A Comparison of Javert's Suicide. 1. Terence Mann 2. Philip Quast 3. Michael McCarthy 4. Hans Peter Janssens 5. Jerome Pradon 6. Drew Sarich 7. Cornell John
QUAAAAAAASSSTTT! The way he sings "I am reaching but I fall. And the stars are black and cold as I stare into the void, of a world that cannot hold. I'll escape now from that world. From the world of Jean Valjean. There is nowhere I can turn. There is no way to go OOOOOOOOOOOONNNNNNNNNNNNN!" seems so passionate and afraid and confused, because that's how Javert is at that moment.
Philip Quast all the way :D lol, the death screams crack me up every time, especially Cornell John. its like "i might be dead in a minute, but that's no excuse not to sound good!", love it ^_^
Each of them nails different aspects of the performance. THANKS for sharing this with audio only. Sarich projects the passion of the scene by far the best. Others voices and physcial appearance may be better suited for this role, but Sarich seems to completely understand and become each character he portrays.
Quast is Javert for me. But the others come close. Sarich's interpretation was interesting - his Javert comes more unhinged. His suicide's a bit impulsive, which I think is the problem I have with it. Javert, even with his world completely shaken, still seems like he'd be in complete control. Death is his choice. He's terrified, yes, but he's still in control. I saw Cornell John in the West End production six years ago. This recording doesn't do him justice. He was riveting.
Terrence Mann -- when he's on, he's ON. But when he's off... hurm. I wonder where in his part of the run that was taken from? Neat little comparisson. :D
Terrence Mann acted it better than anyone else I've ever seen; he made me forget how he's vocally not as strong as some of the others. Listening to the inflections in his voice here, it's all coming back to me . . . On the other hand, I rather like how Drew Sarich took the last part up an octave (nobody else could do it so well), and how Michael McCarthy communicated such unbridled desperation in the last note.
Sarich does a great job, especially considering the new orchestrations--he makes up a lot of the emotional punch that's lost from the score, and his performance fits really well with his take on the character, not to mention that chilling death scream. Still, I think Quast is the best at capturing the real emotion of this song.
Jerome Pradon is an amazing actor/singer but I don't think he works as Javert. I've played Valjean before and I'm now playing Javert... Philip Quast is the basing of my charachter interpretation and performance. The definitive Javert!!!
Interesting to hear all these different interpretations, but for me, this only affirms that Philip Quast's performance at TAC (and not the one included here) is the definitive Javert. In all fairness, though, we're only hearing, and not seeing, these other performances. Philip is just so riveting to watch in TAC. It's really difficult for me to imagine anyone else surpassing him. I mean, how do you improve what's perfect? :-)
Nobody beats Philip Quast. However, Drew Sarich is my second favorite. He's more calculating and cold until his final moments which are despairing and horrified. He once said that he likes being either avidly loved or avidly hated and I think that divisiveness makes him brave and amazing! And as for the scream at the end...hey, you'd make a sound like that if you were plunging to your death! LOL
Philip Quast is definitely the best. He just understands Javert so well. Every turning of the voice, every breath taking in... McCarthy's is similar when dealing with the first part, his voice also very good. Janssens sounds a bit weird...seems like this javert's too excited about the idea of jumping into the river... Sarich... it's good singing, but it's not Javert. Sounds more Marius. Really, it's not Javert, and its not his struggling feelings.
I am always amazed every time I listen to a different production that Drew Sarich has been in. That man really puts his everything into a character and just truly puts so much emotion into his work. It’s amazing. Quast is still my favorite Javert, but Drew is definitely up there with him and Mann.
First of all, I love you for making this. Mostly I am just sad that they took out the swell at 1:22 in all the newer productions, which is quite possibly the most beautiful non-vocal part of the entire show. I guess the newer version is quieter and more pensive, but I thought that worked so well because it sounded like rushing water. C'est la vie, I suppose...
