ENCORE OPERA FOUNDED BY STEVE SCHWARTZ For January 25, 2019 This Week’s Program MORE SHORT NOTES by Gene Martin Every time we show Les Miz, most NOTES BY STEVE SCHWARTZ folks leave the theater and miss the Grand finale that comes after the grand ————- finale(!). (This show really loves to do Runtime: 147 minutes • Filmed at Royal big choral numbers). There are too Albert Hall by BBC • DVD released in 2008 • Tenth Anniversary Dream Cast Concert many speeches between finales. I’ll try MPAA not rated • ASIN: B00110K62U to do something about that. This video contains footage not seen in the PBS pledge-drive version. Bella Vocci’s,“Songs for Cancer ————- Survivors” on Tuesday, February 12, These Notes addressed our 2015 performance. will include duets from Lakme, The Pearl The DVD and Steve’s views remain the same! Fishers, the Barcarole from Tales of Les Misérables premiered in Paris in 1984 Hoffman; additional arias are being and soon had been translated into about selected. Tickets for cancer survivors a dozen languages and played in even are free; $10 for all others. Everyone more countries in nearly all of which it must have a ticket; they will be “sold” broke records. It is based on the 19th on 2/6and 2/7 and then at the door. century novel of the same name by Saturdays at MetOPERA Victor Hugo as protest against the unfairness of society in his day. The book Feb.2: CARMEN was an equal success. 1:00 pm Radio and Live in HD broadcast The musical follows the book, telling the Feb.9: IOLANTA, BLUEBEARD’S CASTLE life of Jean Valjean, as he struggles to 1:00 pm Radio broadcast make a life for himself and his loved ones Feb.16: DON GIOVANNI in the repressive society that existed in 1:00 pm Radio and Live in HD broadcast France between 1815, the last days of Napoleon’s rule, and the failed People’s Feb.23: RIGOLETTO Revolution of 1832. It is quintessentially 1:00 pm Radio broadcast a French conception, emulating the ideas NEXT WEEK and evoking the emotions of that nation’s On February 1, we continue easing national anthem, Le Marseillaise. Its ourselves into 2019 with Gilbert and success in Paris led to its production in Sullivan’s The Mikado. By request, we London in 1985 with English lyrics. The will switch from our usual Canadian London production is the longest-running production to a 2011 version from opera musical in Great Britain’s history. Australia. S’okey mate? Page 1 of 6 This production was hyped by its Fantine, a single mother who never had producers (with validity) as “The Dream a chance and is forced into prostitution in Cast in Concert”. It stars Colin order to pay for her child's care. But she Wilkinson as Jean Valjean, Philip chose bad caretakers: the Thénardiers. Quast as Inspector Javert, Michael Ball (She sings the song that became the as Marius Pontmercy, Lea Salonga as most famous one in the show after Susan Éponine, Judy Kuhn as Cosette, Ruthie Boyle sang it on the internet: “I Henshall as Fantine, Michael Maguire Dreamed a Dream”.) as Enjolras and several others, and was Cosette, Fantine's daughter who is directed by John Caird. The performers mistreated by the Thénardiers until were chosen from London, Broadway and Valjean keeps his promise to Fantine to Australian productions of the show. rescue her. He adopts her and she grows At the end of the concert, after a series into a fine young woman. of bows and speeches, the production Monsieur and Madame Thénardier, a ends with an encore in which seventeen thoroughly crooked couple in Hugo’s actor-singers who each portrayed Jean novel who have no redeeming qualities. Valjean in different nations join Colin They were given comic personae in the Wilkinson on stage to each sing a line musical to add humor to the otherwise from "Do You Hear the People Sing?" dark plot. They own an inn and routinely Each sings the line in his own language. cheat their customers and abuse their They’re joined by the entire cast and charge, Cosette, while favoring their own chorus to sing the last verse of "One Day daughter Éponine. Later, in the People’s More!" – a rendition that to my mind, Rebellion they are leading members of a evokes a sense that you ‘re listening to band of thieves in the streets of Paris. an updated version of Le Marseillaise. The audience in the Royal Albert Hall Marius, a student and revolutionary who breaks into a frenzy of applause and a falls in love with Cosette. seemingly endless, standing ovation. Éponine, the young daughter of the BRIEF BIOS OF CENTRAL Thénardiers, contemporary of Cosette, CHARACTERS who later secretly falls in love Marius. Jean Valjean, imprisoned for nineteen Gavroche, a boy who joins the People’s years for stealing a loaf of bread. He is Revolution. He is symbolic of the youth paroled but is unable to find work with and boldness of the rebellion. This role his yellow card. He assumes the alias was greater in the original stage version. "Monsieur Madeleine” and lives a new life ACT ONE as an honest man. However, he is It is 1815 in a prison in Toulon, France constantly pursued by Javert. where all the prisoners work at hard Javert, the police inspector who first labor ("Work Song"). After nineteen encountered Valjean as a prison guard. years, five for stealing bread for his He is still obsessed with hunting Valjean starving sister’s family the rest for trying down, rigidly believing a convict can to escape, Jean Valjean, Prisoner never be redeemed. He always calls 24601 is released on parole by the Valjean "Prisoner 24601.” policeman Javert. Page 2 of 6 As a parolee, Valjean must display a Later, the mayor rescues a man who is yellow ticket-of-leave, which condemns pinned under a heavy cart ("The him as an outcast ("On Parole"). The Runaway Cart"). The incident reminds Bishop of Digne offers him food and Javert of Valjean, who also exhibited shelter, but Valjean steals silver from great strength, but Javert assures our him. When he is caught by the police the hero that he’s safe since a man has been bishop lies to save Valjean, and thereby arrested and identified