一个伟大的基督徒的告白：法国作家雨果
维克多·雨果(Victor
Hugo，～）
19世纪浪漫主义文学运动领袖，人道主义的代表人物，被人们称为“法兰西的莎士比亚”。
雨果说：“一个人如要永死，那生命便毫无价值。我深深觉得有将来的生命，更有生气。不信神的人，以为灵魂依附肉体的；但我觉得我的肉体越衰老，灵命越辉煌。50年来，我用散文、诗歌、历史、哲学、戏剧、小说和讽刺等各种方式来表达我的思想，但我觉得我还没有发表我千分之一的思想。一旦我进入坟墓，我只能说，我已做完了世上的工作；但我不能说，我已结束了我的生命。坟墓不是此路不通的死巷，乃是一条引导前程的大道，正如黎明以前的黑暗。我的工作，正是方兴未艾。人类渴慕永生，即是永世的证明。”
雨果说：“如神许可，给我充分的时间，我要写一本关于祷告的书。就我个人生活而言，我至少每隔四小时必定祷告一次，我每天早晚必定祷告，那是我规定的功课。如我夜间步行，我必祷告。我为什么祷告?第一是求神给我力量，第二是因为我虽有是非之心，但深知我的缺陷，我没有力量抵挡罪恶。但是神在四周围绕我，他在支持我，我们在他里面，我们的生活、动作、存留都在乎他，万物都是藉他而造的!”
雨果80岁后精辟地表达他的信仰：“我发现自己已享受到永生。我像一片树林，经过多次砍伐，而新长出来的枝条，不但比旧有的更有活力，而且高耸入云。艳阳给我热力，土地供应我丰富的浆汁，天堂给我亮光，让我预知未来的世界。你说灵魂毫无价值，它完全受到身体的辖制；那为何我的体力日益衰退，灵命反倒更加光明，这又当作何解释呢?
我满头白发，显示我进入冬天；然而心灵却充满温暖，正值永恒的春天。就在此刻，我闻到紫金香、紫罗兰和玫瑰的香味，这种感受和20岁时没有两样。我越接近生命的尾声，却听得更清楚，就是四周世界那永恒的交响乐，正向我提出邀请，它是那么美妙且是如此单纯。”
雨果还说：“圣经中的《约伯记》是一本最伟大的作品。”《约伯记》在文学上的价值，已得到许多著名作家的推崇，有的作家认为它不但富于文学价值，并且对大自然的各种奇妙现象有极深刻的描述，甚至有些地方与今日的科学暗相吻合。
雨果临终前写诗说：“主啊，我求你，一天也别让我等了，请你快快召唤，快快把我召去吧!”他在日记中写道：“人间的萧条叫人凄凉，听力在减弱，视力在昏暗，主啊，请迎接我的灵魂吧。”他并无遗憾地说：“雨果看来是要去见神了。”他的遗嘱，开头这样说：“神、灵魂、责任这三个概念对一个人足够了，对我来说也足够了，宗教(指基督教)的本质就在其中。我抱着这个信念生活过，我也要抱着这个信念去死。真理、光明、正义、良心，这就是神。神如同白昼。我留下4万法郎给贫苦的人们。”
他在遗嘱的最后说：“我的肉眼很快要闭上了，但我精神的明眸将一如既往地灿若朝霞。我请求每一个有信仰的灵魂为我祈祷。”
无神论是何等的可怜，卑微和可笑啊！因为神乃是明明存在的。我对神的存在，比我自己的存在，更觉真实。信仰，是人们所必须的。什么也不信的人不会有幸福。
雨果出生于法国东部紧挨瑞士的杜省贝桑松，他的父亲是拿破仑手下的一位将军，儿时的雨果随父在西班牙驻军，10岁回巴黎上学，中学毕业入法学院学习，但他的兴趣在于写作。他15岁时在法兰西学院的诗歌竞赛会得奖，17岁时在“百花诗赛”得第一名，20岁时出版了诗集《颂诗集》，因歌颂波旁王朝复辟，获路易十八赏赐，之后写了大量异国情调的诗歌。之后他对波旁王朝和七月王朝都感到失望，成为共和主义者，他还写过许多诗剧和剧本，几部具有鲜明特色并贯彻其主张的小说。
1841年雨果被选为法兰西学院院士，1845年任上院议员，1848年二月革命后，任共和国议会代表，1851年拿破仑三世称帝，雨果奋起反对而被迫流亡国外，流亡期间写下一部政治讽刺诗《惩罚集》，每章配有拿破仑三世的一则施政纲领条文，并加以讽刺，还用拿破仑一世的功绩和拿破仑三世的耻辱对比。
1870年法国不流血革命推翻拿破仑三世后，雨果返回巴黎。雨果一生著作等身，几乎涉及文学所有领域，评论家认为，他的创作思想和现代思想最为接近，他死后法国举国志哀，被安葬在聚集法国名人纪念牌的“先贤祠”。
雨果几乎经历了19世纪法国的所有重大事变。一生写过多部诗歌、小说、剧本、各种散文和文艺评论及政论文章，是法国有影响的人物。雨果的创作历程超过60年，作品等身，包括26卷诗歌、20卷小说、12卷剧本、21卷哲理论著，合计79卷之多，给法国文学和人类文化宝库增添了一份十分辉煌的文化遗产。其代表作是：长篇小说《巴黎圣母院》《悲惨世界》《海上劳工》《笑面人》《九三年》，诗集《光与影》等。短篇小说：《“诺曼底”号遇难记》。&&
《悲惨世界》
《悲惨世界》是由克劳德-米歇尔．勋伯格和阿兰．鲍伯利（Alain
Boublil）共同创作的一部音乐剧，改编自维克多．雨果的同名小说。故事以法国大革命为背景，讲述主人公尚万强在多年前遭判重刑，假释後计划重生做人，改变社会，但却遇上种种困难。该剧於1980年在法国巴黎的
Palais ds Sports
首次公演。原本预计上演八个星期，结果演出了十六个星期，因为之後的日子场地已经被预订才不得不结束。
悲惨世界曾被英国 BBC 电台第二台的听众选为「全国第一不可或缺的音乐剧」。
百老汇版本
百老汇版本於日在百老汇剧场开幕，寇姆．威尔金斯和弗朗斯．卢菲勒在此重新演绎他们的角色。当年该剧被评为东尼奖最佳音乐剧，并且同时获得了另外五个奖项：迈克．马奎尔获最佳男主角奖，弗朗斯．卢菲勒获最佳女主角奖，克劳德-米歇尔．勋伯格和阿兰．鲍伯利获最佳剧本奖，特莱沃．努恩和约翰凯尔德获最佳导演奖，戴维．赫西获最佳灯光设计奖。
本剧在百老汇剧院演出至日，而後迁移至帝国戏院演出。原本预计在日停演，也许是因为这项公布而引起观众热潮，导致停演日期延後。经过了十六年共六千六百八十场的演出，当它在2003年五月十八日停演时，成为排名在猫剧之後，在百老汇演出期间第二长的音乐剧。然而此纪录在2006年被歌剧魅影超越，使本剧成为百老汇史上演出第三长的音乐剧。
请听：Michael
Ball 演唱《悲惨世界》片断：
空桌空椅（Empty
Chairs at Empty Tables）-- 感人肺腑!!！
There's a grief that can't be
There's a pain goes on and on.