I know Quast is the popular choice, but I'm an OBC guy, almost through-and-through. At this point I think I'd take Anne Hathaway as Fantine, William Solo as Feuilly, and the OBC in my dream cast, so of course I like Mann the best out of these.
I personally LOVE Drew in almost everything he does. I have such respect for him as a performer. I accually saw his Valjean for my sweet 16, that was all I wanted and I got to do it. He was AMAZING! He pwned that! I ALSO LOVE his Javert.
@derfstudios I saw it there the day after Christmas, it was one of the best productions I have ever seen; even though it seemed they rushed the second act a bit because of the snow storm. It was kinda cool because I found out looking at the playbill that one of my friend's voice teacher was the alternate Valjean. One thing I really liked about how they did Javert's Suicide was how they made the ending before Javert jumps so dissonant.
This was a very creative idea. I like to be able to hear them all together. I've only heard Terrence Mann before. Drew Sarich did take an interesting view of it didn't he? SO did the orchestrations in that song. I think I liked Janssens.
7th Place: Pradon 6th Place: John 5th Place: Sarich (I like him better as Valjean, but points for that up-the-octave ending and the blood-curdling scream) 4th Place: Janssens RUNNER-UP: Quast and Mann CHAMP: McCarthy
Drew Sarich's recording sounds like it has the new orchestration introduced in 2010. Was it used somewhere before being adopted by the West End production? Or do you have a time machine?
This is my dream role! Here’s my top 8 Javerts. 8. Will Swenson 7. Terrance Mann 6. Jeremy Sacomb 5. Hadley Fraser 4. Tam Mutu 3. Philip Quast 2. Norm Lewis 1. Earl Carpenter
Philip Quast is the best definitely. Then again he was my first Javert so I may biased. Michael McCartney sounds like he's trying to hard to sound like Philip. I'm in love with Jerome Pradon so again I'm biased but the start he sounded like he was trying too hard to baritone. Drew Sarich has a nice voice but doesn't sound anything like what Javert should sound like.
I usually like Philip Quast, but here I vote for Michael McCarthy. Both of them are very similar way of portrating Javert. But, on this comparison, McCarthy's voice is more clear and reaching to my mind. Others are also good but Philip Quastand Michael McCarthy are way better than others.
Actually Rudolf is left as a question, since history can't decide if it was suicide or assassination, but he was certainly suicidal and prepared to die at least unless that was all just PR.
My thoughts exactly, he was the original Javert after all, and has a very distinct vocal style (one that I really like). Plus, his picture is there throughout...
@derfstudios Thats insane I just saw that production!!! I think Varela was incredible and amongst these names but not up to Quast level. Thats crazy that you saw that too.
I totally agree... Drew Sarich has a great voice, but he sounds too young for both Valjean and Javert, I really wonder why they didn't cast an older perfomer for this role in the current London production. And I think his last scream in this song didn't fit AT ALL with a character like Javert... it sounded more like he wanted to impress the audience than really playing the role.
Philip's the one I grew up with... he will always be Javert to me. Although there are others I would love to see live. 1. Philip (acts & sings masterfully) 2. Drew (lil' over-the-top but... very very unique) 3. Jerome 4. Michael 5. Terrence (never did like his Javert) 6. Hans (I don't like his voice at all) 7. Cornell (okay voice, bad delivery)
@PHANTOMfan08 shame really, he will always be THE Javert for me. I was fortunate to see him on stage in Les Mis in the West End and I have listened to the original recording hundreds of times. My favourite musical hands down. :)
Quast is obviously great (though a tad overrated), but I'll always be a Mann fan. His Javert is the most unique from the others, and I like that he has a higher voice. It's more what I picture Javert like ... I also like Norm Lewis and Roger Allam. No thanks on Michael McCarthy.
Drew Sarich's last "On" was probably the most unnecessary tasteless thing I have ever heard. It completely breaks character. His voice doesn't fit the part in general. Makes Javert sound like he's in his twenties. Not my favorite.
