06/12/2010 The Valjean Quartet release single on 12th December in support of Tickets for Troops!

Download from iTunes or purchase on Amazon

At the finale of the Les Miserables 25th Anniversary Concert at The O2, four ‘Jean Valjeans’ sang a spine tingling, and specially orchestrated 'Bring Him Home'.

They were, Colm Wilkinson from the original London cast, Simon Bowman from the current London cast at the Queen’s Theatre, John Owen-Jones from the New 25th Anniversary touring production and Alfie Boe who sang the role in The O2 Concert.

It was such a success that Cameron Mackintosh and Tickets for Troops have teamed up to release it as a single to raise money for the charity. The single will be released on iTunes on 12 December for 99p and will be available in the shops on 13 December with all profits going to ‘Ticket for Troops’. The Valjean Quartet will perform “Bring Him Home” on this year’s Royal Variety Performance which is broadcast on BBC1 on 16 December .

Lord Marland said: "This is yet another breakthrough for Tickets For Troops in that the music industry is working together in such an imaginative way to support us. Anyone who listens to this wonderful and inspirational song from Les Misérables cannot fail to be moved and if you download the full version through iTunes then you are making a major contribution to Tickets For Troops."

ALFIE BOE headed The O2 Concert cast as ‘Jean Valjean’. He is one of the country’s leading tenors and best selling recording artists. Alfie shot to fame while starring in Baz Luhrmann’s “La Boheme” on Broadway, winning a Tony Award for his performance. His other credits include a nomination for a Classical Brit Award for his album “Onward” and a sell-out production of “The Merry Widow” at the London Coliseum. His future opera engagements will see him return to the English National Opera to sing ‘Nadir’ in a new production of “The Pearl Fishers” and also his return to the Royal Opera House in Gounod’s “Roméo et Juliette”.

COLM WILKINSON achieved international fame when he created the role of ‘Jean Valjean’. He played the role both in London's West End and on Broadway. He was nominated for a Laurence Olivier Award for best actor as well as receiving Tony and Drama Desk Nominations for his portrayal of the role. He won the Helen Hayes Award, The Outer Critics Circle Award and the Theatre World Award. He returned to the role of ‘Jean Valjean’ for one night only in the now legendary London 10th Anniversary Concert of "Les Misérables" and more recently appeared in the 25th Anniversary concert at The O2.

JOHN OWEN-JONES is a Broadway and West End star, recently hailed by the New York Post as the best Jean Valjean since Colm Wilkinson. He has starred in “Les Misérables” in the West End, Broadway and in the 25th Anniversary Production on tour and at London’s Barbican. He has just returned to play ‘The Phantom’ in “The Phantom of the Opera” at Her Majesty’s Theatre.

SIMON BOWMAN has many West End credits to his name, including creating the role of ‘Chris’ in “Miss Saigon” at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane. He has also played ‘Raoul’ in “The Phantom of the Opera” and ‘Marius’ and ‘Jean Valjean’ in “Les Misérables” at the Palace Theatre and can currently be seen in the role at the Queen’s Theatre.

Tickets For Troops was set up last year to provide members of the Armed Forces with free tickets for major sporting, theatrical, musical and cultural events. The charity has been supported by a wide range of organisations including The FA, The Ryder Cup and 500 troops and their families attended the 25th Anniversary Performance of Les Misérables at the O2 Arena in October. Since launching it has been donated over 250,000 tickets and over 75,000 troops have registered on the website - www.ticketsfortroops.org.uk

For further press information, please contact:

Simon Raw at RAWPR for Les Misérables on 07818 444115 simon@rawpr.co.uk

Stuart Higgins for Tickets for Troops on 020 7096 5814 stuart@stuart-higgins.com

Jackie Gill for First Night Records on 07831 625717 or jackie@jackiegill.co.uk