Empty chairs at empty tables,
now my friends are dead and gone.
悲哀深深啊, 我欲诉无语
伤痛绵绵啊, 我挥之不去
空荡荡的椅子围着空荡荡的桌子
如今, 我的朋友们已死去, 随风而逝
Here they talked of revolution,
here it was they lit the flame,
here they sang about tomorrow and tomorrow never came.
在这里, 他们曾谈论革命
在这里, 他们曾点燃火苗
在这里, 他们歌唱过明天, 而明天永不降临
From the table in the corner,
They could see a world reborn,
And they rose with voices ringing,
The very words that they had sung
Became their last communion
On the lonely barricade, at dawn.
从墙隅的桌旁
他们看到世界的重生
他们站起来, 随着嘹亮的呼声
现在, 我听到了他们的声音;
街垒沉寂, 黎明时分
他们吟唱的歌曲
成为他们最后的话语
Oh my friends, my friends forgive me
That I live and you are gone
There's a grief that can't be spoken,
There's a pain goes on and on...
哦, 我的朋友们, 我的朋友们, 请宽恕我
我苟活着, 你们却已逝去
悲哀深深啊, 我欲诉无语
伤痛绵绵啊, 我挥之不去
Phantom faces at the window,
Phantom shadows on the floor,
Empty chairs at empty tables where my friends will meet no
Oh my friends, my friends don't ask me
what your sacrifice was for
Empty chairs at empty tables
Where my friend will sing no more.
窗边闪过幽灵的面孔
地板上恍忽幻影憧憧
空荡荡的椅子围着空荡荡的桌子
在这里, 我的朋友们不再聚在一起
哦, 我的朋友们, 我的朋友们, 请不要问我
你们的牺牲究竟是为了什么
空荡荡的椅子围在空荡荡的桌旁
在这里, 我的朋友们不再放声歌唱
不该凋零的花...
世界上最宽阔的是海洋，比海洋更宽阔的是天空，比天空更宽阔的是人的胸怀。
未来将属于两种人：思想的人和劳动的人，实际上，这两种人是一种人，因为思想也是劳动。
在绝对正确的革命之上还有一个绝对正确的人道主义。
人的智慧掌握着三把钥匙，一把开启数字，一把开启字母，一把开启音符。知识、思想、幻想就在其中。
世人缺乏的是毅力,而非气力。
大胆是取得进步所付出的代价。
应该相信，自己是生活的强者。
艺术的大道上荆棘丛生，这也是好事，常人都望而怯步，只有意志坚强的人例外。
谁虚度年华，青春就要褪色，生命就会抛弃他们。
笑声如阳光，驱走人们脸上的冬天。
勉强应允不如坦诚拒绝。
释放无限光明的是人心，制造无边黑暗的也是人心。
书籍是造就灵魂的工具。
人，有了物质才能生存；人，有了理想才谈得上生活。
脚步不能达到的地方，眼光可以到达;眼光不能到达的地方,精神可以飞到。
多办一所学校，可少建一座监狱。
生活就是面对微笑。
人的两只耳朵，一只听到上帝的声音，一只听到魔鬼的声音。
我宁愿靠自己的力量，打开我的前途，而不愿求有力者垂青。
人类第一种饥饿就是无知。
***********************
彩虹的印记：有关基督徒
已投稿到：
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by . Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (August 2008)
is one of the most famous and most performed
worldwide. It is based on the novel
by , which follows the struggles of a cast of characters as they seek redemption and revolution in 19th century . French composer
composed the -winning score in 1980, with a libretto by . It was staged in London's
in 1985, with English lyrics by . On October 3, 2010, the West End production celebrated its
and became the longest-running West End musical in history.
The show has since found further success on
and in many other countries around the world.
There have been several recordings of this material, including ones by the original London cast and original Broadway cast. However, no recording contains the entire performance of songs, score and spoken parts
The Complete Symphonic Recording comes closest, but a pair of songs that were cut from the show following the initial London run, as well as one song only present in the Original French Concept Album, are not included.
