Val Jean is not a tennor, therefore Bring Him Home is not a tennor song, nor is it show stopping.
Yes he is. A baritone can't hit those notes. I mean, I'll give you examples. Took the silver took my "Fliiiiighhhht!" (really high) "Beginssss!!!!!!!!!!!!" Really high.
And Bring Him Home is a tenor song and it is also a showstopper. That song used to get standing ovations.
"You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view - until you climb into his skin and walk around in it."
To Kill A Mockingbird
I know someone already said that Being Alive is actually a tenor song, but I wouldn't suggest singing anything Sondheim, since he usually composes for baritones.
Funny of you to say that. On the commentary of SITPWG, Sondheim says he always writes for baritones and "gets stuck with tenors."
OT: He wanted Geroge as a VERY low baritone and Dot/Marie as a VERY high soprano, he got the opposite.
"You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view - until you climb into his skin and walk around in it."
To Kill A Mockingbird
Those notes you refered to are frequently done in the West End in a form of falsetto. Baritones can hit those notes and indeed with correct technique are quite capable of belting the high sections of "What Have I Done?". There are several Bflats and it ends on a A but to say baritones cannot sing those notes is rather short sighted!
Again its vocal quality more than anything else. Valjean is an older part and the high baritone range is what is cast in the WE production.
"O.K. Your' comment is ridiculous. First of all, you definately are not a singer or in musical theatre at all. Secondly, Val Jean sings to a high B, which means it is a tenor role, and the note is meant to be sung FULL VOICE, not falsetto, which also means it's a tenor part. So there you have it . . .and before you dismiss my comments, I was in the show, I am a performer, I have been on broadway, and not in the chorus, and you still have no idea what the hell you are talking about."
Ok so where do you want me to begin with that one??!?!!!!!!
Get off your high horse mate. Valjean does indeed sing that high b (Court Room isnt it?) but you are caught up in the world of definitions. I may not work in musical theatre but plenty of friends do and I have had the benefit of working with some top vocal coachs in the UK. Its all down to healthy technique. Seeing as you have been on Broadway I dont have to tell you that!
There have been plenty of "tenors" cast in this role over the years. However what I was trying to point out is that "high baritones" are just as desirable in the role and have frequently been cast in the WE or on tour. A friend of mines works in casting and others have had the same thing hammered into them by places like the Royal Academy of Music. Now feel free to disagree, it seemed to work for you all back in 1776
Oh and about the falsetto bit.... I cant even count the number of times I have seen "tenor" Valjeans use falsetto for those parts. Performers like Jeff Leyton and Simon Bowman spring to mind. Listen to performers like John Owen Jones and Stig Rossen and then tell me if you think they have a legit tenor vocal quality... I dont think so. Oh and I hate to bring him up but Michael Ball is another one- a high baritone who can sing Valjean and did a similar range in Aspects of Love.
Courtesy of a google search...not necessarily show stopping...
All Good Gifts- GODSPELL (Ew.) Alone at the Drive-In Movie- GREASE Anthem- CHESS The Apple Tree (Forbidden Fruit)- THE APPLE TREE At the Grand Hotel- GRAND HOTEL A Bit of Earth- THE SECRET GARDEN Boy for Sale- OLIVER Bring Him Home- LES MISERABLES Close Every Door- JOSEPH AND HIS TECHNICOLOUR DREAMCOAT Geraniums in the Winder- CAROUSEL High Flying, Adored- EVITA I Believe in You- HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING I Know About Love- DO RE MI I Met a Girl- BELLS ARE RINGING I Only Want to Say (Gethsemane)- JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR I Will Follow You- MILK AND HONEY Jasper's Confession- THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD Like a God- FLOWER DRUM SONG Love Can't Happen- GRAND HOTEL Miracle of Miracles- FIDDLER ON THE ROOF The Music of the Night- THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA Old Devil Moon- FINIAN'S RAINBOW On This Night of a Thousand Stars- EVITA Once upon a Time Today- CALL ME MADAM She Loves Me- SHE LOVES ME She Wasn't You-ON A CLEAR DAY YOU CAN SEE FOREVER Sit down You're Rockin' the Boat- GUYS AND DOLLS (Last time I saw this show it was the best number ever. Definitely show stopping!) This Is the Moment- JEKYLL AND HYDE Tonight at Eight- SHE LOVES ME Why God Why?- MISS SAIGON Willkommen- CABARET (I don't know since when this is classified as a tenor song...but anyway...) Winter's on the Wing- THE SECRET GARDEN
Why are there so many threads around here that are pages and pages longer than they need to be, because of some ridiculous off topic debate? We may as wll rename this thread "MY knowledge of Jean Valjean's role could beat up YOUR knowledge of Jean Valjean's role."