Heroes in modern pieces very rarely speak of righteousness.

It isn't really a villain song. Antagonist song, you betcha. But Javert isn't a villain, just a man flawed by his own beliefs that if someone commits a crime they can never be good.

Javert's just a policeman who's somewhat zealous and overcommitted to the philosophies underpinning his job. He's not a "bad guy". If anyone's the "bad guy" in Les Mis, it's Valjean. He's a convicted thief - sure, he "only" stole some bread, but stealing is stealing - then he tried to steal from the bishop, then he went on the lam rather than facing his punishment, concocted a false identity and lived a sham life, and then when the law finally caught up with him he went on the lam _again_ except this time he dragged his innocent adopted daughter into it.

@@N.I.R.A.T.I.A.S. Plus, in the book, he was an actual criminal, and kind of an asshole. To the point where the reason Les Misérables is so powerful it's exactly because "if this awful excuse for a human being can be redeemed, can't almost anyone"?

Obviously the Thenardiers and the French government as a whole are the villains of Les Miserables

Even the other actors and members of the orchestra are clapping!!!

Roger Allam will always be my favourite

@@Simon-sf7ng Russell Crowe was not bad, but his voice never came close to the power of Philip Quast. The tenth anniversary cast is the superior to the one in 2012 in every way.

The Best Javert, sung with power, passion , that last note.Amazing!!! No one compares. He feels the words, doesnt just sing them.

And The menace, Doug

Haha😆😅😄🤣😃

13 secs

🤣 yes. Quite.

when he says "This i swear by..." he takes a breath right before by, it is a way of being smart with your breaths. "This I swear by... *breath* the starrrrs". Makes it a lot easier.

@@eiantsou6109 Easi"er", yes, but still not easy. It's a very long sustain, and it takes a lot of practice to still have power at the end and not finish with a quiet whimper.

Quast's Javert has the authoritarian uniformed vibe of M. Bison, the 1800s styled top hat menace of Mr. Hyde and the monstrous physically imposing stage presence of The Undertaker. Except none of those guys have pipes like these. Certified badass.

WOW !!

Russel Crowe has a more look and feel to Javert While Phillip Quast has that awesome voice

@@cerridianempire1653 I agree

D R ikr!

He defined the role ... just like Robert Preston did in “The Music Man”. This 10th anniversary performance is excellent, and fortunate to be captured. Years later, he talks about the role. kzfaq.info/get/bejne/j5x2aLSYqL64ZJc.html

I have heard this song done so many times, but NO ONE captures the spirit and lyrics of this song the way this guy does. Shockingly beautiful. Actually made me cry just now. Outrageously great singer.... and those eyes...!!

Philip is Javert straight outta the book!. Victor Hugo would agree

Any thoughts on Norm Lewis, 25th anniversary Javert?

And not even smirking.

Feeling like he's being up with the stars

Used to feel incredible, then you get overshadowed by the hamilton kids down the block. Your thousands is matched by their millions, around the world.

@@thRegimentofFootThethRifles I love Hamilton, but this they can never be topped. Hamilton grows in you if you hear it multiple times but with this I never grew tired of listening to.

@@thRegimentofFootThethRifles don't need to put others down to praise something. Atleast not among fans of something as niche as musicals.

terrence mann??

He was so good in this part: so good, both vocally and theatrically.

Broooo, Russell Crowe's voice has something, maybe it's not as hard as Phillip but maaaaaan, really got me

What about Philip Quast

@@dakotavaleria it has something called "not very good at singing".

And Alun Armstrong’s “Master of the House” brought Fantine back to life and had her slapping her knees!

Haaa

Lol

The only clapping Valjean should be engaged in is getting clapped in irons.

That's how he catches him again

Probably ?? You know it is

Bradley Elsken but Russel Crowe tho

VenomWhisper Crowe is a folk singer. He can sing, but his style is not really suited to broadway. He was too flat, imo. In performance, not tuning, he was spot on pitch-wise.