Also... Philip Quast, while I adore him, is so very much better in the TAC recording. In the Complete Symphonic, he just kind of... invents new meter and phrasing for eVeRyThInG. I have NO idea why! It messes with the idea of Javert as rigid and steady and relentless, if he's straying from the beat every three word! -- ah, I see now that this isn't the symphonic recording; they're all amateur/live recordings. Cool approach for a comparison!
nobody knows him, but i just saw Andrew Varela as Javert at PaperMill Playhouse in Millburn, NJ. (its a regional theatre) he was by far the best javert ever to play the part. better than quast, better than roger allam, he was miles better than all of them. its tough to find someone to beat quast and allam in that role, but Andrew Varela just beat them by a landslide. Drew should stick to playing valjean. we need a thenardier comparison next.
this is true, i love his voice but i don't think he's a valjean. i always thought his voice was too young for certain roles. you have to hear his judas and jesus though
1. Drew Sarich ( Left me speechless. He can sing, man! ) 2. Philip Quast ( Very close...just not enough emotion to compete with Drew. Acting is important in a musical, too! ) 3. Terrance Mann ( Quite good, wonderful vocals. ) 4. Micheal McCarthy ( Liked the feeling he had in his voice ) 5. Hans Peter Janssens ( Almost made me laugh... ) 6. Jerome Praden ( Wow... this was bad. ) 7. Cornell John ( ...eep. )
I hate Carpenter's weird lisp ... it sounds like there's always loads of spit in his mouth. I'd go (of the folks you listed): 1. Mann 2. Quast 3. Lewis 4. Fraser 5. Carptenter
None of these are particularly impressive to me. I've seen far better performances in person from actors like Chuck Wagner, David Masenheimer, Robert DuSold, and Richard Kinsey.
QUAAAAAAASSSTTT! The way he sings "I am reaching but I fall. And the stars are black and cold as I stare into the void, of a world that cannot hold. I'll escape now from that world. From the world of Jean Valjean. There is nowhere I can turn. There is no way to go OOOOOOOOOOOONNNNNNNNNNNNN!" seems so passionate and afraid and confused, because that's how Javert is at that moment.
I like this version of Terrence better than the CD recording
Philip Quast all the way :D
lol, the death screams crack me up every time, especially Cornell John.
its like "i might be dead in a minute, but that's no excuse not to sound good!", love it ^_^
Quast is Javert, his close second is McCarthy!
1.) Philip Quast
2.) Earl Carpenter
3.) Hadley Fraser
4.) Terrence Mann
5.) Norm Lewis
Quast play Javert, others singing some songs from musical.
Each of them nails different aspects of the performance. THANKS for sharing this with audio only. Sarich projects the passion of the scene by far the best. Others voices and physcial appearance may be better suited for this role, but Sarich seems to completely understand and become each character he portrays.
Quast is Javert for me. But the others come close. Sarich's interpretation was interesting - his Javert comes more unhinged. His suicide's a bit impulsive, which I think is the problem I have with it. Javert, even with his world completely shaken, still seems like he'd be in complete control. Death is his choice. He's terrified, yes, but he's still in control.
I saw Cornell John in the West End production six years ago. This recording doesn't do him justice. He was riveting.
Terrence Mann -- when he's on, he's ON. But when he's off... hurm. I wonder where in his part of the run that was taken from?
Neat little comparisson. :D
Quast. Quast. Quast.
Terrence Mann acted it better than anyone else I've ever seen; he made me forget how he's vocally not as strong as some of the others. Listening to the inflections in his voice here, it's all coming back to me . . .
On the other hand, I rather like how Drew Sarich took the last part up an octave (nobody else could do it so well), and how Michael McCarthy communicated such unbridled desperation in the last note.
Sarich does a great job, especially considering the new orchestrations--he makes up a lot of the emotional punch that's lost from the score, and his performance fits really well with his take on the character, not to mention that chilling death scream. Still, I think Quast is the best at capturing the real emotion of this song.
