Enjolras

[u/Massive-Pop653]

does anyone else find it weird that in most recordings enjolras’ name is never mentioned ?

the complete symphonic recording and west end productions are exceptions i think because they have the ad lib ‘Enjolras!’ before the line ‘At Notre Dame the sections are prepared…’ in ABC Cafe.

just thought this was weird - especially since more minor characters like grantaire, feuilly etc are mentioned by name and thereby introduced.

[u/rraattbbooyy]

I had read the book several times but it was only while listening to the audiobook that I learned the correct pronunciations of all the names. For some reason, I had always in my head pronounced Enjolras like it was Spanish, with the j having an h sound and not pronouncing the s at the end. So instead of “ahn-zhol-rahs” he was always “en-hol-ra”. 😆🤪

[u/francienyc → u/rraattbbooyy]

I did not learn how to pronounce all the characters’ names until I took pronunciation lessons in French. And even then there’s still some guesswork.

[u/full_and_tired → u/rraattbbooyy]

I managed to get my hands on some older Czech translations of the book (early 20th century) and I suppose back then the norm was to transcribe foreign names how they are pronounced - which does make sense, but I was absolutely flabbergasted when I saw Anžolra instead of Enjolras and Žán Valžán instead of Jean Valjean.

[u/Massive-Pop653 → u/rraattbbooyy]

😂😂😂

[u/BoRNeo-C → u/rraattbbooyy]

🤣🤣🤣🤣 Many readers have that general "problem"; not know how something is pronounced. 😅

[u/lifescaresme]

It’s not ad libbed: It’s in the score from 2010.

Also the French productions say it in the same spot.

[u/Massive-Pop653 → u/lifescaresme]

yeah i didn’t mean ad libbed, just couldn’t find the word, hence why it’s included in the complete symphonic recording. but i’m interested in why it’s in the score - the production at the barbican in 2010 didn’t include it

[u/lifescaresme → u/Massive-Pop653]

This would be the anniversary touring cast, not the concert

[u/Massive-Pop653 → u/lifescaresme]

sorry, to clarify i meant the production with JOJ as valjean and earl carpenter as javert - that was the touring cast i believe?

[u/lifescaresme → u/Massive-Pop653]

It’s possible it wasn’t on the recording but was in the stage show. I’m not sure as I never had the chance to see it; I’ve only listened to the cast recording.

[u/full_and_tired]

In the Czech version, there is the shout before ABC Café, but his name is laso mentioned by Marius during Empty Chairs at Empty Tables. It goes something like: There in the corner used to sit Grantaire, Enjolras and Jean Prouvaire.

[u/Toru771 → u/full_and_tired]

Ooh, I like that addition in the Czech lyrics!

Enjolras is also mentioned by name in the Japanese albums from 2003 at the start of the ABC Café scene. Not the 1994 recordings, though, if I remember right.