as Jean Valjean. helps him begin a new life. Now our hero has a moral dilemma: for Humbled by the bishop's mercy and the past eight years he has ‘gone kindness, Valjean decides to follow the straight’ and become a pillar of society, bishop's advice but realizes he must with hundreds of workers relying on him break his parole to get that new start for their livelihood. Should he give all and we hear his first great soliloquy that up to save an unjustly accused man ("What Have I Done?"). he doesn’t know? We hear his agonizing We skip to eight years later. Valjean has innermost thoughts. (“Who am I?”) assumed a new identity as Monsieur He takes the high road, but before Madeleine and become a wealthy factory submitting to arrest, he visits the dying owner and mayor of a small town. One of Fantine and promises to find and look his workers, Fantine, is harassed by the after her daughter Cosette. When other women for sending money for the Javert arrives to arrest him, Valjean asks care of her secret illegitimate child who for three more days to fetch Cosette. Of lives with an innkeeper and his wife ("At course Javert refuses and intends to the End of the Day"). Valjean breaks up arrest him ("The Confrontation"). With a fight and orders his foreman to settle no other alternative, Valjean physically the matter. The female cabal demands overcomes Javert and escapes. Once that Fantine be fired, and because she again, he is a fugitive pursued by Javert. had previously rejected his advances, the The next scene is in the Thénardiers inn foreman dismisses her. where Cosette has been boarded using Fantine sings about her broken dreams money Fantine had been sending. The and about the father of her daughter who Thénardiers have been abusing the little abandoned her. (“I Dreamed a Dream”) girl, while favoring their own daughter, This song was always a show-stopper Éponine. In a truly ethereal aria, Cosette ever before Susan Boyle’s rendition. dreams of a better life ("Castle on a Desperate for money to support her Cloud") before Madame Thénardier daughter, she finally turns to prostitution cruelly sends her to fetch water in the (“Lovely Ladies"). When she fights back dark, despite the frightened girl’s pleas. against an abusive customer, she is After the husband lets us know of the arrested by Javert ("Fantine's Arrest"). many slimy tricks he and his wife Valjean, now in his role as the honest regularly use to cheat their customers burgher ‘Madeleine’ arrives. She has ("Master of the House"), we hear a become quite ill and as Mayor, he orders humorous duet between the couple, Javert to release her. He takes her to a using the same melody and catch-phrase hospital, where she will soon die. in a way that serves to ease our anger. Page 3 of 6 Valjean finds Cosette fetching water Although Valjean realizes his daughter ("The Bargain") and pays the Thénardiers has grown up, he refrains from telling a substantial amount to let him take her her about his life or her mother’s past away. ("The Waltz of Treachery”) and she sings of her lack of knowledge of It is 1830; Paris is in upheaval. The her history ("In My Life"). rebels learn that a man who represents Despite loving Marius, Éponine leads him the hopes of the masses is dying. The to Cosette ("A Heart Full of Love"). street urchin Gavroche mingles with Believing that Javert is close to capturing people, while students Marius and his him, Valjean plans to go into exile and friend Enjolras discuss the pending tells Cosette they must prepare to flee death of their leader. ("Look Down”). The the country. Cosette and Marius part in Thénardiers have become part of a street despair of ever meeting again. Éponine gang that robs the rebels (the good mourns the loss of Marius, who decides guys). Thénardier recognizes Valjean, to join the other students as they who has joined the rebels, as the man prepare for the upcoming conflict. Javert who took Cosette and thinks ruefully that proceeds with his plan to spy on the h e c o u l d h a v e h a d m o r e ( " The students while the Thénardiers look Robbery”). His daughter Éponine warns forward to stealing from more corpses as Marius, whom she secretly loves, to the chorus closes Act One with an avoid the upcoming street battle, but exciting number. ("One Day More”) Marius does not listen. He meets Cosette ACT TWO and they fall in love. As the students begin to erect a The Thénardiers attempt to rob Valjean barricade ("At the Barricade"), Marius and Cosette, but are foiled by Javert, notices that Éponine, disguised as a boy, who had infiltrated the rebels’ ranks but has joined the rebels so as to be near does not recognize Valjean until after him no matter what. In a doomed effort helping him escape (" J a v e r t ' s to keep her safe, he writes a letter to Intervention"). Javert gazes at the night Cosette and sends Eponine away from sky, comparing his search for Valjean and the barricades to deliver it. She is his concept of justice to the order of the intercepted by Javert and decides that, heavens (“Stars"). Meanwhile, even despite what Marius said, she must rejoin though Marius does not know Cosette's him at the barricade ("On My Own"). name, he persuades a reluctant Éponine The students defy an army warning to to help find her ("Éponine's Errand"). surrender or die. Javert lies telling them Marius arrives at a gathering of students the army will not attack tonight ("Javert's planning to revolt when Gavroche brings Arrival"), but he is exposed as a spy by the news of their leader’s death. This Gavroche ("Little People"). Éponine is introduces one of the great chorus shot returning to the barricades and dies numbers, which will be reprised later and in Marius's arms ("A Little Fall of Rain"). induce even stronger emotions. It never Valjean arrives at the barricades to find fails to get your juices flowing with a Marius as the first battle erupts, and he mixture of outrage and hope. ("Do You saves Marius’s friend Enjolras, by Hear the People Sing?") shooting a sniper ("The First Attack").