Barney Harris I was Kidding. I know this is the best lmao

VenomWhisper Fairy nuff. I can never be sure, after all, Russell Crowe is pretty awesome.

rebuttal: javert's suicide, empty chairs maybe sometimes.

My bestest!

Best solo. One Day More is still a showstopper

Agree! 1. Stars 2. Empty Chairs

read this a month ago and didn't think much of the song, now i am in the same position as you :s

Shut up we're talking about Phil

@@erniesings6855 you can’t acknowledge and praise both? Lmao

@@Howlingburd19 never

Hadn't really thought about it, but yeah it's immaculate through the whole 10th anniversary recording

But you did ❤❤❤❤❤

Paul Clemens I’m jealous too

How much were the tickets?! I’m building a time machine!

So am I

Question, does your wife know why they didn't have this dream cast also perform an actual play and have it pro shot the way they did this? I know they wanted to get maximum recorded audio for the album here which is why it wasn't the full bells and whistles production. But could you imagine if the next night they had THIS CAST do the actual play and pro shot it like this? Before everyone went their separate ways. That would be fire! I love watching the 10th anniversary concert but it's often not 'busy' enough to get a newbie into and I do kinda wish that existed.

Because they are Broadway, and they got real actors? No diss to them tho, cuz they they obviously are better

LITERALLY I feel emotional when I hear this, he just sings it so perfectly

I will die for him 🙏

Every. Single. Time. Chokes me up

There is such a sincerity to his voice. You can feel his belief in what he is doing.

I have only listened to Stars and Javert's Suicide for 2 weeks now

Me too. Manage to see the original casts. They were all incredible. Amazing talents ❤

Oh yes! Yes!

+Olli Lappalainen YES!

Oh my god yes!! 😃

+Olli Lappalainen Oh my god, best fucking idea ever!

Check out Anthony Warlow singing this.

I love his expression at 1:42. There is a happiness that he feels in doing his 'duty'. And yes there is pride as well but he actually smiles. It's an interesting moment.

I read that lea michele, and let me tell you i have never been so confused

True. Fucking giga chad Javert.

I always thought it was a look of shyness. Like he was caught up in a rare moment to himself and had to regain composure.

I figured he was searching the audience for Valjean. He'd be the one not clapping.

​@M Radan lol this made me laugh

the same magic that lets him sing like this

Tbh it’s probably helping keep his vocal chords warmer

Probably skipped the underwear!

He also got airco underneath so he's fine.

Long hair before it was even cool..

here's something interesting you mayor may not know, when the Manchester cast album was released , they recycled his "Stars" track from the Complete Symphonic Cast Recording.

So so lucky

Ditto. I honestly was angry the first time I saw Les Mis live, as this (recorded) performance was my intro to the show. I was like, you did not give Stars its due justice!!! And I've felt that way with every performance since. There's nothing like this one.

Look for Norm Lewis! It’s amazing!

@@davidcabrera3297 Lewis lacks that authoritative commanding voice that Quast has.

@@coneil72 ❤️

@@HelloWorld-ev9sg Weird, I think Quast lacks the authoritative voice Lewis has.

Agreed, and he sings on the ultimate Les Mis collection too.

Mark Gailmor I’ve never heard of the Ultimate Les Miserables Collection but he does sing on the Complete Symphonic Recording which includes his fabulous version of The Robbery/Javert’s Intervention (which sadly was not performed in the 10th Anniversary Concert)

Why underrated? It's one of the best song of the show.

Sannya1803 Well, it's less popular than the other songs from the musical or at least, it is around here. So maybe underappreciated not underrated.

The world would be a better place if police consisted only of such men like Javert: crime-hating, uncorruptable and madly brave.

