Despite the film's creative team claiming this live recording method 'a world's-first', several film musicals have utilized this method before, including the At Long Last Love (1975), The Fantasticks (1995) and Across the Universe (2007). Tom Hooper explained that this would eliminate the need to recapture 'locked' performances and allow more creative freedom.

The film's vocals were recorded live on set using live piano accompaniments played through earpieces as a guide, with the orchestral accompaniment recorded in post-production, rather than actors lip-syncing to a pre-recorded musical soundtrack.

In February 2012, Cameron Mackintosh revealed a newly created song, ' Suddenly', that 'explains what happens when Valjean takes Cosette from the inn and looks after her.' Fully enjoyable, it may not be the best compilation of the music available, but it is definitely a worthwhile listen.In an interview with BBC Radio 4's Front Row, Tom Hooper the film's director, revealed that Claude-Michel Schönberg would be composing one new song and additional music. The beautiful score is full of emotion and humor, including such memorable and noteworthy songs as 'Look Down,' 'Do You Hear the People Sing?,' 'Bring Him Home,' 'Empty Chairs at Empty Tables,' and the ubiquitous 'On My Own.' In 1995, a tenth anniversary concert was performed at Royal Albert Hall, combining members of the original cast, including Colm Wilkinson and Michael Ball, as well as Lea Salonga (the original Kim from Miss Saigon). Les Miserables is typical of theater in the '80s, with extravagant effects and large, full-cast numbers. As the war rages, he finds that he cannot change the man he is. Upon changing his name and eluding his parole officer, he becomes the surrogate father of a young girl and a Mayor as the French Revolution sets in. After serving five years for that crime, as well as an additional 14 for attempted escape, Valjean is released on parole. The story chronicles the life of Jean Valjean, a simple Frenchman arrested as a youth for stealing a loaf of bread. Theatrically on par with Phantom of the Opera, Les Mis is drawn from the Victor Hugo novel of the same name. Originally conceived as a simple recording production, Les Miserables evolved quickly into one of the premiere theater events of the 1980s.

Les miserables soundtrack