Added: 10 months ago
From: barrowmanmadsdad
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  • Great effort. But Phillip Quast will always be the best Javert.

  • i cant help but think he'd be a good Phantom

  • I gotta say I just enjoy Quast's version so much more. Lewis spits to much.

  • @danmurray1996 He chooses to sing less of the song as sustained notes, and he showed less vulnerability which is kind of a pity. I agree it hurts the overall comparison with Quast. Quast's voice is still sliiiightly better anyway, but it's much closer without the different stylistic choices.

  • I always thought nobody could better Quast, but Norm Lewis is so good!

  • I think they both performed it well, it's just that they have different styles delivering the song.. Norm's accent is so powerful that makes you feel his urgency to catch Jean Valjean, plus the expression on his face, remarkable! Quast's version on the other hand is kinda soft, which is good for parts which has to be delivered that manner.

  • everyone compares norm to quast because he came first. if norm played Javert in the the 10th anniversary and quast did the same thing in the 25th then everyone would be saying that Norm Lewis was a better Javert than Quast

  • Norm definately has the best voice out of all the javerts

  • Norm's 'Till then' the most perfect 'perfect 6th' I think I've ever heard on this. Nice and focused on 'till' and then he opens up nicely, stylizes it when he hits 'then' just enough to stay 'legit', but has just enough slide up to the note for us 'pop' style lover's. It's an ideal delivery. I think Norm has the ability to bridge likability from pop over into this genre usually more dominated by classically trained vocalist approache(and rigidly classically styled vocalists).

  • So i just watched Quast to see what tha hype was...not impressed. Norm is phenomenal. He is the perfect javert. I just dont understand why everyone is comparing two different ppl. Obviously theyr gonna be diff and obviously everyone is gonna have their own opinion. Every1 is soo touchy on youtube

  • Very good, but Quast is better. 

  • Ive just consulted CompareJavert.co.uk and Philip Quast won...so thats that settled then.

  • Wow, Quast souds like amateur in compare to Lewis

  • Norm Lewis did a fantastic job with this. I actually prefer Norm Lewis' rendition of it, as I feel like he is impassioned throughout, and he also has a stronger voice. Philip Quast did extremely well with his cover, but I honestly do not feel like it compares to Norm's.

    Quast had way to much vibrato, and, in my opinion, does not emote very well. By which I mean with his voice, expression, and gesticulation.

    Also, Norm has a lower voice (comparatively) and I kind of like the way it sounds.

  • 1000 times worse than Phil Quast...lol

  • 1000 TIMES BETTER THAN PHIL QUAST!!!

  • I would like norm more if he said the word stars like questy does. Just a bit more passion in it. I would also like him more if he looked like quest. Infact I just prefer questy. Lol.

  • @djrockerbones who's questy?. Do u mean quasty perhaps??? If you prefer him i wud have thought u wud have got his name right... LOTS OF PEOPLE USED TO LIKE THAT BLACK SINGER TURNED WHITE. OH WOTS HIS NAME??? OH YES THATS RIGHT MIKIEL JACKSON. HE USED TO DANCE TOO DIDNT HE!!!

  • @singerman2008 I just knew my spelling was out...thats the alcahole i consumed..never let me near You tube after a beer or 5...lol

  • @singerman2008 oh and by the way...i wasnt refering to him being a black...i was just saying that if he looked like Quast he would be better as then he would be Quast...just so you know...lol

  • Sorry. but Quast could never do what Norm does vocally. Norm is one of the best male vocalists of our time. Quast is a fantastic actor but you shouldn't limit him as being the only Javert. There have been dozens of Javerts in the history of Les Mis. Norm's and Quast's Javert are completely different.

  • @Leadingdude best vocalists of our time please!!!

  • @Leadingdude There isnt anything impress about this mans voice wotsoever. Pleaase stop spouting crap about him. Also heard phil quast and i think he is rubbish too!!!

  • @singerman2008 There arent any decent singers in the theatre anyway!!!!

  • Lewis is awe inspiring! His verdi baritone is perfect for the role. I have seen Quast and Carpenter live - I prefer Lewis's command of stage presence and the more darker tone of his voice - wow what a voice!

  • Phil Quast is the only javert and sings it with alot more passion and meaning the Lewis, good effort though

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  • @singerman2008 "ive have on stage with phil quast"

    After this part I gave up on trying to read what you're saying.

