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.
The Confrontation
Claude-Michel Schönberg Lyrics
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M'sieur le maire, you'll wear a different chain
Before you say another word, Javert
Before you chain me up like a slave again
Listen to me, there is something I must do
This woman leaves behind a suffering child
In mercy's name, three days are all I need
Then I'll return, I pledge my word
Then I'll return
You must think me mad
I've hunted you across the years
Men like you can never change
A man, such as you
Believe of me What you will (Men like me can never change)
There is a duty that I'm sworn to do (Men like me can never change)
No! (24601) You know nothing of my life)
All I did was steal some bread (My duty's to the law You have no rights Come with me, 24601
Now the wheel has turned around (You know nothing of the world You would sooner see me dead)
Jean Valjean is nothing now)
I am warning you, Javert (Dare you talk to me of crime)
I'm a stronger man by far (And the price you had to pay
There is power in me yet (Every man is born in sin)
Every man must choose his way (My race is not yet run!)
I am warning you, Javert (You know nothing of Javert)
There is nothing I won't dare I was born inside a jail
If I have to kill you here I was born with scum like you
I'll do what must be done! (I am from the gutter, too)
And this I swear to you tonight
There is no place for you to hide
Your child will live within my care
Wherever you may hide away
And I will raise her to the light
I swear to you, I will be there
The Confrontation is a dramatic song from Claude-Michel Schönberg's musical "Les Misérables". The song is a confrontation between two characters, Jean Valjean and Inspector Javert. Valjean is a former convict who has broken his parole and lives under a new identity as a respected mayor. On the other hand, Javert is a police inspector who is dedicated to pursuing Valjean and bringing him back to prison. The lyrics of the song reflect the tension and animosity between the two men.
In the first verse, Valjean acknowledges the tension between the two men by saying that they now see each other clearly. He also acknowledges that their relationship has changed, and now Javert is no longer in charge. In the second verse, Valjean tries to reason with Javert, asking for three days to help a suffering child. However, Javert refuses to listen and insists on following the law, which means arresting Valjean. The song then shifts to a dramatic exchange where Valjean and Javert trade insults, with Valjean warning Javert that he is not afraid to fight and he will protect the child at all costs.
The lyrics of The Confrontation convey a sense of the clashing values of the two characters, reflecting the larger themes of the musical. It’s a battle between law and morality, justice and mercy, and the individual versus society. The song dramatically conveys the tension while also highlighting the complexities of the characters, showing that neither is completely right or wrong.
Line by Line Meaning
Valjean, at last, we see each other plain
I now recognize you, Mayor, as the same criminal I once was.
M'sieur le maire, you'll wear a different chain
You, Mayor, will be bound by the law instead of breaking it like before.
Before you say another word, Javert
Listen to me before you start imposing your authority, Javert.
Before you chain me up like a slave again
Before treating me like a prisoner, allow me to complete a task.
Listen to me, there is something I must do
Hear me out, I need to fulfill my duty and rescue a motherless child.
This woman leaves behind a suffering child
The deceased mother left her toddler behind with no one to take care of her.
There is none but me who can intercede
No one but me can save the innocent child from misery.
In mercy's name, three days are all I need
Let me have the mercy to take care of the child for three days only.
Then I'll return, I pledge my word
Trust me, I'll keep my promise and come back after three days.
You must think me mad
You could be assuming I lost my mind.
I've hunted you across the years
I've chased after you for a long time since you escaped from prison.
Men like you can never change
People like you, Jean Valjean, are not capable of reforming your wicked nature.
A man, such as you
I'm referring to men who have flaws like yours.
Believe of me What you will (Men like me can never change)
You may think what you like of me, but you cannot change my opinion of people who are like you.
There is a duty that I'm sworn to do (Men like me can never change)
There's a duty for me to fulfill as a member of the law, despite your opinion.
No! (24601) You know nothing of my life)
No, you cannot grasp what's been happening in my life, simply calling me by my prisoner's number.
All I did was steal some bread (My duty's to the law You have no rights Come with me, 24601
I may have stolen food out of need, but now as a law-abiding officer, I must take you back into custody.
Now the wheel has turned around (You know nothing of the world You would sooner see me dead)
The tables have turned against me, and you're ignorant of the world outside of law enforcement; you'd rather see me dead than let me go.
Jean Valjean is nothing now
Jean Valjean ceases to exist in your eyes now that he's not a criminal.
I am warning you, Javert (Dare you talk to me of crime)
Don’t present the discussion of crime to me, Javert. Take my words and intentions seriously.
I'm a stronger man by far (And the price you had to pay
I’m more resilient than you think, and you've incurred a personal toll for your pursuit of justice as well.
There is power in me yet (Every man is born in sin)
There's still strength in me, and every man is born a sinner, including you.
Every man must choose his way (My race is not yet run!)
All men have to make a decision about which path to take, and my story isn't over yet.
I am warning you, Javert (You know nothing of Javert)
I'm still warning you, Javert, to reconsider your deep belief in the law, which blinds you to reality.
There is nothing I won't dare I was born inside a jail
I'm not afraid of whatever challenge comes ahead, for I was born in jail and spent a good time there.
If I have to kill you here I was born with scum like you
I'll kill you right here if that's the only option, and I share similar roots with you.
I'll do what must be done! (I am from the gutter, too)
I’ll carry out what's necessary to rescue the unfortunate child, and I come from a similar background as you do.
And this I swear to you tonight
I make a solemn oath to you tonight.
There is no place for you to hide
You can't conceal yourself from me.
Your child will live within my care
I'll take care of the vulnerable child.
Wherever you may hide away
I'll find you wherever you hide.
And I will raise her to the light
I'll raise her with love and kindness.
I swear to you, I will be there
I promise you, I’ll be there for your child no matter what happens to me.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ALAIN ALBERT BOUBLIL, CLAUDE MICHEL SCHONBERG, HERBERT KRETZMER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind