How Could I Have Missed Les Miserables?

If you haven't heard and seen the 10th Anniversary Concert DVD ... do so!

But shamefully, I must admit having missed it entirely ... until the night before last ... when the power of the drama, music and overall effect of the performance of Les Miserables by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at the Royal Albert Hall--for a 10th Anniversary Concert celebration--blew me away and is with me yet.

I simply can't get the music and story out of my mind ... like the finale (below) that absolutely tore me up:

Take my hand
And lead me to salvation
Take my love
For love is everlasting
And remember
The truth that once was spoken
To love another person
Is to see the face of God.

CHORUS
do you hear the people sing
Lost in the valley of the night?
It is the music of a people
who are climbing to the light.

For the wretched of the earth
there is a flame that never dies.
Even the darkest night will end
and the sun will rise.

They will live again in freedom
in the garden of the Lord.
They will walk behind the ploughshare;
they will put away the sword.
The chain will be broken
and all men will have their reward.

Will you join in our crusade?
Who will be strong and stand with me?
Somewhere beyond the barricade
is there a world you long to see?
Do you hear the people sing?
Say, do you hear the distant drums?
It is the future that they bring
when tomorrow comes!

Will you join in our crusade?
Who will be strong and stand with me?
Somewhere beyond the barricade
is there a world you long to see?
Do you hear the people sing?
Say, do you hear the distant drums?
It is the future that they bring
when tomorrow comes...
Tomorrow comes!

I'm sure to have another posting about this concert once I've let the performance digest--and have likely watched it another dozen times! Those words, "To love another person is to see the face of God" are a theology in and of themselves.

All I can really say at this time is, "WOW!!"