The characters who sing solos or duets are:
, a morally conflicted paroled convict, prisoner 24601, and the protagonist. Failing to find work with his yellow parole note and redeemed by the Bishop of Digne's mercy, he tears his passport up and conceals his identity (under the alias "Monsieur Madeleine" and later "Monsieur Fauvelevant) in order to live his life again as an honest man. However, Javert co
, a struggling single mother who becomes a street prostitute in order to pay for her child's well-
, a willful police inspector, originally a prison-guard, who becomes obsessed with hunting down Valjean to whom he refers as "Prisoner 24601";
, the young daughter of the sinister Thénardiers who was pampered and spoiled as a child but grows up to be ragged in Paris. She secretly loves M
, Fantine's daughter, who is abused and mistreated by the Thénardiers but whom Valjean later adopts – she soon grows into a b
, a French student and revolutionary who falls in love with C
, a crooked couple who own an inn and exploit their customers. They later become a feared band of thieves in the streets of P
, leader of the student revolutionaries who seek to bring revolution and change to F
, a hotheaded young boy who is adored by the people and aligns himself with their revolution – he is a true symbol of the youth and boldness of the rebellion.
a revolutionary who doesn't believe in the causes and reveres Enjolras - He admires
and is often drunk
Overture –
(Orchestra)
Prologue: Work Song – Chain Gang, Javert and Valjean
Prologue: On Parole – Valjean, Farmer, Labourer, Innkeeper's Wife and Innkeeper
Prologue: Valjean Arrested, Valjean Forgiven – Constables and Bishop
Prologue: What Have I Done? – Valjean
At the End of the Day – Fantine, The Poor, Foreman, Workers, Factory Girls and Valjean
I Dreamed a Dream – Fantine
Lovely Ladies – Fantine, Sailors, Whores, Old Woman, Crone and Pimp
Fantine's Arrest – Fantine, Bamatabois, Javert and Valjean
The Runaway Cart – Onlookers, Valjean, Fauchelevent and Javert
Who Am I? – Valjean
Fantine's Death – Fantine and Valjean
The Confrontation – Javert and Valjean
Castle on a Cloud – Young Cosette and Madame Thénardier
Master of the House – Thénardier, Madame Thénardier and Chorus
The Well Scene – Valjean and Young Cosette
The Bargain / The Thénardier Waltz of Treachery – Thénardier, Valjean, Madame Thénardier and Young Cosette
Suddenly – Valjean ( only)
The Convent ( only)
Stars – Javert
Look Down – Beggars, Gavroche, Old Woman, Prostitute, Pimp, Enjolras and Marius
The Robbery / Javert's Intervention – Thénardier, Madame Thénardier, ?ponine, Marius, Valjean and Javert
?ponine's Errand – Marius and ?ponine
The ABC Café / Red and Black – Students, Enjolras, Marius, Grantaire and Gavroche
Do You Hear the People Sing? – Enjolras, Grantaire, Students and Beggars
In My Life – Cosette, Valjean, Marius and ?ponine
A Heart Full of Love – Marius, Cosette and ?ponine
The Attack on Rue Plumet – Thénardier, Thieves, ?ponine, Marius, Valjean and Cosette
One Day More – Valjean, Marius, Cosette, ?ponine, Enjolras, Javert, Thénardier, Madame Thénardier and Company
At the Barricade (Upon These Stones) – Enjolras, Javert, Marius, ?ponine and Valjean
On My Own – ?ponine
Building the Barricade (Upon These Stones) – Enjolras, Students and Army Officer
Javert's Arrival – Javert and Enjolras
Little People – Gavroche, Students, Enjolras and Javert
A Little Fall of Rain – ?ponine and Marius
Night of Anguish – Enjolras, Valjean, and Students
The First Attack – Enjolras, Grantaire, Students, Valjean and Javert
Drink with Me – Grantaire and Marius
Bring Him Home – Valjean
Dawn of Anguish – Enjolras and Students
The Second Attack (Death of Gavroche) – Enjolras, Marius, Valjean, Grantaire, Gavroche and Students
The Final Battle – Army Officer, Grantaire, Enjolras and Students
The Sewers – Instrumental (Orchestra)
Dog Eats Dog (The Sewers) – Thénardier
Javert's Suicide – Valjean and Javert
Turning – Women of Paris
Empty Chairs at Empty Tables – Marius
Every Day / A Heart Full of Love (Reprise) – Cosette, Marius and Valjean
Valjean's Confession – Valjean and Marius
Suddenly (Reprise) – Marius and Cosette (2012 film only)
Wedding Chorale – Guests, Thénardier, Marius and Madame Thénardier
Beggars at the Feast – Thénardier and Madame Thénardier
Epilogue: Valjean's Death – Valjean, Fantine, Cosette, Marius and ?ponine
Finale: Do You Hear the People Sing (Reprise) – Full Company
The "Overture" is the opening song and a dramatic instrumental introduction that establishes the setting as Toulon, France, 1815. The "Work Song" flows from the "Overture", its lyrics opening with a choir of imprisoned men, but eventually becoming a dark duet between the prisoner Jean Valjean and the guard Javert. In early versions, such as in the Original London Recording, the "Overture" was essentially just a minor version of the beginning of "At the End of the Day," but is now almost exclusively played with part of the same melody as the "Work Song".
French Versions
1980 Original French Version – This song did not appear, nor did any of the Prologue.
1991 Parisian Revival Version – This song is known as Ouverture (Overture) and Le bagne : pitié, pitié (The Prison: Mercy, mercy).
"On Parole" is the second song in the Prologue.
French Versions
1980 Original French Version – This song did not appear, nor did any of the Prologue.
1991 Parisian Revival Version – This song is known as En liberté conditionnelle (On Parole).
The song contains two parts, the first in which Valjean is invited in by the Bishop and steals the silver, the second, where Valjean is caught by two constables. The former is often cut out of recordings. When the both parts are played, the song is usually known as "The Bishop of Digne".
French Versions
1980 Original French Version – This song did not appear, nor did any of the Prologue.
1991 Parisian Revival Version – This song is known as L’évêque de Digne (The Bishop of Digne).
"What Have I Done?" is the fourth and final song in the Prologue, sung by the main character, .
French Versions
1980 Original French Version – This song did not appear, nor did any of the Prologue.
1991 Parisian Revival Version – This song is known as Pourquoi ai-je permis à cet homme? (Why Did I Allow That Man?).
The music of "At the End of the Day" is fast and intricate, with different melodies coinciding as sung by various groups of poor women and men, female workers, solos by certain workers, and repetitious instrumentation.
French Versions
1980 Original French Version – This song is known as La journée est finie (The Day is Finished), in which it features as the first song.
1991 Parisian Revival Version – This song is known as Quand un jour est passé (When a Day is Past).
Main article:
"I Dreamed a Dream" is a
during the first act and the play's most famous number. Most of the music is soft and melancholic, but towards the end becomes louder and taut with frustration and anguish as she cries aloud about the wretched state of her life and her unfair mistreatment.