I love the way Terrence Mann says 'Jean Valjean' :3 He's my favorite Javert.
Terrence or Philip. One of the most difficult questions I've ever been faced with.
I vote for Philip Quast.
Quast is always and forever my favorite.
But this is the first time I ever head Drew Sarich's version, and WOW that death scream was intense.
Jerome Pradon is an amazing actor/singer but I don't think he works as Javert. I've played Valjean before and I'm now playing Javert... Philip Quast is the basing of my charachter interpretation and performance. The definitive Javert!!!
Interesting to hear all these different interpretations, but for me, this only affirms that Philip Quast's performance at TAC (and not the one included here) is the definitive Javert. In all fairness, though, we're only hearing, and not seeing, these other performances. Philip is just so riveting to watch in TAC. It's really difficult for me to imagine anyone else surpassing him. I mean, how do you improve what's perfect? :-)
still, Philip is the best
Quast, obv c:
i also love Earl Carpenter.
drew will always be valjean for me. but that was a wonderful scream he had at the end :D
Drew really put himself into it, but I think Quast simply IS it. Cornell did okay. Mann an McCarthy are close runners up.
Nobody beats Philip Quast. However, Drew Sarich is my second favorite. He's more calculating and cold until his final moments which are despairing and horrified. He once said that he likes being either avidly loved or avidly hated and I think that divisiveness makes him brave and amazing! And as for the scream at the end...hey, you'd make a sound like that if you were plunging to your death! LOL
Philip Quast!!!
Philip Quast is definitely the best. He just understands Javert so well. Every turning of the voice, every breath taking in...
McCarthy's is similar when dealing with the first part, his voice also very good.
Janssens sounds a bit weird...seems like this javert's too excited about the idea of jumping into the river...
Sarich... it's good singing, but it's not Javert. Sounds more Marius. Really, it's not Javert, and its not his struggling feelings.
I am always amazed every time I listen to a different production that Drew Sarich has been in. That man really puts his everything into a character and just truly puts so much emotion into his work. It’s amazing. Quast is still my favorite Javert, but Drew is definitely up there with him and Mann.
I love you for making this!
Quast >All the others!!
micheal mccarthy was good and so was Hans Peter Janssens, they were all good, but in my opinion Philip Quast is the ultimate javert
First of all, I love you for making this.
Mostly I am just sad that they took out the swell at 1:22 in all the newer productions, which is quite possibly the most beautiful non-vocal part of the entire show. I guess the newer version is quieter and more pensive, but I thought that worked so well because it sounded like rushing water. C'est la vie, I suppose...
i LOVE philip quast he was amazing as javert - his voice is so beautiful!! hans is great too though saw him in london....yummy!!
I know Quast is the popular choice, but I'm an OBC guy, almost through-and-through. At this point I think I'd take Anne Hathaway as Fantine, William Solo as Feuilly, and the OBC in my dream cast, so of course I like Mann the best out of these.
Terry is the best ever. End of discussion.
All of these guys are amazing (Quast is the best), but I think Drew Sarich's final note will give me NIGHTMARES. O_O
great. wow.
cool. =)
do you have the full version of pradon singing?
could you post it? pleeeaaaase! *smile*
Quast is so great, but I also lowkey love Drew !!
Oh Philip Quast all the way.
No comparison.
I personally LOVE Drew in almost everything he does. I have such respect for him as a performer. I accually saw his Valjean for my sweet 16, that was all I wanted and I got to do it. He was AMAZING! He pwned that! I ALSO LOVE his Javert.
0:59 is best part
@derfstudios I saw it there the day after Christmas, it was one of the best productions I have ever seen; even though it seemed they rushed the second act a bit because of the snow storm. It was kinda cool because I found out looking at the playbill that one of my friend's voice teacher was the alternate Valjean. One thing I really liked about how they did Javert's Suicide was how they made the ending before Javert jumps so dissonant.
