Les Misérables

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

Surely Basil Poledouris knew that it would be almost impossible to repeat his mastery he portrayed in the soundtrack Farewell to the King, but he came awfully close with Les Misérables, another version of the classic tale of Victor Hugo's novel. The recent picture includes Academy nominees like Liam Neeson, Uma Thurman and Claire Daines among other great actors. But perhaps the biggest achievement and gift is Basil Poledouris' enchanting and superb score. Like any soundtrack, the melodic improvement is heard during the entire score and the excellence that portrays its beauty is pure magic. It is one of the best scores of the year and any fan should witness the astonishing capabilities of Poledouris' score.

Les Misérables has four chapters (each chapter exists of various moments of score, altogether becoming massive tracks a la Hans Zimmer's Crimson Tide). Chapter one begins with the beautiful main theme, heard many times and each version is masterfully performed by the orchestra. Which orchestra is not said though. The melodic improvement remains during the entire score and every track is a definite delight. Chapter two contains more power, the dramatic touch rules over every second of music but the bravery and the love is perfectly portrayed by Poledouris' music. Chapter three is equally enchanting, the melodies are fantastic but sadly there isn't a outburst of power that makes this track special like the others. Still, it has soft and beautiful solos. Chapter four is the most tragic one, but also the most captivating of the four, with 'Farewell' and 'Javert's Suicide' as the biggest highlights.

Basil Poledouris has outdone himself once again and it will remain one of his all time favorites and best scores of his career. I will say this only once: "Les Misérables is a true piece of art, like Michelangelo would paint it. It has all the elements that makes it so enchanting, romance, melodrama, tragedy. This and so much more is found in Poledouris' album." What strikes me silly though are the track listings and times. Each of the four track times are incorrect, they differ from one minute to even 10 minutes as in the third track. True incompetence but luckily nothing is wrong with the score itself. Les Misérables is one of the best melodramatic scores I have heard in a very long time, Basil Poledouris' eye for detail and the beauty takes unparalleled height. Though the score doesn't hold the pure artistic level of a strong classic, it is a welcome score to any Poledouris collection.

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Tracks

Single Disc

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

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=== Link to Composer Site: Basil Poledouris ===