Some notable musical connections with this song include:
"I Dreamed a Dream" starts in E? Major, then E Minor, then F Major – "On My Own" starts in D Major, moving to B? Major, and ending in F Major.
"I Dreamed a Dream,” outlines unfairness and woe in Fantine's life, the second half dedicated to her former male partner, who deserted her after the conception of Cosette. In "On My Own," ?ponine outlines her desire to be with the character , and (similarly to Fantine), dreams and imagines him by her side.
Near the one-minute mark (slightly after in "I Dreamed a Dream"), the final key signature change is made and the music and singing grows louder and more intense, as is done in "On My Own."
Other uses
's characters
(portrayed by
and , respectively) recorded a
of this song.
Other covers include
(from his 1987 live album ) and
(from her 1991 album What You See Is What You Sweat). Franklin also performed this song for U.S. President
on the evening of the day that he was .
In the 1991 film , one of the auditionees for the titular band sings I Dreamed a Dream as her audition song.
performed it in 2009 for her audition on the third season of the
programme . The song's renewed popularity caused 's 1985 recording to enter the , peaking at forty-five with 4,987
sales. "I Dreamed a Dream" is the musical's only chart hit.
French Versions
1980 Original French Version – This song is known as J'avais rêvé d'une autre vie (I Had Dreamed of Another Life).
1991 Parisian Revival Version – This song is known as J'avais rêvé (I Had Dreamed).
"Lovely Ladies" is a song from the first act. It is followed by "Fantine's Arrest" and sometimes the two are counted as one song. Fantine, now unemployed, wanders to the docks where she eventually turns to prostitution to survive.
French Versions
1980 Original French Version – This song did not appear on the recording, but was a part of the stage show as a song known as La nuit (The Night), which features similar events as the scene where Fantine sells her hair in Les beaux cheveux que voilà (The Beautiful Hair That is There). A shortened version of this song was added at the end of J'avais rêvé d'une autre vie (I Had Dreamed of Another Life), which features the same melody as the final and slower section of Lovely Ladies.
1991 Parisian Revival Version – This song is known as Tu viens, chéri! (You Come, Darling!).
"Fantine's Arrest" is a song from the first act. It follows "" (the two are sometimes counted as one song). Valjean's appearance in the song is sometimes referred to as "Valjean's Intervention". This song is followed by "".
French Versions
1980 Original French Version – This song was separated into two songs, which were called Dites-moi ce qui se passe (Tell Me What Happened) and Fantine et Monsieur Madeleine (Fantine and Monsieur Madeleine).
1991 Parisian Revival Version – This song was cut from the recording.
"The Runaway Cart" is a song from the first act, divided into two parts. The chorus, Fauchelevent, and Valjean sing the first with instrumental parts. Valjean sings the second one and Javert on a medium-paced tune often picked up by Javert or other policemen (first sung in ""). The song is cut heavily or left completely out in most recordings. It is known in the School Edition as "The Cart Crash".
French Versions
1980 Original French Version – This song did not appear on the recording, but was a part of the stage show in slightly longer form.
1991 Parisian Revival Version – This song was cut from the recording.
"Who Am I?" is a song from the first act, a solo sung by the main character . It is rather slow-paced, and shares a melody with Valjean's solo in "One Day More," as well as the ten-years-later sequence after the Prologue.
French Versions
1980 Original French Version – This song did not appear on the recording, but was a part of the stage show as Comment faire? (What to Do?). It includes an additional stanza, in which Valjean shortly reveals his past, since the concept version did not contain the Prologue.
1991 Parisian Revival Version – This song is known as Le procès : comment faire? (The Trial – What to Do?).
"Fantine's Death", also known as "Come to Me", is a song from the first act. It is followed by "". It is slow-paced and the tune is very soft. It has the same melody as the more famous "".
French Versions
1980 Original French Version – This song did not appear.
1991 Parisian Revival Version – This song is known as La mort de Fantine (Fantine's Death).
The main opposing characters Jean Valjean and Javert sing "The Confrontation". It follows "" and is followed by "Castle on a Cloud". The song is low and slow-paced. The instrumentation behind the vocals is the same as in the "", the melody partly also picks up that song. The song's highlight is Javert and Valjean singing in , with the lead alternating.
French Versions
1980 Original French Version – This song did not appear. In the stage show, a doctor shortly informed Valjean of Fantine's death and Valjean asked three days to fetch Cosette, which Javert refuses. The music was entirely different, but finished in the same instrumental climax that is still used.
1991 Parisian Revival Version – This song is known as La confrontation (The Confrontation).
"Castle on a Cloud" is a
for the part of young . She sings about a castle where she does not have to sweep floors and a lady all in white looks after her. It is followed by a
that breaks away from the main melody, involving the first entrance of Mme Thénardier, which is cut from many recordings. Mme Thénardier verbally abuses Cosette, orders her to fetch some water from a well, praises her daughter young ?ponine (a silent role), and again refers to Cosette (after ?ponine points to her to show she did not leave), warning that she never asks twice.
French Versions
1980 Original French Version – The main song is called Mon prince est en chemin (My Prince is On the Way) where it is preceded by a long instrumental section. The part where Cosette is caught by Mme Thénardier is called Mam'zelle
(Miss Toad) that is added onto the end of "Castle on a Cloud" in the English version.
1991 Parisian Revival Version – This song is known as Une poupée dans la vitrine (A Doll in a Window). This is a r to a doll, Cosette has seen in a shop and which Valjean will later buy for her.
"Master of the House" is one of the better-known songs of the musical and one that provides . It introduces the Thénardiers and the crooked way that they operate their inn. The song is preceded by a lengthy introduction sung largely by regulars at the inn and Thénardier himself, which is cut from almost all recordings.
