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 dance
Claude-Michel Schönberg Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My name is Kim
I like you Chris
[CHRIS]
Don't talk like that
[KIM]
[CHRIS]
You shouldn't be here
Get the hell out...
[ENGINEER]
What's going on?
You don't like her?
[CHRIS]
Oh, yes I do
[KIM]
I like him too
[ENGINEER]
Take her away
[KIM]
Take me away
Don't say a word
Just come with me
These lyrics are from the song "The Dance" which is a part of the musical Miss Saigon, written by Claude-Michel Schönberg. The scene takes place in a bar where a young woman named Kim expresses her affection towards Chris, an American soldier who is also at the bar. When Chris tells her to leave, the Engineer intervenes and questions Chris's behavior towards Kim. Chris admits that he does like her too, but the Engineer orders for Kim to be taken away. Kim pleads with Chris to come with her, but he remains silent.
The lyrics depict the cultural and language barrier between the two main characters, Kim and Chris. Kim, who is a Vietnamese girl, struggles to express her emotions towards Chris who is an American soldier. Chris, who cannot understand her language, dismisses her advances which frustrates Kim. However, the Engineer, who understands both their languages, recognizes their mutual attraction and tries to intervene. Chris's silence at the end of the scene suggests his inner conflict between his feelings and military duty, while Kim remains determined to pursue her love for him.
Line by Line Meaning
My name is Kim
Kim is introducing herself
I like you Chris
Kim expresses fondness towards Chris
Don't talk like that
Chris admonishes Kim for making inappropriate statements
What did I say?
Kim is confused about what she said wrong
You shouldn't be here
Get the hell out...
Chris orders Kim to leave with abrasive language
What's going on?
You don't like her?
The Engineer is curious about the situation and wonders if Chris dislikes Kim
Oh, yes I do
Chris admits that he does like Kim
I like him too
Kim reciprocates Chris's feelings
Take her away
The Engineer orders for Kim to be removed from the situation
Take me away
Don't say a word
Just come with me
Kim implores someone to take her away without further explanation
Writer(s): Richard E. Maltby, Alain Albert Boublil, Claude Michel Schonberg
Contributed by Lucy J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.