I remembered seeing John Owen-Jones in a football stadium for a charity game and had the nerve to ask a picture with him. He was soooo kind and never hesitated to pose. Just a gentlemen. A few years after, I flew intentionally to NYC to see him perform Valjean. He was magical!
jon robyns will forever be my favourite valjean. i actually saw him perform as him yesterday! i do musical theatre in college so i don’t tend to cry at musicals all that much. i feel a deep emotional impact but i most often focus on the technical side of things because that’s what im taught to do but he actually made me cry multiple times. he was absolutely ridiculously talented
I remembered seeing John Owen-Jones in a football stadium for a charity game and had the nerve to ask a picture with him. He was soooo kind and never hesitated to pose. Just a gentlemen. I saw him as Valjean on Broadway a few years after. I flew intentionally to NYC to see him perform Valjean. He was magical!
Those who are saying anything other than Colm must not have seen his magic live. All incredible talents that I would pay good money to see (and have) but after seeing Colm, Alfie, Ramin, and a few others, Colm will always be the gold medal for me. Great Job on the video!
I'd heard of Kyle Jean-Baptiste and his tragic death but had never heard him sing. He was just incredible and it's hard to believe he was only 21 years old and the youngest Valjean ever. I'm sure he would have had a bright future on Broadway.
Colm Wilkinson by a country mile. Saw him do it live in the point Dublin in the 90s and it put shivers up my spine. Seen alot of the others live too. It'd be Alfie Boe and John Owen Jones next
Thanks for this amazing compilation, very interesting - and astonishing, how good they all are! One of the most challenging sections of this wonderful and most difficult role.
Colm Rocks!!!!!!! I was lucky enough to see Colm in person in Toronto where he played his original part. He is just the Best. There is nothing like his voice.
It's great hearing all of these fabulous singers. The photo you have identified as Phil Cavill is actually Robert Marien, who played Valjean in Montreal in the first bilingual production, and went on to play the role in Paris.
They're all good aren't they. I've seen Dean Chisnall, who was a very good Jean Valjean, and I've seen local boy John Owen-Jones in the part a few times, who is outstanding. Ramin is amazing too. Fun facts. First time I saw John Owen Jones as Jean Valjean, Ramin was Marius, and the first time I saw John Owen Jones as Phantom, Ramin was Raoul! Of course Ramin went on to play the lead roles. There's another Welshman who should be included here, the amazing Peter Karrie. th-cam.com/video/UNVQkq7PJKU/w-d-xo.html
LOL! It's hard to beat the original who was simply amazing. Saw him here in Canada playing Valjean. That was a pleasure. Because of real live theatre, he almost tripped on the song Turn, Turn while he was running on a turntable. But he quickly recovered. No harm done. Nothing beats live theatre for authenticity.
Jon Robyns although I saw Dean Chisnall in Cardiff January 2023 and he was fab. Was hoping to see Jon as The Phantom last week in London (14 February 2024) but it was James Gant 🎭
There is no other option Colm! Like so many others (Patti as Eva; Jennifer Holiday, Effie; Stephanie Mills Dorthy, Betty Buckley Grizabella and Norma; heather Headley, Aida; Bernadette Peters, Song & Dance; Sunday; Mack & Mable, Into the Woods; Adrianne Warren, Tina; Andrea McArdle; Annie, Mandy Patinkjn, George & Che; Sutton Foster Millie & Chaperone; Liza The Act (Cabaret), Joel Grey, Cabaret; Chita, West Side; Kiss; Chicago; Barbra, Funny Girl, etc. ) you get the point. These iconic characters, others can absolutely play but they all lack that X-factor/ a special something that the only they can bring. It’s not bad or good - it’s neutral. In other words it’s the unfairness of life. No one is the same, everyone brings their uniqueness to everything they do. That goes especially for musical theater! Adding to the iconic nature of these performances is that most of the above people, the composer, lyricists and book writers had them in mind or had hired them already. So the songs were written just for them, Which brings me to Colm. His performance is the very foundational for anyone who plays Val Jean. It’s that unique style mixing ligit and rock musical style of singing so effectively and effortlessly, that it’s not jarring or even noticed but applauded. To this day and I have seen a few of these other extraordinary talented men live, on this list, but no one compares to Colm, no one. I had seen him in that show at least 5x… plus, I was actually in one of the b-way casts in the 1990’s. So indonknow a thing or two about the show and the casting of that (and other roles more intimately than just about anyone commenting. THOUGH your question is in the “subjective” realm. I could argue it from an objective standpoint but most people who can’t understand the difference and how their opinion/argument is based on emotions, not the vocal technic, the innate ability & talent, etc. all the other men cast after Colm trained to replicate the essence of him. That is an objective reality not, he was the actor that played the role when first saw live, so many emotions are intermingled of that experience, that unless one is a vocal coach, trained actor/singer, have professional expertise these debates are just fun. I get a kick out of many of the comments.