French Versions
1980 Original French Version – This song is known as La devise du cabaretier (The Innkeeper's Motto).
1991 Parisian Revival Version – This song is known as Ma?tre Thénardier (Master Thénardier).
"The Well Scene" is sung by Valjean and Young Cosette. Cosette is walking alone in the woods with a bucket of water. Valjean arrives and Cosette sees him. Valjean tells her to not be afraid. He asks for her name and Cosette tells him. He takes the bucket for her and walks her back to the inn. (only in the new video production in 2013)
"The Bargain" and "The Waltz of Treachery" are two intertwined songs. Much of the number is often cut from recordings. The latter part of "The Waltz of Treachery" is largely instrumental. It flows directly into "Look Down".
French Versions
1980 Original French Version – This song is known as Valjean chez les Thénardier (Valjean at the Thénardiers') and La valse de la fourberie (The Waltz of Treachery).
1991 Parisian Revival Version – This song is known as La transaction (The Dealing). It is only the second part.
Main article:
"Suddenly" is a song created for the . The song "beautifully explains what happens when Valjean takes Cosette from the inn and looks after her". The song appears only on .
"Look Down", sometimes referred to as "Paris: 1832", or in the School Edition as "The Beggars", involves one of the best-known themes in the musical, imitating that which is first heard in the "Work Song". It is important for plot, introducing Gavroche, Enjolras, Marius, the adolescent ?ponine, the adolescent Cosette, and the plight it flows directly into "The Robbery". The song comes after "Stars" in the Original London Recording.
French Versions
1980 Original French Version – This song is known as Donnez, donnez (Give, Give). The song is about twice as long. It has a second solo sung by Gavroche, where he makes fun about the king
and the politicians. A part of what would later become The Robbery can be found at the end. This stanza asks for some
otherwise, the joke cannot be understood.
1991 Parisian Revival Version – This song is known as Bonjour, Paris (Hello, Paris).
"The Robbery" is a lesser-known song from the musical. The young adults Eponine, Marius, and Cosette are introduced (though Cosette's part in the scene is silent). Marius and Cosette bump into each other and fall in love at first sight.Thénardier attempts to rob Jean Valjean, whereupon realizing Valjean is the one "who borrowed Cosette," a brawl breaks out. ?ponine cries out as Javert arrives on the scene, (a segment of the song commonly known as "Javert's Intervention") but, because Javert does not immediately recognise Valjean, Thénardier then convinces Javert to let him go and pursue Valjean instead.
French Versions
1980 Original French Version – This song appeared at the end of Donnez, donnez (Give, Give) on the recording, but also existed in the stage show.
1991 Parisian Revival Version – This song was cut from the recording.
Main article:
"Stars" is one of the two chief songs performed as a solo by Javert. It is among the better-known songs from the musical. It comes before "Look Down" in the Original London Version and is in the .
French Versions
1980 Original French Version – This song did not appear.
1991 Parisian Revival Version – This song is known as Sous les étoiles (Under the Stars).
"?ponine's Errand" is an important scene in the show in which Marius asks ?ponine to discover where Cosette lives and then take him to her. It is clear that ?ponine is reluctant to encourage the brewing romance between Marius and Cosette, but because of her love for Marius, she cooperates. The first part follows the same melody as L'un vers l'autre (Towards One Another), a solo for ?ponine that appeared on the original concept album but did not make it to the current version. This tune appears throughout the show.
French Versions
1980 Original French Version – This song did not appear.
1991 Parisian Revival Version – This song was cut from the recording.
"The ABC Café – ", on most recordings referred to as simply "Red and Black", introduces the group of young student revolutionaries, who have formed an organization called the Friends of the ABC. The song name is a mixture from the Café Musain, which was their favourite meeting place in the book and their name, "La Société des Amis de l'ABC" (literally in English, the Society of Friends of the ABC). The name is a pun, as in French "ABC" when pronounced one letter at a time is "abaissé", which is also the word for "lower" (therefore, "Friends of the Lower Class or the Poor"). The song consists of many different changing parts. The song involves a , in which Gavroche enters and announces to the st Enjolras then sings a solo about how this is a sign for the beginning of the revolution, transitioning directly into "Do You Hear the People Sing?"
French Versions
1980 Original French Version These songs are known as Rouge et noir (Red and Black), sung by Marius about his meeting with Cosette, followed by Les amis de l'ABC (The Friends of the ABC).
1991 Parisian Revival Version – These songs are known as Le café des amis de l'ABC (The Café of the Friends of the ABC) and Rouge la flamme de la colère (Red, the Flame of Anger). The song order is reversed to match the English versions.
Main article:
"Do You Hear the People Sing?" is one of the principal and most recognizable songs from the musical, sometimes (especially in various translated versions of the play) called "The People's Song". A stirring anthem, it is sung twice: once at the end of the first act, and once at the end of the musical's Finale. Instrumentally, the theme is also prominent in the battle scenes. In the 2012 movie, it is performed after "One Day More".
At the special Les Misérables
in 1995, "Do You Hear the People Sing?" was sung as an
by seventeen different actors who had played Jean Valjean around the world. Each actor sang a line of the song in his own language (except for , who being Polish himself sung a line in German as he'd performed the role of Valjean in Germany), and the languages sung including French, German, Japanese, Hungarian, Swedish, Polish, Dutch, Norwegian, Czech, Danish, Icelandic and English.
French Versions
1980 Original French Version – This song is known as ? la volonté du peuple (To the Will of the People).
1991 Parisian Revival Version – This song is known as ? la volonté du peuple (To the Will of the People).
"Rue Plumet – In My Life", referred to on most recordings as simply "In My Life", is among the better-known songs from the musical. It largely involves a duet between Cosette and Valjean, though Marius and ?ponine also sing near the end. In the Original London recording alone, it plays alongside a Cosette solo, "I Saw Him Once", (Te souviens-tu du premier jour ? in the original 1980 French production) cut out of all other recordings.
French Versions
1980 Original French Version – This song is known as Cosette: Dans la vie (Cosette: In Life) and Marius: Dans la vie (Marius: In Life).
1991 Parisian Revival Version – This song is known as Rue Plumet – Dans ma vie (Rue Plumet – In My Life).
"A Heart Full of Love" is sung by Cosette, Marius, and ?ponine, immediately following "In My Life".