This was a very creative idea. I like to be able to hear them all together. I've only heard Terrence Mann before. Drew Sarich did take an interesting view of it didn't he? SO did the orchestrations in that song. I think I liked Janssens.
Phillip Quasts version by far, but norm lewis does a great performance also.
7th Place: Pradon
6th Place: John
5th Place: Sarich (I like him better as Valjean, but points for that up-the-octave ending and the blood-curdling scream)
4th Place: Janssens
RUNNER-UP: Quast and Mann
CHAMP: McCarthy
Drew Sarich's recording sounds like it has the new orchestration introduced in 2010. Was it used somewhere before being adopted by the West End production? Or do you have a time machine?
where's roger allam the original one? he's the picture for the video :D
Drew Sarich all the way! He really put the intensity into the song. Oh my gosh I cried!
Love Quast
This is my dream role! Here’s my top 8 Javerts.
8. Will Swenson
7. Terrance Mann
6. Jeremy Sacomb
5. Hadley Fraser
4. Tam Mutu
3. Philip Quast
2. Norm Lewis
1. Earl Carpenter
Aside from the 10th anniversary concert, is there any film of Quast peforming Javert on the internet?
Philip Quast is the best definitely. Then again he was my first Javert so I may biased. Michael McCartney sounds like he's trying to hard to sound like Philip.
I'm in love with Jerome Pradon so again I'm biased but the start he sounded like he was trying too hard to baritone.
Drew Sarich has a nice voice but doesn't sound anything like what Javert should sound like.
philip quast all the way
i like jerome, but quast rules it all! x
I'd argue that Sarich is the only one who actually sounds like a man throwing himself to his death
Terrance Mann is AMAZING in ANYTHING!
But my FAVORITE is Mr. Drew Sarich! :-D
Thanks! That... actually explains a lot, really. :3
I usually like Philip Quast, but here I vote for Michael McCarthy. Both of them are very similar way of portrating Javert.
But, on this comparison, McCarthy's voice is more clear and reaching to my mind.
Others are also good but Philip Quastand Michael McCarthy are way better than others.
@EriksWanderingChild um, watch the 10th anniversary version.... Quast is awesome! tons of emotion for you!!
Actually Rudolf is left as a question, since history can't decide if it was suicide or assassination, but he was certainly suicidal and prepared to die at least unless that was all just PR.
My thoughts exactly, he was the original Javert after all, and has a very distinct vocal style (one that I really like). Plus, his picture is there throughout...
@HDC17 I've watched it several times. I still prefer Drew. Quast DOES have emotion, but I find Drew has just a bit more of it.
Me too, but at the end of the day ... it's Terrence.
Philip Quast and Michael McCarthy are my top 2. Did Jerome Pradon play Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar?
Hans Peter Jansenns and Terrence Mann are the best. Whoa! Drew Sarich what a death scream!
Always thought that Pradon deserves more credit for his role as Javert then what he gets...
@derfstudios Thats insane I just saw that production!!! I think Varela was incredible and amongst these names but not up to Quast level. Thats crazy that you saw that too.
Norm lewis does need to be part of this. Also, He is the best singer of Javert's Suicide.
@TehMagicLlama You haven't seen Rudolf... or Dracula... it's Drew's thing, apparently. :P
I totally agree... Drew Sarich has a great voice, but he sounds too young for both Valjean and Javert, I really wonder why they didn't cast an older perfomer for this role in the current London production. And I think his last scream in this song didn't fit AT ALL with a character like Javert... it sounded more like he wanted to impress the audience than really playing the role.
Philip's the one I grew up with... he will always be Javert to me. Although there are others I would love to see live.
