Claude-Michel Schönberg and Alain Boublil created one of musical theater's most enduring works with Les Misérables. Schönberg's soaring melodies and Boublil's emotionally direct lyrics have made this score a cornerstone of contemporary musical theater, performed by millions of singers worldwide since its 1980 Paris premiere. Their ability to craft moments of both intimate character development and sweeping ensemble drama has influenced generations of musical theater composers.
Why we love this
Ed Lojeski's SSA arrangement captures the emotional core of Les Misérables while remaining genuinely singable for developing singers. Rather than diluting the material, the medley format allows you to build a complete arc through the musical's most resonant moments, giving choirs a sophisticated Broadway programming option that doesn't require extensive vocal maturity.
What to expect
The medley sweeps you through moments of defiance, tenderness, revolution, and redemption. Lojeski's voicings honor the original melodies while creating warm, accessible harmonies that let singers feel the emotional weight of the material without getting lost in complexity.
Who it's for
This arrangement fits choirs at the intermediate to advancing level who want substantial concert repertoire with theatrical flair but without excessive technical demands. It works equally well for show choir directors seeking a Broadway standard and concert choir directors looking to engage audiences with recognizable material.
How to get the most out of it
Balance the vocal line against any accompaniment by having singers listen vertically within their section first. Once the SSA sonorities lock, layer in the harmony parts.
Pay attention to how Lojeski voices the transitions between songs. These moments often hold the dramatic spine of the medley, so resist rushing through them.
The text matters tremendously here. These lyrics carry enormous emotional weight, so spend rehearsal time on pronunciation clarity and interpretive phrasing rather than just rhythmic accuracy.
How to use it
Anchor a spring concert with this medley as your Broadway or pops section finale, or build an entire program around musical theater storytelling and pair it with other contemporary musical excerpts. The 31 pages give you substantial material that justifies programming space and allows your choir to showcase range across different emotional landscapes.
Skills your students will build
Phrasing across longer melodic lines
Balancing homophonic and polyphonic textures in SSA writing
Text interpretation and storytelling through song
Sustaining vocal energy through multiple contrasting sections within one medley
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