French Versions
1980 Original French Version – This song is known as Le coeur au bonheur (The Heart at Happiness).
1991 Parisian Revival Version – This song is known as Le coeur au bonheur (The Heart at Happiness).
"The Attack on Rue Plumet" is a three-part song, the first part of which plays in only two recordings: a long version in the 1980 Original French recording and a much-shortened version only on the Complete Symphonic Recording and added into the beginning of "The Attack on Rue Plumet". The second is best known and is played in all recordings while the third is again more important for plot than music. On the London Original Cast recording, it is called the "Plumet Attack". ?ponine, bringing Marius to Valjean's house to see Cosette, stumbles upon her father Thénardier and his gang
prepar ?ponine screams, dispersing the robbers, while Valjean is led to believe that Javert or his minions have discovered his whereabouts at last, and so prepares to leave at once with Cosette.
French Versions
1980 Original French Version – The first part of the song figures as Voilà le soir qui tombe (Behold, The Night Falls), which lasts over a minute and a half and actually occurs between "In My Life" and "A Heart Full of Love". It is sung solo by ?ponine and warns Marius about the planned break-in. The second part did not figure on the recording, but was used as a purely instrumental piece in the stage show.
1991 Parisian Revival Version – This song is known as Le casse de la rue Plumet (The Break-In of Rue Plumet).
Main article:
"One Day More" is a choral piece with many solos: all of the main characters (except for Fantine and The Bishop - both of whom have died by this point) sing in it in a
style known as dramatic , as well as parts by the ensemble. It is the finale to Act 1. The song borrows themes from several songs from the first act.
Each character sings his/her part to a different melody at the same time (), before joining for the final chorus:
Valjean picks up the melody of "Who Am I?" without any changes (A major)
Marius, Cosette and ?ponine sing to the melody of "I Dreamed a Dream" with ?ponine's taking the bridge ("But the tigers come at night", sung by ?ponine as "One more day all on my own") (A major, modulating to F# minor)
Enjolras repeats the bridge melody of "I Dreamed a Dream" but in a major key. (E? major)
Javert sings to the already often-used theme from "Valjean Arrested, Valjean Forgiven", "Fantine's Arrest" and "The Robbery/Javert's Intervention", only slower and in a major key. (A major)
The Thénardiers sing to a slightly changed melody from "Master of the House" (A Major)
The revolutionaries repeat the bridge melody of "I Dreamed a Dream" in a major key with a counter melody that is only instrumental in Fantine's solo. (A major)
At the end of the song, everyone sings the melody of "Who Am I?" (C major)
Other uses
The song was used by
in his successful
for the presidency of the United States. Another version was used by Barack Obama supporters during his successful
campaign. It was also used as a finale to the 25th Anniversary concert of
at , sung by the OLC with
singing the part of .
French Versions
1980 Original French Version – This song is known as Demain (Tomorrow). It is slightly longer, finishing with a short solo from Valjean.
1991 Parisian Revival Version – This song is known as Le grand jour (The Big Day).
"Building the Barricade" is the
of the musical and features a new music theme, which transitions into ?ponine's appearance at the barricade, and her sung dialogue with Marius and later with Valjean as she passes to him a letter from Marius intended for Cosette. It is often cut out of recordings in part or completely. On the Complete Symphonic Recording, this song is mislabelled "At the Barricade".
French Versions
1980 Original French Version – This song did not appear on the recording, but was present in the stage show.
1991 Parisian Revival Version – This song is known as La première barricade (The First Barricade). The section where ?ponine delivers the letter to Valjean is cut.
Main article:
"On My Own" is a
part for . The refrain of the song is the same tune as that of "Fantine's Death (Come to Me)", although it adds a
and the tune of the verses are different. Beginning in the key of D,
(even though the song does not actually change key), then ending in F, this is her most important song. In the film adaptation, the song comes after A Heart Full of Love and before .
Other uses
"On My Own" has appeared in many famous events outside of Les Misérables, for example:
In October 1995,
played as a replacement broadway cast at the
in connection with .
skated to it during the 1997 Skate America competition as well as the 1998 Tokyo Golden Gala.
The character of Joey Potter in , played by , sings this song at a talent show phase of a beauty pageant in Episode #1–11 "Pretty Woman," also known as "Beauty Contest."
The character of
in , played by
(who played Eponine at the Hollywood Bowl production of Les Mis), sang this song as an audition to join the Glee Club in the . Michele's version has been released as a
created a Spanish version called Solo Yo.
parodied the song at the . (Hathaway would later go on to play
in the 2012 film version of .)
skated to an arrangement of several songs from Les Miserables, including "On My Own" as the main theme, as her Free Skate Program during the , winning the .
French Versions
1980 Original French Version – This song did not figure, although the music was adapted from L'air de la misère (The Air of Misery), which was sung by Fantine about her misery and suffering. ?ponine's solo was known as L'un vers l'autre (The One Toward the Other), bearing no resemblance.
1991 Parisian Revival Version – This song is known as Mon histoire (My Story).
"At the Barricade", also called "Back at the Barricade", begins with an instrumental reprise of the "Red and Black" and a sung reprise of the "Upon These Stones" musical themes. It is also the first of the two times that a National Guardsmen sings a warning to the revolutionaries. On the Complete Symphonic Recording, this song is mislabelled "Building the Barricade".
French Versions
1980 Original French Version – This song did not appear.
1991 Parisian Revival Version – This song is known as Sur la barricade (On the Barricade).
"Javert's Arrival" or "Javert's Return" involves Javert's return to the barricade to report on the enemy' however, he is interrupted by Gavroche's exposing him as a spy in "Little People".
French Versions
1980 Original French Version – This song did not appear on the recording, but was a part of the stage show in similar form.
1991 Parisian Revival Version – This song is known as Je sais ce qui se trame (I Know What is Happening).
"Little People" begins as Gavroche proudly and merrily uncovers Javert's identity as an undercover police inspector.
