These include the musicals:
* La Révolution Française (1973)
* Les Misérables (1980 french version- 1985 english version)
* Miss Saigon (1989)
* Martin Guerre (1996)
* Wuthering Heights (ballet 2001)
* The Pirate Queen (2006)
* Marguerite (2009)
Schönberg began his career as a record producer and a singer. By the early 1970s he had become successful.
He wrote most of the music for the French musical and rock opera, La Révolution Française, France's first rock opera, in 1973, and also played the role of King Louis XVI in the show's production that year.
In 1974 he wrote the music and the lyrics of the song "Le Premier Pas", which became the number 1 popular song in France that year and sold over 1 million copies. Le Premier Pas was produced by Franck Pourcel. He recorded albums as a singer until 1985.
Schönberg then made an album in which he sang his own songs. In 1978, he dedicated his full attention to musicals when he and Alain Boublil conceived the idea for a stage musical version of Victor Hugo's Les Misérables, which opened at the Palias de Sports in Paris in 1980. The musical opened to acclaim in London in 1985 and on Broadway in 1987. The Broadway production was nominated for twelve Tony Awards and won eight, including Best Musical and Best Original Score . In 1989, Schönberg and Boublil took London by storm with the musical Miss Saigon, which starred Lea Salonga and Jonathan Pryce. In its transition to Broadway, the show broke advance-ticket sales, earning $24 million before its premiere on April 11, 1991 [1]. The show was nominated for ten Tony awards, including Best Musical and Best Original Score.
In 1997, Schönberg and Boublil premiered a new musical, Martin Guerre at the Prince Edward Theatre in London. The musical won the 1997 Olivier Award and went on to tour the UK and the United States.
Schönberg's latest project with Boublil is The Pirate Queen, a musical about the 16th century Irish pirate, chieftain and adventuress Grace O'Malley. The Pirate Queen completed its 8-week pre-Broadway tryout at Chicago's Cadillac Palace Theatre on November 26, 2006. The show is undergoing further development in preparation for its Broadway previews at the Hilton Theater in March 2007. The Broadway opening date is April 5, 2007. Miss Saigon co-lyricist Richard Maltby, Jr. has come on-board to work with Boublil on revisions to the book and lyrics. Additionally, Graciela Daniele will work on the musical staging.
Les Miserables celebrated its twentieth anniversary in London on October 8, 2005. The Broadway production closed on May 18, 2003, making it the third-longest-running Broadway musical following Cats and The Phantom of the Opera. Schönberg will oversee the production of Les Miserables that is returning to Broadway for a six-month engagement at the Broadhurst Theatre on November 9, 2006.
Claude-Michel Schönberg is also an ex-husband of France 2 evening news anchor Béatrice Schönberg.
He lives in London, and has 3 children.
He is actually writing the music and for the first time the arrangements, for a new ballet to be created in UK in 2011: Cléopâtra.
Javert's Arrival
Claude-Michel Schönberg Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Listen my friends
I have done as I said
I have been to their lines
I have counted each man
I will tell what I can
Better be warned
They have armies to spare
We will need all our cunning
To bring them to heel.
Enjolras
Have faith
If you know what their movements are
We'll spoil their game
There are ways that a people can fight
We shall overcome their power
Javert
I have overheard their plans
There will be no attack tonight
They intend to starve us out
Before they start a proper fight
Concentrate their force
Hit us from the right.
The song "Javert's Arrival" from Claude-Michel Schönberg's Les Misérables is a conversation between the strict lawman, Javert and the revolutionary, Enjolras. Javert enters and reveals that he has been to the enemy lines and counted their army, warning his friends that they have armies to spare and their danger is real. He advises them to be cautious and need all their cunning to defeat them. Enjolras, however, encourages his companions to have faith and to use their knowledge of the enemy's movements to spoil their game. He recognizes that fighting power with power isn't the only way to win a battle. In response, Javert reveals that he has overheard the enemy's plan, which is to starve out their opponents before launching an attack, while concentrating their forces to hit from the right.
The song explores the theme of conflict, specifically, the difference in opinion about how to conquer the enemy. Javert values caution, preparation, and power, while Enjolras values courage, faith, and strategy. The conversation between the two characters is not only about their opposing views but also about their personalities. Javert is a man of facts and logic, while Enjolras is driven by passion and idealism.
Line by Line Meaning
Listen my friends
I have important information that needs to be heard by everyone.
I have done as I said
I went to the enemy's territory and counted the number of soldiers they have.
I have been to their lines
I have infiltrated the enemy camp to gather intel.
I have counted each man
I have taken a headcount of the enemy soldiers.
I will tell what I can
I will share the information I have gathered with everyone.
Better be warned
This information is important and requires immediate attention.
They have armies to spare
The enemy has a large number of soldiers at their disposal.
And the danger is real
We are in a very precarious situation.
We will need all our cunning
We will require all our intelligence and cleverness to come out victorious.
To bring them to heel.
We need to defeat the enemy and make them submit to our power.
Have faith
Do not lose hope in this dire situation.
If you know what their movements are
If we have knowledge of the enemy's strategy.
We'll spoil their game
We can disrupt their plans by cleverly countering their moves.
There are ways that a people can fight
There are unconventional methods that can be employed to win this war.
We shall overcome their power
We will triumph over the enemy's might and take control.
I have overheard their plans
I have eavesdropped on the enemy's strategy.
There will be no attack tonight
The enemy will not attack us tonight.
They intend to starve us out
The enemy's strategy is to deprive us of resources until we give up.
Before they start a proper fight
The enemy wants to weaken us before engaging in a full-fledged battle.
Concentrate their force
The enemy will focus their troops at a specific point to overpower us.
Hit us from the right.
They will launch a surprise attack on our right flank.
Contributed by Isaac H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.