For les miserables what do they mean when they say eponine has a contemporary edge to her voice?

Question

im audtitioning for the musical and that was in the character description.

Answer 1

I think your first answerer meant Lea Salonga, but what I think they mean by contemporary edge is like your other answerer said definitely not classical soprano because that's what they will want their Cosette to sounds like. They will want a definite contrast in those two characters. Cosette will sing like the 'well bred' daughter she thinks she is. Eponine is the daughter of shady tavern owners and is basically a street child. She's lived a life of never really knowing what it's like to have things go well. The one bright spot in her life is Marius and hoping that someday he will love her. But of course, along comes Cosette and with one look, Marius loves Cosette, not Eponine. To top things off, Marius asks for Epoinine's help in getting more information about Cosette and getting messages to her... this is Eponine's life. If you get that, you'll get the contemporary edge in her voice. It's want for never having had.

good luck,
Marianne

Answer 2

I think it means that whoever wrote that wants the voice to sound like most of the female sopranos you see/hear on StarSearch. If I'm interpreting it correctly, what the director is looking for is a voice with a little "grit" for the loud parts of "On My Own", for example. Go to YouTube, and check out Mia Salonga as Eponine, that ought to help.

Answer 3

I think they mean less classic sounding, where everything is perfectly articulated(no sliding). More new Broadway sounding. A little more gritty.