The Original London Recording included a much longer version sung by Gavroche, sung in the first act, between "Look Down" and "Red and Black." This original version was related to Gavroche being able to be useful even though small, rather than the uncovering of Javert. For later versions of the musical, the song was halved to its current length. Gavroche's gleeful uncovering of Javert is sung to an entirely different melody, already used in the Original French Version and is much shorter, before leading to the musical bit that was left in.
French Versions
1980 Original French Version – This song is known as La faute à Voltaire (Voltaire's Fault) and is very long, accompanied by a background choir. The song that Victor Hugo put in the book is used as the refrain.
1991 Parisian Revival Version – This song is known as C'est la faute à... (It Is the Fault of...).
"A Little Fall of Rain" is the song of 's death. It features
and ?ponine, the eldest daughter of the Thénardiers, as she tells him that she loves him and dies in his arms. Marius's reaction to her death in the musical is quite different fr in the book, Marius does not really care much about ?ponine, whereas in the musical they are portrayed as best friends, and he and his fellow students mourn her death, "fighting in her name", Marius being quite devastated by his best friend's death, even crying while holding her in his arms, and refusing to let go when his fellow students try to take her body away, and refusing the comfort of Enjolras, and continuing to cry over his best friend being gone forever. The title lyric is
she thinks she is wet because of rain, Marius sees it's blood from her wound(s) that's "everywhere".
French Versions
1980 Original French Version – This song is known as Ce n'est rien (It is Nothing).
1991 Parisian Revival Version – This song is known as Un peu de sang qui pleure (A Little Blood that Weeps).
"Night of Anguish" is a musical interlude scene. The exact definition of this song and th sometimes the few lines following ?ponine's death are named "Night of Anguish", sometimes it is the scene directly after the first attack that includes the dialogue between Valjean and Javert, that receives this name.
French Versions
1980 Original French Version – This song is known as La nuit de l'angoisse (The Night of Anguish), which contains much of the same musical material, appears much earlier on the concept recording, and is about the revolutionaries' lamentation of their predicament. It also includes material that would later be used in "Drink with Me".
1991 Parisian Revival Version – This song was cut from the recording.
"The First Attack" begins as a largely instrumental number with only some sh there also several lines shouted by revolutionaries during the attack. Depending on the definition of the song, it includes the scene in which Valjean sets Javert free. This scene, even though musically relatively uninteresting, is very important for the plot.
French Versions
1980 Original French Version – This song is known as L'aube du 6 juin (Dawn of June 6) on the recording, but was revised for the stage show into musical sections still present in the English version.
1991 Parisian Revival Version – This song is known as La première attaque (The First Attack).
"Drink with Me" is the revolutionaries' mellow song as night falls and they await their enemy's retaliation.
French Versions
1980 Original French Version – One stanza of it can be found in the song La nuit de l'angoisse (The Night of Anguish).
1991 Parisian Revival Version – This song is known as Souviens-toi des jours passés (Remember the Past Days).
Valjean begs God to save Marius and return Marius to Cosette. In a documentary on the
revealed that the song was written specifically for .
French Versions
1979 Original French Version – This song did not appear.
1991 Parisian Revival Version – This song is known as Comme un homme (Like a Man).
"Dawn of Anguish" is another minor interlude in which Enjolras and the revolutionaries come to the realisation that the people of Paris are not joining their revolution. Without the masses rising up to support them, they accept that the uprising's failure is inevitable and so Enjolras tells all the women and fathers of children to return to their homes, since they will only die if they remain at the barricades.
French Versions
1980 Original French Version – This song did not appear.
1991 Parisian Revival Version – This song was cut from the recording.
"The Second Attack" or "Death of Gavroche" is important to the plot. Gavroche runs into the enemy line of fire to retrieve ammunition for the revolutionaries, but is killed during a reprise of his "Little People" solo.
James Fenton had written another song for Gavroche's death, called "Ten Little Bullets", using the melody of Gavroche's solo in "Look Down". The song did not make it past recordings, probably not even there. Only the Broadway Revival version restarted using it in 2006.
French Versions
1980 Original French Version – This song is known as La mort de Gavroche (The Death of Gavroche).
1991 Parisian Revival Version – This song was cut from the recording.
"The Final Battle" is a mostly instrumental number, often omitted from recordings. It repeats the first
of the theme from "Do You Hear the People Sing?" with some variations and key changes, before erupting into a final reprise of the "Red and Black" theme, ending on a discordant chord instead of the major chord of that theme.
French Versions
1980 Original French Version – This song did not appear.
1991 Parisian Revival Version – This song was cut from the recording.
"The Sewers" is mostly a lengthy completely instrumental reprise of "Bring Him Home", though it also incorporates "Dog Eats Dog", a solo performed by Thénardier. In it, Thénardier describes his robbing the dead bodies from the battle at the barricades and justifies his actions by saying that somebody has to "clean them up...as a service to the town". He also declares that God is dead and that the only thing looking down from the heavens is the . It is one of the darkest songs of the musical.
French Versions
1980 Original French Version – This song did not appear.
1991 Parisian Revival Version – This song is known as Fureurs cannibales (Cannibal Frenzy).
"Javert's Suicide" is the second and last chief song performed solely by Javert. It is preceded by a repeat of the beginning of "The Confrontation" theme (which is sometimes cut from recordings or incorporated into "The Sewers"), in which Valjean asks Javert for one hour to bring Marius to a hospital, a request to which Javert, this time, agrees. After Valjean leaves, Javert contemplates the paradox of hunting the man who has he proceeds to jump to his death in the river. The song is instrumentally an exact reprise of Valjean's Soliloquy, though sung by Javert with changed lyrics. Part of an instrumental from Stars is heard at the end of song as he is falling.
French Versions
1980 Original French Version – This song is known as Noir ou blanc (Black or White).
1991 Parisian Revival Version – This song is known as Le suicide de Javert (Javert's Suicide).
"Turning" features the women of Paris mourning the loss of the students and their own hopeless cycles of childbirth and misery. It is set to the melody of "Lovely Ladies." It is also the only song in the musical not sung by a major character.
