On Tuesday 15 October, 2013,  the State Library held an exclusive event featuring multi-award winning composer, Claude-Michel Schönberg, speaking to Julia Zemiro.

As a Golden Globe winner, Oscar nominee and Grammy award winner, he is best known for composing the music for the long running global phenomenon, Les Misérables.  Now in its 28th year and based on the 1862 Victor Hugo novel, Les Mis tells a dramatic tale of love, passion, sacrifice and redemption.   Claude-Michel Schönberg will discuss the process of composing the music for Les Mis and the world of musical theatre with Julia Zemiro.

After an early career as a record producer, singer and songwriter in his native born France, Schönberg later co-wrote other musicals with Les Mis lyricist Alain Boublil including the very popular Miss Saigon in 1989, Martin Guerre in 1997 and The Pirate Queen in 2006, all of which the Library holds either the music score, CD or both.

Schönberg and Boublil also co-wrote the book of the musical Marguerite in 2008.  Based on the novel La Dame aux Camelias by Alexandre Dumas, Marguerite featured music by the legendary Michel Legrand, and was a huge hit with the critics when it premiered in London’s West End.

Seen by over 65 million people and receiving more than 100 major awards, Les Misérables remains one of the world’s great blockbuster musicals.  By special arrangement with Cameron Mackintosh, this much loved musical returns to Australia in June 2014 after 17 years.  The season will commence in Melbourne at Her Majesty’s Theatre.   The Library also holds the spectacular 10th anniversary Gala Concert on DVD performed live at the Royal Albert Hall in 1995. This was billed The Dream Cast and featured Philip Quast from the Original Australian Cast as Javert.

 

All of which is great practice for our Victor Hugo/Les Mis’extravaganza next year!