Đuro Razbojnik Except for his untrained singing voice, I never saw the show before the movie and I cringed when he started singing. Just my 2 cents

Actually, he decided to end it all not because of he experienced a human emotion but because he came to realise that the convictions that drove him in his life were based on false pretences. Javert believes that the law of France at the time is absolutely good - he compares it several times to the law of a God and hence all form of decent is a flicker of evil in someone's heart that can never be extinguished - they violate the law only because they desire to do what is without the best interest of society. While this would be true of absolutely good law, Javert realises that the law cannot be absolutely good, because Valjean commits an empirically good, unselfish act (sparing his life) even though he knows Javert will peruse him regardless. Therefore, the law is proven to punish those who would do good, and does not allow for redemption. Therefore, he reasons that his life has been wasted, and feeling outcast, tops himself.

dahuterschuter It's crowe now, NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

MrMegadipper Russell Crowe brought me to tears......but for all the wrong reasons. And that guy that TRIED ( sort of....) to play Thenardier.......I think that if not for those two 'performances', the film could have MAYBE won the Academy Award for BEST Picture.

+dahuterschuter Searching just "Stars" and Quast is STILL number one result even after everything... As it should be

+dahuterschuter they were called the dream cast for a reason.

+195511SM I mean, it is Thenardier. You're not supposed to take him seriously. Who else would've played the role? And even if they did, would've it have made that big of a difference?

Wait for It is a close second...but yeah

The original score didn't have that coda,the high note"this I swear by the stars"...thank you Lord for the revision

It's not the song, it's Quast's perfect interpretation and performance. Gives me the creeps each time. People like Javert are plentiful.

I could listen to it a million times... come to think of it, maybe I have.

Awesomeness*

He has the most incredible breath control - and the voice does not falter at all. . . thank the goodnesses for Broadway!!!!

This concert aired as an episode of 'Great Performances' on PBS back in 1996. I remember I was cleaning my apartment, and the TV happened to be tuned to that channel......and they were repeating the concert several times, as part of their annual pledge drive. First time I ever heard any music from the show.......and THIS guy is what hooked me I think. It was between him & Lea Salonga's 'On My Own'. The ENTIRE cast was AWESOME. I didn't get much house cleaning done that weekend though. I got caught up watching this instead.

Lol

I probably come back to watch at least once a year, always leaving with tears in my eyes, its so powerful.

I nothing sacred safe from "Who's watching in *year here*?"

With norm Lewis as a close second

I'm ranking all the principles of Les Mis because I hate TV, live alone and am in quarantine. I've listened to at least 30 Valjeans,; probably more. But although I've listened to other Javerts let's be real. Not even close runner up with Quest. It's been interesting reading comments though how we all look for a certain quality and hear things differently. Certainly no right or wrong. I just hope this ends before have to start Phantom.

Vera T. Any thoughts on Norm Lewis, 25th anniversary? He was a great Javert!

very...bookish? :D

Lynn Ross very "brick" you mean :)

Nhat Lam NGUYEN No I don't think so :P

The best Javert I have ever seen on stage.

And eponine!!!

Eponine too!

Justine lol rip Valjean

Eponine and Valjean too

If they could have performed with Alfie Boe, I'd agree!

Exaggerated, half mill

2:14 the most epic & operaractical articulation of "those"

Whole song epic articulation

every song that javert sings epic articulation.

@@emilyl7571 agreed

My as a kid : I like master of the house, wonder what the words means... Me as a teen : on my own... Pretending she's beside me... Me now : wow, javert is actually an antihero...

