- published: 14 Sep 2014
- views: 116358
Alfred Giovanni Roncalli Boe (born 29 September 1973), known professionally initially as both Alf and Alfred Boe as well as, more recently, Alfie Boe, is an English tenor and actor, notably performing in musical theatre.
He is best known for his internationally critically acclaimed performances as Jean Valjean in the musical Les Misérables, playing the role in the Queen's Theatre in London, England, the Les Misérables: 25th Anniversary Concert in October 2010, and currently in the Broadway revival. As well, Boe shared a Tony Award with the other members of the ensemble cast of Baz Luhrmann's 2002 revival of La bohème in 2003.
Boe, the youngest in a family of nine children, was born in Blackpool, Lancashire, and brought up in nearby Fleetwood. His mother and father – who are of Irish and Norwegian descent respectively – named him after the Italian name of Pope John XXIII. He attended St Wulstan's and St Edmund's School and Cardinal Allen Catholic High School in Fleetwood. His earliest musical memories were of listening to his father's Richard Tauber records and at the age of 11 he discovered Puccini's La Bohème for the first time.
[Alfie]
I see his face.
I hear his heartbeat.
I look in those eyes.
How wise they seem.
Well, when he is old enough
I will show him America
And he will ride
On the wheels of a dream.
We'll go down South
And see your people
Won't they take to him
Like cats to cream!
Then we'll travel on from there.
California or who knows where!
And we will ride
On the wheels of a dream.
Yes, the wheels are turning for us, girl.
And the times are starting to roll.
Any man can get where he wants to
If he's got some fire in his soul.
We'll see justice, Sarah,
And plenty of men
Who will stand up
And give us our due.
Oh, Sarah, it's more that promises.
Sarah, it must be true.
A country that let's a man like me
Own a car, raise a child, build a life with you...
With you...
Beyond that road,
Beyond this lifetime
That care full of hope
Will always gleam!
With the promise of happiness
And the freedom he'll live to know.
He'll travle with head held high,
Just as far as his heart can go
And he will ride-
Our son will ride-