French Versions
1980 Original French Version – This song did not appear.
1991 Parisian Revival Version – This song is known as Tourne, tourne (Turn, Turn).
"Empty Chairs at Empty Tables" is a
sung by the character , who is mourning the death of all of his friends who were killed at the barricade. Part of it is to the tune of "The Bishop of Digne".
French Versions
1980 Original French Version – This song did not appear.
1991 Parisian Revival Version – This song is known as Seul devant ces tables vides (Alone in Front of These Empty Tables).
"Every Day" or "Marius and Cosette" is a two-part song sung by Cosette, Marius and Valjean. The second part is often known as "A Heart Full of Love (Reprise)". Gillenormand sings part of the song in the 2012 film.
French Versions
1980 Original French Version – This song did not appear, but identical music sections were present in a former exchange between Marius and the Gillenormands in the stage show.
1991 Parisian Revival Version – This song was cut from the recording.
"Valjean's Confession" is sung by Valjean and Marius. Though important for the plot, the music is more important as an introduction to "Who Am I?".
French Versions
1980 Original French Version – This song is known as L'aveu de Jean Valjean (Jean Valjean's Confession) and was much longer. It explains Valjean's motives more clearly. When Marius asks why Valjean confesses to him, Valjean explains that his conscience will not let him rest until he has done so. Valjean asks Marius if it would be better if he (Valjean) did not see Cosette again and Marius says that he thinks so. This fits much better with the description in the book.
1991 Parisian Revival Version – This song was cut from the recording.
"The Wedding" is a very brief song, also known as the "Wedding Chorale", and is sung by the guests on Cosette and Marius's wedding. The second part is a dialogue-heavy song that is often abridged or cut, sung by Marius and the Thénardiers. This part is sometimes called "The Waltz of Treachery (Reprise)" as it is sung to a similar melody.
French Versions
1980 Original French Version – The first part of this song is known as Le mariage: soyez heureux (The Marriage: Be Happy). It was longer than all other versions, featuring an additional refrain. The second part is known as Marchandage et révélation (Bargaining and Revelation), where it is more than only slightly longer. It included another subplot from the book. Here, Thénardier first tries to shock Marius with the revelation that Valjean is an ex-convict, which Marius already knows. When Thénardier says that Valjean is also a murderer, Marius claims to know that as well. He believes Valjean to have killed both Javert (on the barricade) and a certain M. Madeleine, a rich factory owner. Thénardier proves to him (with the help of newspaper clippings), that Javert committed suicide and that Madeleine and Valjean are the same person – Marius's false source of information is unknown – and then tells him about the sewers.
1991 Parisian Revival Version – This song is known as Sonnez, sonnez (Ring, Ring).
"Beggars at the Feast" is the second big musical number sung by the Thénardiers, in which they proclaim how through their treacherous ways they always manage to come out on top before waving the audience goodbye with the mocking line "When we're rich as Croesus, Jesus, won't we see you all in hell". It is a reprise of the "Master of the House" theme.
French Versions
1980 Original French Version – This song did not appear.
1991 Parisian Revival Version – This song is known as Mendiants à la fête (Beggars at the Party).
"Valjean's Death" is the penultimate (or last, depending on the song organization) musical number in Les Misérables. This and the "Finale", into which it flows without pause, are sometimes counted as one song. The combination is often known as "The Epilogue" (as the musical also has a Prologue). Fantine and ?ponine come to welcome him into salvation. "Valjean's Death" borrows the tune from "On My Own", and towards the end, "Bring Him Home".
French Versions
1980 Original French Version – This song is known as ?pilogue: la lumière (Epilogue: The Light).
1991 Parisian Revival Version – This song is known as Final: c'est pour demain (Finale: It is For Tomorrow).
"The Finale", also known as "Do You Hear the People Sing? (Reprise)", is the last it is often incorporated with "Valjean's Death" into a single track on recordings, simply entitled "Epilogue".
French Versions
1980 Original French Version – This song did not appear, instead ending with Valjean's Death.
1991 Parisian Revival Version – This song is known as Final: c'est pour demain (Finale: It is For Tomorrow).
 – All or almost all of song included
 – Part of song included
 – Song excluded
Original London Recording
Original Broadway Recording
10th Anniversary Recording
Complete Symphonic Recording
Original French Concept Album
Paris Revival Recording
School Edition
Motion picture (2012)
Overture / Work Song
Valjean Arrested, Valjean Forgiven
Valjean's Soliloquy (What Have I Done?)
At the End of the Day
I Dreamed a Dream
Lovely Ladies
Fantine's Arrest
The Runaway Cart
Come to Me (Fantine's Death)
The Confrontation
Castle on a Cloud
Master of the House
The Bargain
The Waltz of Treachery
The Robbery
Javert's Intervention
Little People (original)
?ponine's Errand
The ABC Café / Red and Black
Do You Hear the People Sing?
I Saw Him Once
In My Life
A Heart Full of Love
The Attack on Rue Plumet
One Day More
At the Barricade (Upon These Stones)
Building the Barricade
Javert's Arrival
Little People
A Little Fall of Rain
Night of Anguish
The First Attack
Drink with Me
Bring Him Home
Dawn of Anguish
The Second Attack (Death of Gavroche)
The Final Battle
The Sewers
Dog Eats Dog
Javert's Suicide
Empty Chairs at Empty Tables
Valjean's Confession
Suddenly (Reprise)
The Wedding Chorale
Beggars at the Feast
Valjean's Death
While the cuts in the Student Edition appear significant, most are small edits that don't remove more than a verse or a few measures.
While "The Death of Gavroche" is included in the student production, it was cut from the 25th Anniversary.
While "The Wedding Chorale" was cut in the Student Edition, it appeared in the 25th Anniversary Concert.
Only some of the songs listed below were included on the motion picture's soundtrack album. See .
. BBC News. .
. YouTube. 30 June 2007.
. CNN. 17 April 2009.
. New.uk.. .
. Chart Stats.
. Playbill. .
. . October 6, 2006.
. . Archived from
Sch?nberg, Claude-Michel. The West End Connection (Blu-ray Disc). Universal Studios.
By Edward Behr (1993). . Arcade Publishing.  .
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