January 20, 2026
Jean Valjean was locked up in jail for 19 years for stealing a loaf of bread. When he was released, he broke his parole and changed his identity, which became cause for the obsessive pursuit of police officer Javert. Years later, Valjean, now Monsieur la Maire (or Mayor), took it upon himself to adopt Cosette, the daughter of his departed employee Fantine, and raised her like his own. Several years later, teenage Cosette met and fell in love with an earnest student named Marius. Then, the tumultuous June Rebellion of 1832 broke out in Paris.
The original stage musical Les Miserables, written by Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg, based on the novel by Victor Hugo, was first staged in Paris in 1980. The English adaptation with lyrics by Herbert Kretzmer, produced by Cameron Mackintosh, played in London in 1985, and then on Broadway in 1987. It won 8 Tony awards in its first run, including Best Musical, Best Original Score, Best Book of a Musical, Best Director (Trevor Nunn and John Caird), Best Featured Actor (Michael Maguire as Enjolras) and Featured Actress (Frances Ruffelle as Eponine), Best Scenic Design, and Best Lighting Design.
I had been singing along with the original Broadway soundtrack album (Colm Wilkinson as Valjean) since way back in the 1980s. In 1993, we watched the Repertory Philippines all-Filipino production staged at the Meralco (Cocoy Laurel as Valjean). In 2012, there was a film version of the musical by Tom Hooper (Hugh Jackman as Valjean), and we rooted for it to win the Oscar for Best Picture (it didn't). In 2016, an international touring production was staged at the Theater at Solaire (Simon Gleeson as Valjean), and we watched that too. On top of that, we never get tired of re-watching videos from the 10th and 25th Anniversary Concerts.
This year, Cameron Mackintosh, in association with Nick Grace Management and GMG Productions, brings 40 year-old "Les Miserables" back to Solaire in a new expanded concert-like format. This production is directed by James Powell and Jean-Pierre Van Der Spuy, set designed by Matt Kinley, costumes by Andreane Neofitou, Christine Rowland, and Paul Wills. The lighting by Paule Constable and Warren Letton and the sound by Mick Potter highlighted a dazzling laser light show as bombs fell on the scarlet-lit barricades. The live orchestra (which includes 17 Filipino musicians) is conducted by Adrian Kirk.
In the lead role of Jean Valjean was Argentinian performer Gerónimo Rauch. He possessed an astounding versatile tenor with a broad range which can handle the punishing singing requirements of his role, from the powerful chest belt at the end of "Who Am I?" to the sustained ethereal prayerful falsetto for practically the entire song of "Bring Him Home." Physically, Rauch's bulky build makes his Valjean's muscular strength believable, while his kind facial features enhance Valjean's fatherly nature.
Playing opposite Rauch as his main nemesis Javert is veteran Australian performer Jeremy Secomb. He played Javert's warped obsession with unnatural intensity, likely helped by his past portrayals of sinister leading men like the Phantom and Sweeney Todd. Secomb was made up to look gaunt and crazed as he sang his two iconic signature songs, namely "Stars" and "Javert's Suicide," with his strong stirring baritone. His "fall" into the River Seine was executed purely by vocal and lighting effects -- a very haunting scene indeed.
Filipino audiences of course focused their attention on the Filipino artists in the cast. Even if this role of uncouth Madame Thenardier was outside her comfort zone, Lea Salonga was a comic revelation, so funny in her interactions with Red Concepcion as her unscrupulous "Master of the House" husband. Rachelle Ann Go reprised her role as the tragic Fantine, giving "I Dream a Dream" her own phrasing. Most impressive was US-based Emily Bautista's very clear dramatic vocals as the unfortunate waif Eponine, particularly in "On My Own."
Will Callan's main highlight remained to be Marius's elegiac "Empty Chairs at Empty Tables." Lulu-Mae Pears had that very high-pitch soprano expected from all Cosettes before, but hers was quite fragile and delicate, especially in that last note of "A Heart Full of Love." The scenes featuring Harry Chandler's Enjolras and the other students (Grantaire was a standout) were riveting to watch. Aside from their rousing songs "Red and Black" and "Do You Hear the People Sing," their death scene was also a gripping highlight of stage execution.
Being an expanded concert, this show trusts that the audience already knows the whole story by heart. Projections by Finn Ross were being flashed on screens above the orchestra filling in some story-telling gaps. However, for those watching Les Mis for the first time, these may not be clear enough for plot continuity (like that part how Javert began to suspect Monsieur La Maire could be Jean Valjean, among others). Anyhow, most people came here to listen to (and try not to sing along with) these beloved iconic songs sung live by acclaimed West End and Broadway performers, accompanied by a live orchestra, and that it definitely delivered.
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Les Miserables The World Tour Spectacular opened in the UK in September 2024. Since then its company and crew of over 110 had toured over 30 cities in Europe, Australia, and Asia. The show runs at the Theater at Solaire from January 20 to March 1, 2026, with no extensions possible. As of now, all 48 shows are sold out! After Manila, it will go to Singapore, before returning to London and then on to New York.
The 28 man-strong ensemble include: Jonathon Bentley, Georgina Blessitt, Amelia Broadway, Michael Burgen, Mary Jean Caldwell, Rosy Church, Gabrielle Cummins, Beth Curnock, Shaun Dalton, Jade Davies, Jonathan David Dudley, Harry Dunnett, Louis Emmanuel, Charlie Geoghegan, Connor Jones, Abel Law, Adam Robert Lewis, Andrew Maxwell, Jil Nalder, Lisa Peace, Emma Ralston, Ciaran Rodger, James Sillman, Harry Grant Smith, Jo Stephenson, Geddy Stringer, Helen Walsh, and Owain Williams.
The Filipino musicians in the orchestra include: John Gerald Calma, Dino Decena, Mary Anne Espina, Fransisco Llorin, Mhaze Lim, Jonathan Livioco, Dondon Lucena, Luke Manuel, Kier Manimtim, Marloe Maruyama, Gabriel Mendoza, Paul Ramos, Coi Reyes, Steve Retallick, Raymond Sarreal, Jordan San Jose, and Miko Villena.
