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 Arrested / Valjean Forgiven
Claude-Michel Schönberg Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tell his reverence your story
Let us see if he's impressed
You were lodging there last night
You were the honest Bishop's guest.
And then, out of Christian goodness
When he learned about your plight
You maintain he made a present of this silver...
Bishop: (interrupting the Constable)
That is right.
But my friend you left so early
Surely something slipped your mind
(He presents two candlesticks to Valjean)
You forgot I gave these also
Would you leave the best behind?
So Messieurs you may release him
For this man has spoken true
I commend you for your duty
And God's blessing go with you.
[The constables leave]
But remember this, my brother
See in this some higher plan
You must use this precious silver
To become an honest man
By the witness of the martyers
By the Passion and the Blood
God has raised you out of darkness
I have bought your soul for God!
The song "Valjean Arrested / Valjean Forgiven" is a pivotal moment in the story of Les Misérables, as it explores the themes of redemption and forgiveness. The song is divided into two parts: the first part is a conversation between two constables and the Bishop of Digne, who has just caught Jean Valjean stealing from him. The constables are skeptical and want the Bishop to confirm that Valjean is a thief, but instead, the Bishop lies and tells them that he gave Valjean the items he took. This act of forgiveness changes Valjean's life trajectory, and the second part of the song is a solo from the Bishop where he imparts some wisdom on Valjean. He urges Valjean to use the silver wisely and to turn his life around, reminding him that God has given him a second chance and that he should not waste it.
The song is a beautiful illustration of the transformative power of forgiveness and how it can inspire us to be better human beings. The Bishop's decision to show kindness to Valjean rather than punishing him for his crime ultimately leads to Valjean's redemption, and the heartfelt lyrics of the song serve as a reminder of the magic that can happen when we choose forgiveness and compassion even in the face of wrongdoing.
Line by Line Meaning
Constables:
The constables ask Valjean to recount his story and offer to see if the bishop is impressed by it. They imply that Valjean is lying about his stay with the bishop.
Tell his reverence your story
The constables request that Valjean tell the bishop (his reverence) about his recent activities.
Let us see if he's impressed
The constables want to gauge the bishop's reaction to Valjean's story to determine if he is telling the truth.
You were lodging there last night
The constables accuse Valjean of spending the previous night at the bishop's residence.
You were the honest Bishop's guest.
The constables acknowledge that Valjean was a guest of the bishop and therefore should be treated with respect.
And then, out of Christian goodness
The constables recount how the bishop showed kindness to Valjean.
When he learned about your plight
The constables explain why the bishop felt compelled to help Valjean - because he knew he was in trouble.
You maintain he made a present of this silver...
The constables suspect that Valjean stole some silver from the bishop.
Bishop: (interrupting the Constable)
The bishop interrupts the constable to provide his own version of events.
That is right.
The bishop confirms Valjean's story and admits to giving him the silver.
But my friend you left so early
The bishop reminds Valjean that he left before he had a chance to give him all the items he had promised.
Surely something slipped your mind
The bishop suggests that Valjean may have forgotten about the candlesticks he had promised to give him.
(He presents two candlesticks to Valjean)
The bishop gives Valjean two candlesticks as a gift.
You forgot I gave these also
The bishop reminds Valjean that he had given him the candlesticks as well as the silver.
Would you leave the best behind?
The bishop questions why Valjean would leave behind the most valuable items he was given.
So Messieurs you may release him
The bishop orders the constables to release Valjean.
For this man has spoken true
The bishop confirms that Valjean has told the truth about his stay with him and the silver he was given.
I commend you for your duty
The bishop praises the constables for doing their job but reminds them of the importance of mercy and forgiveness.
And God's blessing go with you.
The bishop wishes the constables well and prays for their continued success and safety.
But remember this, my brother
The bishop addresses Valjean as a brother and offers him some final advice.
See in this some higher plan
The bishop suggests that there is a reason for everything that has happened, and that Valjean should try to understand this.
You must use this precious silver
The bishop instructs Valjean to use the silver he was given for a greater purpose.
To become an honest man
The bishop encourages Valjean to turn his life around and become an honorable individual.
By the witness of the martyers
The bishop invokes the memory of those who have sacrificed their lives for their faith.
By the Passion and the Blood
The bishop references the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and the blood He shed for humanity's salvation.
God has raised you out of darkness
The bishop asserts that God has brought Valjean out of his previous life and into a new, better one.
I have bought your soul for God!
The bishop claims that he has saved Valjean's soul by showing mercy and compassion towards him.
Contributed by Harper N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.