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.
Valjean's Confession
Claude-Michel Schönberg Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Not another word my son,
There's something now that must be done
You've spoken from the heart
And I must do the same
There is a story, sir
Of slavery and shame
That you alone must know.
I never told Cosette
She had enough of tears
She's never known the truth
Of the story you must hear
Of years ago.
There lived a man named Jean Valjean
He stole some bread to save his sister's son
For nineteen winters served his time
In sweat he washed away his crime
Years ago
He broke parole and lived a life apart
How could he tell Cosette and break her heart?
It's for Cosette that this must be faced
If he is caught she is disgraced
The time is come to journey on
And from this day he must be gone
Who am I?
Who am I?
Marius
You're Jean Valjean!
What can I do
That will turn you from this?
Monsieur, you cannot leave
Whatever I tell my beloved Cosette
She will never believe!
Valjean
Make her believe
I have gone on a journey
A long way away
Tell her my heart was too full for farewells
It is better this way
Promise me, M'sieur, Cosette will never know.
Marius
I give my word.
Valjean
What I have spoken, why I must go.
Marius
For the sake of Cosette, it must be so.
In Claude-Michel Schönberg's song "Valjean's Confession", Jean Valjean shares his story of slavery and shame to Marius, a man he has grown to care for as he attempts to reconcile with his past and protect his adopted daughter Cosette. Valjean explains that he never told Cosette of his story because she had already gone through enough pain and never knew the truth. He then shares the story of his life: how he stole bread to save his sister's son and served nineteen winters before he was released on parole. Choosing to leave behind his past, he broke his parole and lived a life apart, including becoming Cosette's caregiver. However, his past may come back to haunt him, and he must leave once again to avoid risking Cosette's reputation. Marius promises to keep Valjean's secret and helps him leave, as Valjean reflects on the weight of his past.
Line by Line Meaning
Not another word my son,
I need to speak now, son. Let's pause the conversation.
There's something now that must be done
I have a story to tell you for your own good.
You've spoken from the heart
Your honesty touched me.
And I must do the same
I owe it to you to return honesty.
There is a story, sir
I have a story to tell you, sir.
Of slavery and shame
It's a story of oppression and humiliation.
That you alone must know.
You're the only one who needs to hear it.
I never told Cosette
I never revealed this part of my life to Cosette.
She had enough of tears
Cosette has faced enough hardships in life.
She's never known the truth
Cosette is unaware of the truth in the story I am about to tell you.
Of the story you must hear
This story is meant for you to hear.
There lived a man named Jean Valjean
Let me introduce you to the artist of the story, Jean Valjean.
He stole some bread to save his sister's son
He committed a crime to feed his nephew.
For nineteen winters served his time
He spent 19 long years in prison.
In sweat he washed away his crime
He worked hard to cleanse his conscience of his crime.
Years ago
This all happened in the past.
He broke parole and lived a life apart
He went against the law and lived away from society.
How could he tell Cosette and break her heart?
He can't reveal the truth to Cosette as it would shatter her emotionally.
It's for Cosette that this must be faced
He needs to confront the situation for the well-being of Cosette.
If he is caught she is disgraced
If he gets caught, it would harm Cosette's reputation.
The time is come to journey on
It's time to move on from this situation.
And from this day he must be gone
He needs to leave and not come back.
Who am I?
Who is Jean Valjean? What does his life mean?
Who am I?
This question repeats, reflecting his state of confusion and concern about his identity.
You're Jean Valjean!
Marius identifies the singer's true identity.
What can I do
Marius is deeply concerned about Valjean's welfare.
That will turn you from this?
Marius wants to help Valjean get out of this situation.
Monsieur, you cannot leave
Marius doesn't want Valjean to leave abruptly.
Whatever I tell my beloved Cosette
Marius wants to know how to explain Valjean's departure to Cosette.
She will never believe!
Marius thinks Cosette will have a hard time accepting Valjean's sudden departure.
Make her believe
Valjean requests Marius to convince Cosette about his departure.
I have gone on a journey
Valjean wants Marius to tell Cosette that he's gone away on a trip.
A long way away
Further emphasizing the distance of Valjean's 'journey'.
Tell her my heart was too full for farewells
Valjean wants Marius to explain that his emotions didn't allow him to say goodbye properly.
It is better this way
Valjean is convinced that leaving this way is better for everyone involved.
Promise me, M'sieur, Cosette will never know.
Valjean pleads with Marius to keep the truth from Cosette.
I give my word.
Marius gives his assurance to Valjean that he will fulfill his promise.
What I have spoken, why I must go.
Valjean won't disclose more details of his story but feels he must leave now.
For the sake of Cosette, it must be so.
Marius agrees that it's best for Valjean to leave and try to protect Cosette's well-being.
Contributed by Julia Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.