I feel the sameeeee

Katie Alyce for me it’s one day more because of the memories it holds for me

@@murder7415 You're kind of backwards in your terminology and how you apply the "anti"; I actually don't think Javert fits the "antihero" label. First, IME that almost always refers to the *protagonist* of a story, while Javert is clearly the primary antagonist of Les Mis. Second, an "antihero" is someone who you are kind of rooting for even though they're really not a good person -- wikipedia says they "lacks conventional heroic qualities and attributes such as idealism, courage and morality". But because the story is probably told from their view kind of, they are played as the protagonist; "everyone is the hero of their own story." For example, TV Tropes gives Walter White as an example of an antihero. I'm not sure the following is a 100% fit either, but Javert is actually much closer to an *antivillain*, "a character with heroic goals, personality traits, and/or virtues who is ultimately the villain. Their desired ends are mostly good, but their means of getting there range from evil to undesirable". That's TV Tropes's definition, and I'm not the only one who thinks Javert potentially qualifies because he is among their examples. (He's not listed as an antihero, just to head off the idea that maybe the site is inconsistent and he's both places.) I think it might just be best to label him more neutrally, and call him an antagonist; well-intentioned but deeply flawed.

@@EvanED While I do not remember the term antihero to strictly be used for protagonists, I do acknowledge that Javert is an antagonist. However, I agree to the term antivillain.

I absolutely adore Philip Quast. Totally brilliant. Sings with such feeling.

Absolutely i was there ......😁

@@anniehaynes1561 I'm jealous

Nope.................. 11/10

+Livwen Absotol 12/10

+jdoubsfox1 Yes, truly

Best version, best singer! I love how he can stay in character even when the house is brought down by applause...seriously, I'd at least crack a smile! He truly is Javert ❤️

No truer than at the end of the song when he puts his hat back on...that look he gives!!

Could not agree more

brian da MAN

He is my favourite musical Javert, but the best non-musical is Anthony Perkins from 1978 movie.

When Anthony Perkins' Javert insists that Jean Valjean go with him, Valjean asks what's his problem anyway, and Javert replies "I have mommy issues." And when Valjean asks where they're supposed to go, Javert replies "You'll be my guest at our family motel." Valjean looks confused, and Javert corrects himself and says, "I mean, family inn."

I'm sorry, I like Russell Crowe more. sue me.

Totally agree with your assessment.

true dat

There seem to be many Javerts running around these days doing terrible things in the name of patriotism blindly disguised as justice.

Yes! How could they! Especially after reading the entry that explained that to prepare for this he got into astronomy, studied the night sky, wanted to be familiar so he could literally embrace the concept of their guidance and importance.

absolutely true

Weird but I can see it

Damn you're right 😂

That would've been awesome!

PQ singing while wrestling-I'd pay to see that.

Try having a Mother who was a vocal teacher for 45 years, listening to all of her students, and then not being able to do this.😢

Right. I sing this in the shower and am like yeah I can sing. Then I watch this and go. No no no. I no sing.

@@Zarmdthecoolest Rock on, kid!

f38stingray Lol, it works perfectly: “Lord, let me find him, that I may see him.” Your comment made my day xD

"there.... out in the darkness... a fugitive running." _"i will get you, insect."_

That’s it u win

«He knows his way in the dark, mine is the way of the lord» haha

Omg 😂😂😂👍

Beautifully said. One of literature’s most interesting characters perfectly portrayed by PQ. So much credit to lyricist Herbie Kretzmer and the Les Mis creative team.

Yes! Just watched it twice at theatre and this song is everything you want it to be. My daughter is autistic and said 'I think he's autistic too, his lifes foundation is black and white, when he realises his whole life he maybe has had it wrong he's too shaken to cope with going on' Powerful!

My favorite too.

Same

The best baritone in all of the theater world.

yes!!!! it is sooooooooo beautiful

I was so lucky to see him in person in the first London revival of 'The Secret Garden' by the Royal Shakespeare Company. He played Archie, the hunchbacked Uncle, and was as stunning as he was in 'Les Mis', though playing a very different character. A three hanky performance -- absolutely heartbreaking. I got to chat with him afterward and what a lovely fellow he was, too. And though I've seen some damn good Javert's in my time, I think Quast is definitive -- as moving as the best Valjeans -- and you can't ask for more than that.

Norm Lewis is up there

Warren McFadden Norm has an amazing voice but he always sings it with such anger, and Stars is not an angry song. Javert is supposed to be self righteous, determined, and full of conviction here, but not angry.

