II: Vigau (19.02) Excellent track
a) Javert Suspects
b) Caring for Fantine
c) Valjean's Confession
d) The Death of Fantine
e) Flight from Vigau
3. Suite III: Paris (12.48)
a) Valjean and Cosette
b) The Wall
c) Outside
d) Marius and Cosette
e) Valjean Remembers
4. Suite IV: The Barricades (11.15) Excellent track
a) Funeral Attack
b) Valjean Saves Marius
c) Farewell
d) Javert's Suicide
Total Length: 49.17
That score is divided into 4 parts, 4 long suites that deliver a beautiful, powerful, relaxing and resolving listening experience. We open with "Suite I: Valjean's Journey" and immediately opens the album with the wonderful main theme. Reminding me every time of Sommersby for whatever reason, it is an easy and yet again powerful Poledouris theme that he could deliver so easily during that time.
The second part will however deliver the people the most joyous part of all, if only because Poledouris goes for a more powerful approach in this one. "Suite II: Vigau" dares to deliver a powerful militaristic performance of the main theme, followed by surging dramatic moments and powerful encores. Despite being the longest track, it is one that captures my attention every time.
Track 3 or the third part of the score is by far the most relaxing one. It unleashes one powerful outburst near the end, but apart from that it delivers calm, beautiful and soft music that quite essentially goes deeper into the tragic tale of Les Misérables. Highlighting for once the dramatic moments with beautiful solos for harp and violin, "Suite III: Paris" surely makes an impact on you as well.
But the fourth part is definitely the most tragic one. "Suite IV: The Barricades" bursts into the forefront with a militaristic variation on the main theme, and follows after that with memorable moments such as "Farewell" and "Javert's Suicide" as the biggest highlights. Especially the final theme statement is one to remember.
Sadly such a wonderful album is only hindered when you experience amateurism at its finest. Each of the four track times on the back cover and booklet are incorrect, they differ from one minute to even 10 minutes as in the third track. Meaning what essentially sounds like a 64 minute listen is actually in truth only a 49 minute experience. But don't let that fool you, it doesn't hinder the listening experience once. Even the decision to deliver the music in 4 suites isn't such a bad part whatsoever. It fades down between each track, making the experience just as normal as tracks flowing into one another. Making my point that Les Misérables is a dramatic highnote in the career of Basil Poledouris. Though it doesn't reach the ultimate peak of Farewell to the King, it quite essentially proves what a dramatic and melodic heart Basil Poledouris possessed.
Tracklisting
1. Suite I: Valjean's Journey (6.09) Excellent track
a) Theme from Les Misérables
b) The Bishop
c) Javert
d) The Quarry
2. Suite II: Vigau (19.02) Excellent track
a) Javert Suspects
b) Caring for Fantine
c) Valjean's Confession
d) The Death of Fantine
e) Flight from Vigau
3. Suite III: Paris (12.48)
a) Valjean and Cosette
b) The Wall
c) Outside
d) Marius and Cosette
e) Valjean Remembers
4. Suite IV: The Barricades (11.15) Excellent track
a) Funeral Attack
b) Valjean Saves Marius
c) Farewell
d) Javert's Suicide
Total Length: 49.17