  • 原田 誠

  • Lots of people love Norm, and lots of people dislike him. I am just so sick of seeing these self-important, pretentious comments. Please, people, shut the hell up. This is YouTube, not academia. I love the original London cast, and remain in minority because Francea Ruffelle is my favourite Éponine of all-time. Norm Lewis is my favourite Javert; it's a shame he can't shine as the genius he is when we're stuck in Javert 8 years ago. Norm is the only Javert to make me cry. Love you, Norm!

  • Mediocre, or perhaps "artificial" might be a more succinct description, on many levels. He sounds vocally tired throughout, perhaps he was under the weather. However, I agree with "contranimal". For me, the most interesting part of the 25th Anniv. was the curtain call where the 10th anniv. cast, the "old" folks, show up and outsing most of this new cast. Interesting how the actual "technique of singing" has changed in 15 years! And the "taste" in the artists.

  • I agree that Quast was Great...and I liked his Javert Suicide scene a bit better... but Lewis cant be beaten on the "Stars" track...when he holds the "...then..." and "...stars..." lines/notes towards the end...ohhh yea, hands down takes it!!! =)

  • I think Lewis is the best Javert. His voice and presence is amazingly engaging!

  • i think quast is the best javert however lewis gave a little bit more power and emotion to the song especially the trill At the end

  • I don't know if he's the best Javert but man...he is SO beautiful. I cry every time he starts singing

  • Yo i might be.

  • Im playing Javert in a musical at my school any suggestions

  • I saw Norm Lewis Live in London and although the other Javert were amazing, he tops it all off. His singing, acting, intensity is never going to be equaled. Look into his eyes and vibrate with his voice... then you'll understand.

  • He gives me chills every time.

  • Lewis does not even come close to Quast in the performance of this song. Honestly though I was not impressed with the 25th Anniv. casting AT ALL for any roles.

  • @contranimal Alfie Boe, Norm Lewis, Lea Salonga, Katie Hall, Ramin Karimloo, Hadley Fraser. You aren't impressed? Damnnnn...

  • Quast is the ULTIMATE Javert!

  • personally i think lewis's voice is better for javert, because even in this slow song he still sings like hes in character, plus his voice is better for it, hes also stiffer, like a soldier. as Quast is loose and looking up he stands like hes been training, looking forward

  • His voice is not strong enough imho! Philip Quast should have been there!

  • he's an amazingly awesome follow-up to Quast, but Quast owns Javert.

  • I love the "I will NEVERRRR rest," part :D

    Lewis may never be the one and only Javert (that's undeniably Quast) but I still think he's great, and he brings something wonderful to the role.

  • I don't like Norm Lewis as Javert, he lacks of something for this part... He was disappointing when I saw him live five years ago, he's disappointing now. Sure, his voice is good, but that's all. He's singing Javert's songs, but he's not Javert.

  • Don't get mewrong Norm Lewis does a good job here, but Mr Philip Quast still rules the role of Javert.

  • I like his last 30 seconds of the song better than Quast's....but overall Quast is still #1

  • Personally, I think Lewis was better than Quast. That's not to say Quast was bad, he was amazing! But I think Lewis gave a better performance. He displayed more emotion than Quast did and he had an intensity in his voice that Quast didn't have. Plus, he had a tad bit more power than Quast did.

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  • In my opinion, Norm Lewis is really good, I'm not taking it away from him at all! His voice and presence is brilliant for playing the part! But it's just that, Lewis is PLAYING the part of Javert to me, and Philip Quast IS Javert, my favourite part is the "and so it must be...." up until "...doorway to paradise" and Quast was, I'm my opinion, really using his emotion more than Norm and for reasons like that I prefer Quast:) remember this is only my opinion, and I am not trying to offend anyone:

  • @100GolfRules I think Norm's vest trait as Javert is the tenacity in which he conveys. When he digs deep with that huge voice, particularly when he hits "this I swear!"... that's just spectacular.

  • @100GolfRules I love quast and consider him the superior Javert as well, but I really like Lewis's voice more. In fact, the "and so it but be" line that you and others here mention is the only part of Quast's performance that irritates me. This isn't so much his fault as it that it sounds like a cliche broadway interpretation of emotion rather than the genuine article, but like I said he kills the rest of the song so well and the emotions are written all over his face.

