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.
Sun and Moon
Claude-Michel Schönberg Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
you are sunlight and I moon
joined by the gods of fortune
midnight and high noon
sharing the sky
we have been blessed, you and I
CHRIS
I'm from a world that's so different
from all that you are
how in the light of one night
did we come so far?
KIM
outside day starts to dawn
CHRIS
your moon still floats on high
KIM
the birds awake
CHRIS
the stars shine too
KIM
my hands still shake
CHRIS
I reach for you
BOTH
and we meet in the sky!
KIM
you are sunlight and I moon
joined here
bright'ning the sky
with the flame
of love
BOTH
made of
sunlight
moonlight
The song "Sun and Moon" by Claude-Michel Schönberg, is a duet between the two main characters, Kim and Chris, in the Broadway musical "Miss Saigon" and serves as a crucial moment in the show, marking the characters' first romantic encounter. Kim, a young Vietnamese woman, and Chris, an American soldier, sing about their uncommon yet powerful connection. The lyrics are metaphorical in nature, using the imagery of the sun and moon to represent their differences and how they complement each other, as well as how their love brightens up the sky.
Kim sings that she is the moon, while Chris represents the sun. They are "joined by the gods of fortune" alluding to the idea of fate bringing them together despite their vastly different backgrounds. They are "sharing the sky" which connotes the idea of equality, as they are two equal partners in the relationship who have been blessed to have found each other. Chris acknowledges the difference in their worlds, acknowledging Kim's mystery, but wonders how they have come so far in "the light of one night." The song then goes on to describe the breaking of dawn as a metaphorical description of their love. Kim notes the start of the day while Chris's moon is still in the sky, and concludes in a strong climax, wherein they meet in the sky, illuminating the world with their love.
Overall, "Sun and Moon" is a song about how two vastly different people can come together and create something beautiful. The use of metaphorical language, such as the sun and moon symbolism, paints the picture of the characters' relationship and how they balance each other out. The breaking of dawn and the brightness of the sky represent the metaphorical enlightenment of the characters in realizing how much they need each other.
Line by Line Meaning
you are sunlight and I moon
You represent the bright, vibrant sun, while I symbolize the calm, serene moon.
joined by the gods of fortune
Fate must have brought us together as two opposite celestial bodies that complement each other.
midnight and high noon
We are like day and night since I'm usually associated with nighttime, while you represent daytime.
sharing the sky
Despite our differences, we coexist in the same sky, able to collide and create something beautiful together.
we have been blessed, you and I
Our meeting and collaboration are both seen as a blessing, as we have the opportunity to create a wondrous synergy.
you are here like a mystery
You are a puzzle to me, something that I cannot fully understand, and yet I am drawn to your mystery.
I'm from a world that's so different from all that you are
You belong to a different world, completely dissimilar to mine, which makes our connection even more remarkable.
how in the light of one night did we come so far?
Despite only having one night together and being opposites, we have reached a substantial distance in terms of love and connection.
outside day starts to dawn
The sun is slowly starting to rise, indicating the beginning of a new day.
your moon still floats on high
Even though it's morning, the moon is still visible in the sky, representing your essence that is always present for me.
the birds awake
Nature is coming alive, as evidenced by the birds awakening in response to the sunrise.
the stars shine too
Even though it's becoming daytime, some stars are still visible in the sky, symbolizing our connection that remains steadfast despite any changes.
my hands still shake
As I am in your presence, I'm feeling nervous, and this manifests in my trembling hands.
I reach for you
In spite of my nervousness, I still seek your comfort and presence.
and we meet in the sky!
Our collaboration reaches its peak as we unite in the heavens, putting aside our differences for the sake of a harmonious union.
you are sunlight and I moon joined here bright'ning the sky with the flame of love
Together, we brighten up the sky and add warmth to the world with the unique spark of love that we create.
made of sunlight moonlight
Despite being made of different, even opposing elements, we become an incredible force of energy and love when we come together.
Contributed by Jordan D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.