My top 6 performers after seeing the show 38 times with 32 different performers: Colm Wilkinson, John Owen Jones, Peter Karrie, Ramin Karimloo, Dave Willetts, Alfie Boe. With that order.
As much as he sounds (and was ) far too young IMO to play this role - I saw him live in London during his run - I feel that Drew Sarich is actually he best displayed here. His clarity of tone, without sounding like he’s shouting or reaching for the notes make it an absolutely incredible performance. Also, the recording of John Owen Jones is not the best here - saw him in the 2019 concert and it was also quite literally flawless!
My favorite part of the play! I’m partial to JOJ, Kyle, and Jeff Layton. Nick Cartell from the most recent North American tour is my new favorite. But it is an experience beyond words to hear almost any actor perform this live; especially when your seats are center front orcheastra.
For me, the gold standard is Colm Wilkinson's Original Broadway Cast rendition. While others may be very good, no one (imho) has ever come close to that one. It would be great if someone did. Maybe someday. If so, I hope I'm around to hear it!
Colm by far. Speaks and communicates the text on pitch in a simple and exciting way. Everyone else is screaming in one way or another distorting the melodic line with vulgar shouting and growling.
I like Alfie Boe's singing, but his performance of this is just so stiff. There's not even a hint of rubato, zero stretch in the line. It almost sounds like he's just singing with a metronome, and thinking "here's the forte part". Honestly, you might hear that and think he doesn't speak English and doesn't actually understand the words he's singing.
I’m very surprised Hugh Jackman isn’t on here. While yes, he played Jean Valjean in the movie adaptation of Les Miserables, you gotta admit that the guy can sing.
Not the best choice of recording for him - but John Owen Jones is incredible, takes my breath away each and every time
@Hoagie not really he’s clearly done well for himself so
Unless something's wrong with my headphones this isn't the best choice of recording for ANY of them.
I remembered seeing John Owen-Jones in a football stadium for a charity game and had the nerve to ask a picture with him. He was soooo kind and never hesitated to pose. Just a gentlemen. A few years after, I flew intentionally to NYC to see him perform Valjean. He was magical!
jon robyns will forever be my favourite valjean. i actually saw him perform as him yesterday! i do musical theatre in college so i don’t tend to cry at musicals all that much. i feel a deep emotional impact but i most often focus on the technical side of things because that’s what im taught to do but he actually made me cry multiple times. he was absolutely ridiculously talented
I remembered seeing John Owen-Jones in a football stadium for a charity game and had the nerve to ask a picture with him. He was soooo kind and never hesitated to pose. Just a gentlemen. I saw him as Valjean on Broadway a few years after. I flew intentionally to NYC to see him perform Valjean. He was magical!
Not only the powerful voice ,but the feeling are in every voice ...JOJ ,he is born to be Valjean.
He’s the best Valjean imo
The growl JOJ gets on his first 'eye' and the last 'all' is just incredible!
Those who are saying anything other than Colm must not have seen his magic live. All incredible talents that I would pay good money to see (and have) but after seeing Colm, Alfie, Ramin, and a few others, Colm will always be the gold medal for me. Great Job on the video!
I'd heard of Kyle Jean-Baptiste and his tragic death but had never heard him sing. He was just incredible and it's hard to believe he was only 21 years old and the youngest Valjean ever. I'm sure he would have had a bright future on Broadway.
1:27 nah you can take both eyes why is he looking at me like that
Colm Wilkinson by a country mile. Saw him do it live in the point Dublin in the 90s and it put shivers up my spine. Seen alot of the others live too. It'd be Alfie Boe and John Owen Jones next
Alfie Boe without a doubt his voice is magical
Alfie Boe is a real stunner.
Agrees
Agreed
Thanks for this amazing compilation, very interesting - and astonishing, how good they all are! One of the most challenging sections of this wonderful and most difficult role.
Y’all sleeping on Drew, he is phenomenal! 😍 he sings it so uniquely , it’s amazing
They are all God level!
Colm Rocks!!!!!!! I was lucky enough to see Colm in person in Toronto where he played his original part. He is just the Best. There is nothing like his voice.
Ramin Karimloo
Alfie Boe
Colm Wikinson
....and in that order
It's great hearing all of these fabulous singers. The photo you have identified as Phil Cavill is actually Robert Marien, who played Valjean in Montreal in the first bilingual production, and went on to play the role in Paris.