Page 4 of 6 Valjean asks to be rewarded by being Back on the streets, several women given the honor of killing Javert, but once mourn the deaths of the young students alone, he releases Javert and helps him (“Turning") and we see Marius mourning escape. The students settle down for the for his dead friends in a heart-breaking night ("Drink With Me") while Valjean number ("Empty Chairs at Empty prays, asking God to save Marius from Tables"). He wonders who saved him the onslaught in the song that became when he was wounded on the barricades Colin Wilkinson’s signature number as he is comforted by Cosette, who tells ("Bring Him Home"). him that she will never leave him ("Every As dawn approaches, the rebels realize Day") and they reaffirm their love. the people have abandoned them but Valjean confesses to Marius that he is an resolve to fight on to the end ("Dawn of escaped convict and asks Marius to Anguish"). With ammunition running low promise never to tell Cosette ("Valjean's during the second attack, Gavroche goes Confession"). into no-man’s land to collect more, but As Marius and Cosette are married he is shot and dies ("The Second Attack / ("Wedding Chorale"), the ever- Death of Gavroche"). resourceful Thénardiers crash the The students realize they will likely die, wedding reception disguised as "The but when the army issues a final demand Baron and Baroness du Thénard". The to surrender, they remain defiant. In the husband tells Marius that Valjean is a ensuing battle, they are all killed except murderer, saying he saw him carrying a Marius, who is wounded, and Valjean, corpse in the sewers. When Thénardier who is unhurt ("The Final Battle"). shows Marius the ring he took from the corpse, Marius realizes he was the Carrying the unconscious Marius on his "corpse" and Valjean had saved his life. back, Valjean escapes through the The newlyweds leave the Thénardiers to sewers of Paris. Thénardier is also celebrate ("Beggars at the Feast"). roaming the sewers, stealing valuables from bodies, laughingly bragging that he Valjean prepares to die, having nothing is performing a service to the community left to live for. The ghosts of Fantine and ("Dog Eats Dog"). As Valjean is resting, Éponine arrive to help him to Heaven. Thénardier takes a ring off Marius's hand Cosette and Marius bid him farewell, and thinking him to be dead; he flees when Marius thanks him for saving his life Valjean wakes up. ("Valjean's Death"). Valjean gives Cosette his confession to read, and as he As Valjean leaves the sewer still carrying sleeps his final mortal sleep, the souls of Marius, Javert arrests him. Valjean begs Fantine and Éponine guide him to Javert for an hour to get Marius to a Paradise, his long struggle over. doctor. Javert agrees, not knowing why. Left alone, he tries to reconcile his rigid Then the entire cast of characters, living set of values with the gift of mercy that and dead, supported by the London Valjean showed him. He cannot and torn Symphony Orchestra and the huge by these conflicting views, he commits chorus on the stage of the Royal Albert suicide, throwing himself into the Seine Hall, join in one more stirring rendition of River ("Javert's Suicide"). “Do You Hear the People Sing?” Page 5 of 6 At this point the re-telling of Jean It’s hokey and self-promoting, but it has Valjean’s story is over, and we will raise the desired impact on everyone the theater lights partially. (including me) as I am sure it will have But, don’t leave yet, because as I on you. By the time you hear the last mentioned above, the show’s producer, note sung and the sound of applause dies Cameron MacKintosh, gives the audience down, every one of us will find ourselves an extra present with seventeen actor- wrung out emotionally. singers from as many different countries That’s what this show was intended to where Les Miz was presented, each do. I confidently predict that you will be singing a line of the song in his native feeling richer for having had a totally tongue. unforgettable theatrical experience. Steve Schwartz✍

OPERA NOTES FOR : This Friday at 1:00 PM at Encore Theater

Encore Opera is published weekly by email to inform the Riderwood Opera Theater community. It is edited and printed by Gene Martin and distributed by Paula Cook to cubbies of residents without email. • For a free subscription send name and apartment (cubby) address to Paula Cook, KC 211 or email [email protected]. • Riderwood Opera Theater concerts (Encore Opera, Bella Vocci, and Live Opera Highlights) are produced by David Abraham, Mike Beard, Paula Cook, Sally Koenig, Joan Kugler, Gene Martin, Al Morey, Steve Schwartz, and Millie Trimble who invite you to join us.

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