Javert, whose mother was a Gypsy fortune-teller and father a galley slave, was born inside a prison. His early-life encounters with the underworld lead him to become a policeman, upholding the law ...

He had carefully chosen his audition song, “Falcon in the Dive” from “The Scarlet Pimpernel,” sung by an intense character similar to Javert. It could show his vocal and acting range. But that was ...