Alfie Boe really takes the cake here.
In my opinion Geronimo Rauch should be in the list. He was a superb Valjean
I was highly impressed when I saw him in the west end in 2012
Thanks for making these! I really appreciate the effort it must take ♥️
Alfie Boe will always be my fave. JOJ is a very close second for me. The rest were fantastic, of course.
1: Alfie
2: Colm
The rest are awesome too, but those would be my two.
Same
Ramin ❤
They’re all great
1. Alfie Boe
2. Colm
Have seen both who were excellent. Everyone is really good but they were outstanding.
They're all good aren't they. I've seen Dean Chisnall, who was a very good Jean Valjean, and I've seen local boy John Owen-Jones in the part a few times, who is outstanding. Ramin is amazing too. Fun facts. First time I saw John Owen Jones as Jean Valjean, Ramin was Marius, and the first time I saw John Owen Jones as Phantom, Ramin was Raoul! Of course Ramin went on to play the lead roles. There's another Welshman who should be included here, the amazing Peter Karrie. th-cam.com/video/UNVQkq7PJKU/w-d-xo.html
Dean Chisnall
@@manchestertart5614 I stand corrected. I don't know where 'Chris' came from 😁. I shall edit my comment.
joj and ramin are iconic
@@ava-jg6tf Totally agree. They are both outstanding.
I've seen Alfie and saw Dean Chisnall tonight. Both fantastic!
1st Colm Wilkinson
2nd Colm Wilkinson
3rd Colm Wilkinson
Need I say more . He simply is the only Jean Valjean.
LOL! It's hard to beat the original who was simply amazing. Saw him here in Canada playing Valjean. That was a pleasure. Because of real live theatre, he almost tripped on the song Turn, Turn while he was running on a turntable. But he quickly recovered. No harm done. Nothing beats live theatre for authenticity.
7:05 The GOAT, ladies and gentlemen.
Jon Robyns although I saw Dean Chisnall in Cardiff January 2023 and he was fab. Was hoping to see Jon as The Phantom last week in London (14 February 2024) but it was James Gant 🎭
Killian Donnelly. I don't like too much vibrato. He delivered it perfectly at the end
1. Ramin
2. Colm
3. JOJ
There is no other option Colm! Like so many others (Patti as Eva; Jennifer Holiday, Effie; Stephanie Mills Dorthy, Betty Buckley Grizabella and Norma; heather Headley, Aida; Bernadette Peters, Song & Dance; Sunday; Mack & Mable, Into the Woods; Adrianne Warren, Tina; Andrea McArdle; Annie, Mandy Patinkjn, George & Che; Sutton Foster Millie & Chaperone; Liza The Act (Cabaret), Joel Grey, Cabaret; Chita, West Side; Kiss; Chicago; Barbra, Funny Girl, etc. ) you get the point. These iconic characters, others can absolutely play but they all lack that X-factor/ a special something that the only they can bring. It’s not bad or good - it’s neutral.
In other words it’s the unfairness of life. No one is the same, everyone brings their uniqueness to everything they do. That goes especially for musical theater!
Adding to the iconic nature of these performances is that most of the above people, the composer, lyricists and book writers had them in mind or had hired them already. So the songs were written just for them,
Which brings me to Colm. His performance is the very foundational for anyone who plays Val Jean. It’s that unique style mixing ligit and rock musical style of singing so effectively and effortlessly, that it’s not jarring or even noticed but applauded.
To this day and I have seen a few of these other extraordinary talented men live, on this list, but no one compares to Colm, no one.
I had seen him in that show at least 5x… plus, I was actually in one of the b-way casts in the 1990’s. So indonknow a thing or two about the show and the casting of that (and other roles more intimately than just about anyone commenting. THOUGH your question is in the “subjective” realm. I could argue it from an objective standpoint but most people who can’t understand the difference and how their opinion/argument is based on emotions, not the vocal technic, the innate ability & talent, etc. all the other men cast after Colm trained to replicate the essence of him.
That is an objective reality not, he was the actor that played the role when first saw live, so many emotions are intermingled of that experience, that unless one is a vocal coach, trained actor/singer, have professional expertise these debates are just fun. I get a kick out of many of the comments.
Colm Wilkinson (the OG) and John Owen Jones. This wasn't even Jones at his best and it was still great.
Ramin🥰
My top 6 performers after seeing the show 38 times with 32 different performers: Colm Wilkinson, John Owen Jones, Peter Karrie, Ramin Karimloo, Dave Willetts, Alfie Boe. With that order.