1. Philip (acts & sings masterfully)
2. Drew (lil' over-the-top but... very very unique)
3. Jerome
4. Michael
5. Terrence (never did like his Javert)
6. Hans (I don't like his voice at all)
7. Cornell (okay voice, bad delivery)
@PHANTOMfan08 shame really, he will always be THE Javert for me. I was fortunate to see him on stage in Les Mis in the West End and I have listened to the original recording hundreds of times. My favourite musical hands down. :)
DREW!!!! AHHHH! Love him. I like Michael too. They are all good. It is such a hard song to sing so I give them all credit. :D
Quast is obviously great (though a tad overrated), but I'll always be a Mann fan. His Javert is the most unique from the others, and I like that he has a higher voice. It's more what I picture Javert like ... I also like Norm Lewis and Roger Allam. No thanks on Michael McCarthy.
i find it funny that Terence Mann played both Javert and Chauvelin. poor french officers who never catch their quarry.
I agree with this exactly except i'd switch Janssens and McCarthy.
Yes, he did. In movie version JCS 2000. He was great :)!
Terrence Mann will always be the only Javert to me.
Drew Sarich's last "On" was probably the most unnecessary tasteless thing I have ever heard. It completely breaks character. His voice doesn't fit the part in general. Makes Javert sound like he's in his twenties. Not my favorite.
The first picture is of Roger Allam from the OLC, by the way, not Terrence Mann.
IMO Roger Allam is the best
Also... Philip Quast, while I adore him, is so very much better in the TAC recording. In the Complete Symphonic, he just kind of... invents new meter and phrasing for eVeRyThInG. I have NO idea why! It messes with the idea of Javert as rigid and steady and relentless, if he's straying from the beat every three word! -- ah, I see now that this isn't the symphonic recording; they're all amateur/live recordings. Cool approach for a comparison!
nobody knows him, but i just saw Andrew Varela as Javert at PaperMill Playhouse in Millburn, NJ. (its a regional theatre) he was by far the best javert ever to play the part. better than quast, better than roger allam, he was miles better than all of them. its tough to find someone to beat quast and allam in that role, but Andrew Varela just beat them by a landslide. Drew should stick to playing valjean. we need a thenardier comparison next.
@leelee987654 only as an understudy but he did play the role
@seizetheday224 It's made worse by the fact that there's an undeniably boyish timbre in his voice when he starts screaming. It's...jarring.
Quast and Sarich are the best! I think Earl Carpenter also should be here
Is that a good thing?
this is true, i love his voice but i don't think he's a valjean. i always thought his voice was too young for certain roles. you have to hear his judas and jesus though
DREW SARICH ALL THE WAY!!!!!!!!!!
drew sarich is better than everyone at everything
Mann is my favorite, but Allam is right up there. Great Javert.
hey you forgot norm lewis:). but this is still cool.
1. Drew Sarich ( Left me speechless. He can sing, man! )
2. Philip Quast ( Very close...just not enough emotion to compete with Drew. Acting is important in a musical, too! )
3. Terrance Mann ( Quite good, wonderful vocals. )
4. Micheal McCarthy ( Liked the feeling he had in his voice )
5. Hans Peter Janssens ( Almost made me laugh... )
6. Jerome Praden ( Wow... this was bad. )
7. Cornell John ( ...eep. )
I hate Carpenter's weird lisp ... it sounds like there's always loads of spit in his mouth. I'd go (of the folks you listed):
1. Mann
2. Quast
3. Lewis
4. Fraser
5. Carptenter
Where is roger freakin allam
No Roger Allam? But he's my favorite Javert of all time! :( :( :(
1:00
kind of ironic. because that's his picture on display^_^.
None of these are particularly impressive to me. I've seen far better performances in person from actors like Chuck Wagner, David Masenheimer, Robert DuSold, and Richard Kinsey.
This needs Norm Lewis!!
terrance mann is more beauty and the beast in my opinion lol... but what about norm lewis man!!! his suicide was fantastic when i saw it haha
@lestatsluver666 look at him on hey mr producer, i think that is the closest you will get
I agree!
Quality is fucking terrible man