Boublil and Schönberg

French writers Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg created two of the biggest sung-through musicals of the 1980s. Our library covers both: Les Misérables and Miss Saigon.

Who are Boublil and Schönberg?

Alain Boublil (born 1941 in Tunisia) writes lyrics and books, and Claude-Michel Schönberg (born 1944 in Vannes, France) writes music. They first worked together on La Révolution Française (1973), often described as France's first rock opera.

Their shows are almost entirely sung, with sweeping melodies that return again and again as characters' fortunes change. English versions came through key partners: lyricist Herbert Kretzmer adapted Les Misérables, and Richard Maltby Jr. co-wrote the lyrics for Miss Saigon. Producer Cameron Mackintosh brought both shows to London and Broadway, and their style shaped the era of the big British pop opera.

Boublil and Schönberg musicals in order

After La Révolution Française, they adapted Victor Hugo's novel Les Misérables, first as a French concept album and a 1980 Paris staging. The English version opened in London in 1985, produced by Mackintosh with the Royal Shakespeare Company, and reached Broadway in 1987.

Miss Saigon, which moves Puccini's Madama Butterfly to the Vietnam War, opened at London's Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in 1989 and on Broadway in 1991. Martin Guerre, based on a true story from 16th-century France, opened in London in 1996. The Pirate Queen, about the Irish chieftain Grace O'Malley, played Broadway's Hilton Theatre in 2007 and closed after 85 performances. Schönberg has also written ballet scores, including Wuthering Heights.

Legacy, awards, and where to start

Les Misérables won eight Tony Awards in 1987, including Best Musical and Best Original Score. It is the longest-running musical in West End history, and its original Broadway run lasted 6,680 performances. Miss Saigon earned 11 Tony nominations in 1991 and won three acting awards, for Jonathan Pryce, Lea Salonga, and Hinton Battle, though it lost Best Musical to The Will Rogers Follies.

Start with Les Misérables: the 2012 film with Hugh Jackman and Anne Hathaway or a cast recording will give you "I Dreamed a Dream" and "One Day More." Then listen to Miss Saigon, whose score is darker and more modern.

Boublil and Schönberg: frequently asked questions

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