  • @joegibbskins continued: different strokes for different folks

  • Bravo, Norm! This is a terrific performance!  My fellow Les Mis examiners, it is not about "who is the best", but rather, it is about the personal satisfaction that you are convinced the man before you is indeed Inspector Javert! Bravo again, Norm!

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  • My first Javert sounded like a mix between Quast and Lewis-the deep voice and pure power of Lewis and the emotion of Quast- and i find it almost impossible to find a decent Javert in a lot of the recordings I've found, but Norm does one of the best in my opinion. :)

  • Quast was better in most ways, but Lewis was definitely scarier :O

  • Norm is good- but there is only one Javert- quast.

  • LOL at the way he says "stars".

  • I just think he is amazing, in fact i prefer watching him to Alfie Boe. The way he hits the note at 2:47 gives me goosebumps everytime i watch it.

  • quelle magnifique voix !!

  • Norm knocks spots off Quast! Effortlessly outstanding!

  • Philip Quast will always be my favorite Javert, but Norm Lewis is a very very very very VERY close second!

  • Both Javert's in both the 10th and 25th anniversary are wonderful, but my personal Javert will always be the one who is on the original broadway soundtrack, along with Colm Wilkinson on the original London cast, Rodger Allam!!! Colm and Rodger will always be the only Jean Valjean and Javert in my heart.

  • @ILuvJaimy i think alot of it is down to perception . . The first ever les mis i saw was the 10th concert, my dad bought me it for my birthday and i just fell in love with colm and quast . . ive never been able to look past them now . . but i went to see les mis , and it was jeff leyton at the time playing JVJ and man he blew me away . . took top spot next to colm .

  • amazing.!!! norm is a STAR...

  • Amazing

  • It's the Candyman!!!

  • @luciloooo lol he does kind look like candyman, especially dressed like that:)

  • Dear Norm does a GREAT and FANTASTIC job of this role but it will FOREVER be linked to Philip Quast. Norm's voice is wonderfully toned, excellent in pitch and richness and his emotion in the lyrics is superb...but Philip Quast OWNS this role. In any case I say BRAVO to both these fine men!!

  • I feel bad for Lewis, cause anyone who plays Javert is always gonna be over shadowed by Quast. Even still, I thought he really let himself down here though, cause the "And so it must be" bit is one my favourite parts of the song, and he didn't really do anything with it..

  • @CIancyy i think its unfair to compare actors playing the role. you can say Quast is your favourite because his portryal is the best but no actor is "the best". every actor brings their own personality and that being said, vocal choices, to a role. the actual line is actually written as "and so it has been" also. anyway no worries - each to their own. merry christmiz

  • @cpjc08 i meant to say "your favourite because his portrayal is your FAVOURITE" not the best sorry

  • @CIancyy I ADORED Norm Lewis during Confrontation, and I think he was even better than Quast (if that's humanly possible) but yeah, he could have done more with this.

  • Norm Lewis is okay, I feel that Earl would have been better in the concert

  • Ive seen Norm Lewis portray Javert at least 3 times and everytime he has been amazing! infact im dreading the day when I go to see Les Miserables and its a different actor.

  • @actualeddie Well the current incumbent is not that bad and has a very Les Mis history

  • @barrowmanmadsdad andrew?? saw him in cleveland. very good. but he's an obvious tenor which s a little odd.

    either way, no one beats quast

  • @actualeddie I watched Les Mis a few days ago, and the Understudy, Shaun Dalton, was simply phenomenal. I can't imagine how amazing Hadley Fraser must be!

  • @actualeddie I know. Norm Lewis is an amazing actor. He's not my favorite Javert (Terrence Mann holds that title,) but he certainly wowed me! :3

    Well, you'll be able to see it in theaters, come late 2012/early 2013, and I'm hoping and praying that Russell Crowe fares well. The director cast him as Javert and I know he can pull off the ACTING well, but I'm not so sure about his singing voice.

    I also hope that Taylor Swift doesn't accept Eponine's part. She's no Eponine.

  • For me Norm Lewis will always be my favorite Javert! I will never compare him with the others since they all have great and unique voice so you see the reason I love Norm Lewis is because he is so tall, handsome, and desire looking and I love his voice so much because it is so rich when he sing.

  • @yolrojas7 I agree with you completely!

  • I love it when norm Lewis sing that song stars. It is one of my favorite.

  • Truly a phenomenal Javert! Philip Quast will always be my favorite, but Lewis comes very close!!!!

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