JOJ, Ramin Karimloo, Dean Chisnall and Kyle Jean Baptiste are my favs out of these. They're all amazing though
Ramin is my choice absolutely awesome
Allie boe’s vibrato is so clean
I never know what to do with Alfie, easily the best tenor around, but I get why people want grit over talent, even though I disagree with them.
Nathaniel Hackmann is just incredible!!!
Top 2: 1. Wilkinson
2. Karimloo
Colm by a country mile. I like craig shulman too, maybe because i saw him live. I missed Colm in the role but have seen him in concert. Mesmerizing!
Ramin, always Ramin
Jon robyns is fantastic
Colm, Alfie, Ramin for me. Simon Bowman wasnt so bad either
Alfie
Colm
Jon robyns
YESS! I saw him in November 2021 in london and he was INSANELY AMAZING when i tell you my jaw DROPPED when he sang this part
make a update 🙏
simon bowman&colim wilkenson
1. Alfie
2. JOJ
3. Jon Robyns (he sounded much better live than in this recording)
Ramin!
colm wilkinson is the best ever.
As much as he sounds (and was ) far too young IMO to play this role - I saw him live in London during his run - I feel that Drew Sarich is actually he best displayed here. His clarity of tone, without sounding like he’s shouting or reaching for the notes make it an absolutely incredible performance. Also, the recording of John Owen Jones is not the best here - saw him in the 2019 concert and it was also quite literally flawless!
My favorite part of the play! I’m partial to JOJ, Kyle, and Jeff Layton. Nick Cartell from the most recent North American tour is my new favorite. But it is an experience beyond words to hear almost any actor perform this live; especially when your seats are center front orcheastra.
😊
Alfi Alfi Alfi
alfie boe is the valjean for me but colm takes the cake for this one :>>
best for last indeed
Alfie Boe because his voice is so well supported and it doesn't sound like he is yelling or screaching.
Yes though thats kinda the point of the song... He's in an internal conflict and is yelling at the world for how he's been treated.
You just told me Alfie is the best because he puts no emotion into it..
I wanna do Les Mis so bad
Colm can't be beat... nuff said!!!
ALfie!!!!
You shouldn’t have shrunk the text when there was more of it - it makes it unreadable on a small screen.
For me, the gold standard is Colm Wilkinson's Original Broadway Cast rendition. While others may be very good, no one (imho) has ever come close to that one. It would be great if someone did. Maybe someday. If so, I hope I'm around to hear it!
JOJ
Ramin
Alfie
Jon Robyns
COLM still is the best.
Geronimo Rauch and Ramin Karimloo.
A lot of the dates are incorrect, but good video regardless.
John Owen Jones!!
Only three for me, Peter Lockyer, JOJ and Alfie Boe
Always Colm... always
Killian Donnelly ❤️
Colm Wilkinson will always be my Valjean, but these are all such talented performers! Ramin Karimloo, though... he is AMAZING.
Alfi Boe and Colm .
Ramin 👌👌
1.alfie
2.colm
3.ramin
I like Peter Lockyer’s voice the best.
21
My Favorite one is NOT even on your list. His name is J Mark McVey, performed back in the late 80's early 90s...
Alfie forever
1:34
2:19
3:12
3:36
Ivan Rutherford all the way!!
Is Alexander Gemignagni completely off-key?!
Ramin.
The others are singing….Colm acts
JOJ
Afie
Colm
1: 9
2: 10
3: 5 (overacted it)
4:
Weird line to have chosen for a comparison.
It’s Colm. Always Colm
Alfie is a winner here
Film Wilkinson is the OG GOAT!
im surprised how many people are choosing JOJ or Alfie over Colm haha
Colm's my boi forever
I had to stop when he says Less Miserables (say it with an American Accent....) I had to stop.
Colm by far. Speaks and communicates the text on pitch in a simple and exciting way.
Everyone else is screaming in one way or another distorting the melodic line with vulgar shouting and growling.
I like Alfie Boe's singing, but his performance of this is just so stiff. There's not even a hint of rubato, zero stretch in the line. It almost sounds like he's just singing with a metronome, and thinking "here's the forte part". Honestly, you might hear that and think he doesn't speak English and doesn't actually understand the words he's singing.
Might not have been done on stage, but Hugh Jackman nailed his performance of Valjean in the movie.
Colm Wilkinson does not know how to sing legato, which makes him sound super inconsistent and slightly amateurish. He is quite overrted in my opinion
Hello
I’m very surprised Hugh Jackman isn’t on here. While yes, he played Jean Valjean in the movie adaptation of Les Miserables, you gotta admit that the guy can sing.
Best is Colm.
Worst is Simon Gleeson. 🤮
There is only 1-24601. Colm