23/12/2025
今天刊登于《联合早报》。
很荣幸受邀分享今年最触动我的一部作品——雨果的《悲惨世界》歌舞剧。
艺术之所以历久弥新，不只是因为技巧与规模，而是它不断提醒我们：
在制度与速度之中，人性与情感依然值得被珍惜。
感谢《联合早报》的邀请，也感谢每一位仍愿意为艺术停下脚步的人。
English caption (for international friends)
Published today in Lianhe Zaobao.
Grateful for the opportunity to reflect on Les Misérables — a work that continues to resonate across generations.
Great art does more than entertain; it reminds us, quietly but firmly, of the weight of humanity beneath systems, speed, and success.
Thank you, Lianhe Zaobao.
《联合早报》今天刊登。
谈《悲惨世界》，谈艺术，也谈人性。
Featured in Lianhe Zaobao today.
On Les Misérables, art, and the enduring weight of humanity.
Jeremy Monteiro Dee Affendi Jens Bunge Parmod Kumar Verma
From the editor
"As 2025 draws to a close, it is a timely moment to reflect on what we have seen and experienced over the past year. Some have travelled far and wide, while others have encountered broader worlds through books, cinema, and the stage. Literature and the arts have always been essential sources of spiritual nourishment — offering both the enduring appeal of internationally acclaimed works and the intimate resonance of local creations. Lianhe Zaobao has specially invited more than a dozen individuals from different walks of life to take turns sharing the cultural works that moved them most this year, offering readers a curated list of meaningful reading and viewing as they step into the new year.
1. Under what circumstances did you first encounter this work?
My first encounter with Victor Hugo’s *Les Misérables* musical was not in a theatre, but on a Singapore Airlines flight. By chance, I listened to one of its most famous songs, “I Dreamed a Dream.” In the enclosed space of the aircraft cabin, that melody pulled me instantly into a dark yet painfully real world, where poverty is systemically oppressed and “human rights” often become a language used by the powerful to justify their dominance. The emotional force of that song left a deep initial impression on me.
Several years later, while in London, I watched the full musical for the first time. I was profoundly struck by the performers’ expressive power and the fluid, symbolic transformations of the stage. This year, during another visit to London, I watched it for the eighth time. Before the show began, I chatted with a British audience member seated next to me, who told me it was his twelfth time bringing his family to see the production. A work that continues to draw audiences across generations is, in itself, proof of true artistic power.
2. What were your reflections after experiencing the work?
What makes *Les Misérables* so compelling is its relentless questioning of the tension between human nature and social systems. The protagonist, Jean Valjean, commits a minor crime yet is permanently branded by society; even after redemption, he remains relentlessly pursued. His story exposes the rigidity and cruelty with which systems often treat the weak. In contrast, Inspector Javert’s absolute faith in the law reveals another dilemma: when obedience to rules is equated with justice, personal conscience is pushed aside. Throughout the musical, the conflict between *doing the right thing* and *doing things right* is constantly examined.
The character who lingers most powerfully in my mind, however, is Éponine. Her love is unconditional and unreciprocated; knowing she does not belong, she still chooses devotion and ultimately sacrifice. By comparison, Cosette, whose life later unfolds smoothly, leaves a much lighter impression.
When the curtain falls, what truly settles in the audience’s heart is the weight of Éponine’s line: as remembered by many, “and rain will make the flowers grow.”
3. Is there something you wish you could engage with but find difficult to achieve? Why?
What I truly wish to engage with, yet find difficult to realise, is a broader shift in cultural and aesthetic awareness. In a society that has achieved remarkable economic success, art and culture are often treated as decorative extras rather than as part of our inner structure. Whether in performance art, music, or traditional food culture, we see a familiar reality: speed replaces devoted craftsmanship, and convenience replaces respect for processes. Many long-established heritage businesses have disappeared, not only due to a lack of successors, but also because society’s understanding of their cultural value has grown shallow. The same applies to music and the performing arts.
I hope that as Singapore continues to prosper, it will also place greater emphasis on cultivating cultural appreciation and aesthetic sensitivity. After all, what gives a society lasting warmth and depth is not wealth alone, but the richness of its soul.
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