Les Misérables was originally released as a French-language concept album in 1980, and the first musical-stage … See more

Critical reviews for Les Misérables were initially negative. At the opening of the London production, The Sunday Telegraph's Francis King described the musical as "a lurid Victorian melodrama produced with Victorian la… See more

The musical's emblem is a picture of the waif Cosette sweeping the Thénardiers' inn (which occurs in the musical during "Castle on a Cloud"). It is usually cropped to a head-and-shoulders portrait, superimposed on the Fren… See more

In 1815 in France, a chain gang of prisoners work at hard labor ("Prologue: Work Song"). After serving 19 years in prison for stealing a loaf of bread, Jean Valjean, "Prisoner 24601," is released on parole by the prison … See more

• "Work Song (Look Down)" - Chain Gang, Jean Valjean, Javert
• "On Parole" - Jean Valjean, Farmer, Laborer, Innkeeper, Innkeeper's Wife, Bishop
• "Valjean Arrested/Valjean Forgiven" - Bishop, Constables… See more

• Jean Valjean: Alfie Boe, Simon Bowman, Killian Donnelly, Dudu Fisher, Simon Gleeson, Peter Jöback, Ramin Karimloo, Peter Karrie, Peter Lockyer, Robert Marien, John Owen-Jones, Jon Robyns, Stig Rossen, … See more

Alain Boublil's initial idea to adapt Victor Hugo's novel into a musical came while at a performance of the musical Oliver! in London:
As soon as the Artful Dodger came onstage, G… See more