I have watched this DVD over 200 times This is Javert I love it still and will continue to do so for a very long time Jenny✨

A Wonderful singer and a brilliant actor.💙🙏

Videostar2218 Crowe singing Stars LOOKED amazing! It wasn't bad! It just sounded like auto tune

DIsagree. Russel Crowe should NEVER sung this role. It was a true and real fiasco.

finally someone not acting like a 7-years-old! i discovered les misérables by watching the movie, so maybe that's why i don't see what's wrong with crowe's javert -because i haven't seen other performances- but i really don't get why people are saying everywhere his performances was a disaster or ruined the movie and so on. to me it was a really great performance throughout the movie, crowe's acting really showed javert's dilemmas/the kind of twisted aspect of javert's character (like, he's doing everything wrong, he's kind of the vilain, but all he really wants to do is justice and do things right). i don't know if any of what i'm saying makes sense, however yeah russell's performance was totaly okay and putting him down for no available reason is really childish. (i'd add moreover that i absolutely loved his voice -autotuned or not- and that his performance of stars is probably one of my favorite scenes of the movie)

Crowe was a disaster. He may look great, but um sorry, then perform an cry was one of the worst in movie musical history. (Close to Peter O"Tools"s "Man of LA Mancha.)

All of the actors in the movie played their parts brilliantly. The problem with russel crowe is that his singing didn't stack up to singers like Philip Quast or the rest of the cast. He played the part well but at the end of the day, it's still a musical.

+VSC, Valjean and Javert are mirrors of one another and are what the other could've been had they made different choices. They're both men who have been through Hell, told constantly they are one thing and nothing more, struggle to do what they think is right and are given a chance at redemption by somebody they've wronged. This is echoed in Valjean's Soliloquy and Javert's Suicide where the melody is identical. Where they differ is how they react to this unexpected grace. Valjean chooses to make a new start for himself, horrified at what he has done and moved by the Bishop's show of mercy and the final notes of his Soliloquy are sharp and cutting as he rips up his papers marking him a criminal. Javert on the other hand can't reconcile Valjean's criminal past to the show of mercy and chooses to accept what he's clung to most of his life instead of changing his life as Valjean did, again the final notes as he jumps to his death are of Stars "You are the sentinels, silent and sure, keeping watch in the night, keeping watch in the night" This is why most productions don't have Javert on the barricades, because he rejected that offer of mercy and didn't accept a second chance.

Your analysis is true, I will add Javert's personal context; He was born in prison, on the side of the guards, his universe is formatted in an irrevocable way, it is a watchdog .. And then more generally Victor Hugo describes with rigorous exactitude, (And its police) created by Bonaparte (whom the returning Bourbons guarded by adding to it a revanchist religious order destroyed during the French Revolution, more preoccupied with its interest than with the redemption of the culprits). Victor Hugo is inspired by the real character of François Vidocq, inventor of the police of intelligence, the systematic grid of information of the caretakers of the buildings, the infiltration in the bands of thugs, the payment by remittances of prison sentence etc., etc en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eug%C3%A8ne_Fran%C3%A7ois_Vidocq

Couldn't agree more. This performance is a total Tour de force.

Hear, hear!

Cheers

I think Norm Lewis did it the best, but Quast is a close second.

I agree. In fact, I've always thought that Javert had the best voice in most of the productions I've seen.

Keep on going Phillip the best ever what a wonderful voice

No it’s this i swear by the STAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHS

He was great on scene too

queenslanddiva hoy hoy hoy😂😂 (I'm not Aussie in any way just know that's what u say)

...

OI OI OI!!!!!!!

Aussie bringing the house down

plus Lea Salogna

Oh I wholeheartedly agree Simon, the whole cast was superb.

I wish I can go back in time too; sadly, I wasn't even conceived in 1995.

@Farfar Villanueva 😁

Wow. That must of been an incredible experience !