I like the CSR (even Eponine), but as I've said on other boards, the adult Cosette makes my ears bleed. Even musical-tolerant friends have reached over and turned off that CD in my car when she begins to bleat and screech...
I think the CSR should be avoided at all costs because of Gary Morris. His "interpretation" of Valjean amounts to a painful Colm Wilkinson IMPRESSION. Colm has some pretty weird pronunciations of words to my American ears, but okay, he's Irish. So why does Gary Morris share the brogue? Because he's totally clueless as a musical theatre performer, that's why. He just listened to Colm do the role so much he ended up doing a complete impersonation. Didn't know any better, and had absolutely nothing of his own to offer.
Gary Morris sounds like a country Western singer gone bad as Valjean.
As for a Les Mis recording... you can't go wrong with any recording because the first recording you listen to, the one that introduces you to the show will always be your favorite. I know the OLC isn't the best recording out there, and I have the 3 main English recordings and the TAC on VHS, yet it's my personal favorite because I learned to love the show by listening to the OLC.
Cosette: Roses are red.
Marius: Violets are blue.
Eponine: You're so in love!
Marius: And so not with you.
The Israeli recording was only ever released on LP and cassette.
As for a Les Mis recording... you can't go wrong with any recording because the first recording you listen to, the one that introduces you to the show will always be your favorite.
HA! No. My first recording was the OBC and I hate it.
"This thread reads like a series of White House memos." — Mister Matt
If we're going to drag international recordings into the mix, my recommendations in approximate order are the Paris revival, the TAC, the French concept album, the OLC, the Antwerp highlights, maybe the Duisburg highlights. And I'm not as familiar with the 2003 Japanese casts, but what I've listened to has been quite good.