People Are Being Brought to Tears by 13-Year-Old's Rendition of "Empty Chairs at Empty Tables"

[demmiblue]

Victor Hugo's tragic yet beautifully spun story Les Misérables is considered to be one of the greatest novels in literature. However, this complex tale is equally beloved for its musical version—lovingly known as Les Mis—which has been running in London since 1985. While there are many standout songs in the adaptation's lineup, “Empty Chairs at Empty Tables” might be the most emotional. Even so, a 13-year-old from Lancashire stepped up to the plate and performed a stunning rendition of the solo that has gone viral.

The talented youth, named Cormac Thompson, released a video of himself singing the iconic piece to help raise money for a charity called Acting for Others, which provides financial and emotional support to theater workers in need. In the video, we see the British chorister vocalizing into a microphone, his melodic voice gliding into high notes with ease as a gentle piano accompanies the lyrics. Interspersed in the short film are haunting clips of coffins, solitary figures, and scenes of medical staff, all of which allude to the traumas brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The song “Empty Chairs and Empty Tables” occurs towards the end of Les Mis and is performed by the young character, Marius, who is mourning the death of the many people killed at the barricade. For this reason, the somber undertones of the solo match the grim portrait of the previous two years. Thompson was only 11 when he had to endure the pandemic lockdowns, during which time he released his first famous video of a rendition of “Danny Boy,” which was intended for his grandparents in Ireland.

https://mymodernmet.com/13-year-old-sings-empty-chairs-at-empty-tables-les-miserables/

There's a grief that can't be spoken
There's a pain goes on and on
Empty chairs at empty tables
Now my friends are dead and gone

[sinkingfeeling]

1. Hauntingly beautiful.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

2. K&R

[Wild blueberry]

3. Thank you

[piddyprints]

4. My god, that is haunting!

[Grins]

5. I saw Les Miserables in London...that song

I was in ROTC in the late 60’s and an Army officer on active duty in 1970. I had a few friends killed in Vietnam, all of them in their EARLY 20’s.

When I heard “Empty Tables” in that London theatre my thought was - VIETNAM!

My friends, my classmates. A chill up my spine

The other great song in Les Miserables? “Bring Him Home.” And I thought of all the parents whose sons were sent to Vietnam, hoping they would return alive.

I’ve seen Les Miserables at least 13 times because of those songs.