With filmtracks' guidance, I'm now exploring Les Miserables and other infamous musicals. I just have to say this: with respect to the 10th Anniversary Recording, which has fantastic orchestral arrangements and performances, Colm Wilkenson irritates the hell out of me right off the bat in Prologue and Valjean's Soliloquy. His voice is superb, no doubt. But the way he pronounces things is the stuff parodies are made of. Is it more understated in his other recordings? It just hasn't aged well and I think young listeners like me will be repelled by it too.

The 10th still earns its five stars but, man, Wilkenson is a hurdle and a half and I'm forced to seek out the 25th as well.