{"id":32478,"date":"2016-06-09T21:55:33","date_gmt":"2016-06-09T13:55:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lifestinymiracles.com\/?p=32478"},"modified":"2019-05-24T08:23:23","modified_gmt":"2019-05-24T00:23:23","slug":"les-miserables-singapore","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lifestinymiracles.com\/2016\/06\/les-miserables-singapore\/","title":{"rendered":"Les Mis\u00e9rables \u2013 Magnificently Moving Masterpiece"},"content":{"rendered":"

To love another person, is to see the face of God\u2019
\nJean Veajean, Les Mis\u00e9rables<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

I\u2019ve never imagined this \u2013 of all the world-class musicals our blog has featured, it would one day be graced by Les Mis\u00e9rables. Why? Because without a doubt, Les Mis is our family\u2019s absolute favourite musical.<\/p>\n

\"les-miserables-musical-singapore2016\"<\/p>\n

20 years ago, before Angie and I met, we each watched Les Mis\u00e9rables at the Singapore Kallang Theatre. A lot has changed since then but one thing remains \u2013 the indelible mark which this moving musical has left in our then young impressionable minds. So much so that when we visited New York in 2014 for our 15th wedding anniversary, we made sure we watched the new season of Les Mis\u00e9rables in Broadway (complete with our 6 year-old daughter in tow) and checked it off our bucket list.<\/p>\n

So what do we think of this most recent production in Singapore? Judging from the full-house capacity and the standing ovation that evening, I dare say Les Mis\u00e9rables, the longest running musical in the world, is still captivating audiences’ hearts worldwide.<\/p>\n

Why is Les Mis\u00e9rables such a phenomenal musical?<\/p>\n

1. The timeless virtues 
\n2. The songs, the moving music!
\n3. The acting<\/p>\n

1. The timeless virtues:<\/strong>
\nLes Mis\u00e9rables (pronounced \u201cLay Mi-Se-Rub\u201d) is derived from the famous novel of the same name by the French literary, Victor Hugo (who also wrote the Hunchback of Notre Dame). Loosely translated, it means \u2018The underdogs\u2019. Though the musical is set against a semi-fictional background of the French Revolution, universal themes such as prejudice, discrimination, youthful idealism, self-identity, love and loss, justice versus mercy are situations we modern day folks can still resonate with. Perhaps the strongest theme is that of the triumph of hope and the human spirit. In essence, Les Mis\u00e9rables is a musical that could change your life\u2026it did for us.<\/p>\n

\"Rodney<\/p>\n

2. The Songs and the Music:<\/strong>
\nI don\u2019t even know where to start with this. Les Mis\u00e9rables is one musical where it is so difficult to pinpoint a \u2018theme song\u2019. Though the most popular (and de facto theme song) would be \u2018I dreamed a dream\u2019 sung by Fantine in the early half of the musical, quite honestly, every other song in this musical with its touching lyrics and moving score, is capable to shine on its own. Virtually every song here is \u2018goosebump good\u2019. It was an added bonus to hear these famous tunes performed live by the orchestra! Here are some of our notable favorites: One Day More, Who Am I, Do you hear the people sing, A Heart Full Of Love, On my own, Empty Chairs and Empty Tables, Bring Him Home. You can listen to the samples of the songs here: http:\/\/www.lesmis.com\/singapore\/sights-and-sounds\/music\/<\/p>\n