I’ve been listening to Les Miserables lately during my commute to work. I’ve been playing the Complete Symphonic Recording, which is basically every line in the entire musical, so it takes me about three days to get through it all. I have no idea how many times I’ve listened to Les Miserables, but it’s probably well over 250 times, and there are three sections that still really get to me pretty much every single time. The first is the scene near the beginning when the Bishop gives the silver to Valjean instead of turning him in to the police. The second is near the end of the first act with “In My Life” and “A Heart Full of Love” back to back. I used to think those songs were one of the weaker passages in the musical, but now I love them. I think it partially depends on how much I like the person playing Cosette. :-) Anyway, the third part is the finale where Marius and Cosette find Valjean on his deathbed. I usually get a lump in my throat during those three scenes, and occassionaly a tear down my cheek during the finale.