Broadway Notables Praise Susan Boyle's Voice

Susan Boyle wowed the judges with her performance in the auditions for the latest season of Britains Got Talent, singing "I Dreamed A Dream" from Les Miserables.

MSNBC reached out to a number of industry notables, including stage and screen star Rachel York and singing teacher extraordinaire Joan Lader. 

The consensus reports MSNBC: She really does have an exceptional voice.

"Her pitch was right on, her quality was clear and she had volume when she belted," said Rachel York, who performed Boyle's audition piece - "I Dreamed a Dream," from "Les Misérables" - when playing Fantine on Broadway in 1992.

You can watch a clip of York singing "Dream" by going here to her official website, www.rachekyork.net.

Referring to another YouTube clip by Boyle, York added, "I was actually amazed listening to ‘Cry Me a River' - she has a really nice sultry sound."

New York-based vocal teacher and therapist Joan Lader, who has worked with Madonna and Patti LuPone (LuPone played Fantine in London in 1987), described to MSNBC Boyle's voice as "very free, unaffected and pure, with lots of clarity and range. A piece like ‘I Dreamed A Dream' climbs, and she hit the mark. People have very specific expectations when they hear that song. She met them." To read the entire MSNBC article click here.

Boyle, an unemployed woman who's "nearly 48," talked about her cat, and joked around with the judges, noting that she had "never been kissed." The entire audience prepared for the worst as she began her song, but, once she starting singing the crowd and judges were transported by her emotional and theatrical take on the number! 

To watch her stunning performance, click here. Judge Simon Cowell is now reportedly setting up a record deal for her, she has also become the favortie to win the top slot on the program.

The Britains Got Talent's first season was won by a cell phone salesman who sang opera songs, Paul Potts. Potts was also physically unassuming at first blush on the show.

On October 8, 1985 Les Misérables opened at the Barbican Theatre, London and musical theatre history was made. It then moved to the Palace Theatre on 4 December 1985. On March 12, 1987, the American version opened at the Broadway Theatre.

Since then, Les Misérables by Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg, with lyrics by Herbert Kretzmer has travelled the globe and won many major awards throughout the world, including eight Tony awards, including Best Musical. Les Misérables has touched the heart of its international audience as few shows in history have ever done.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.