Charles Hart - The Phantom of the Opera (Original 1986 London Cast)
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Free Music Notes for The Phantom of the Opera (Original 1986 London Cast)
Free Music Review: The Music Still Lingers...
Hit: 5 Stars
Would it scare you that as a child I was afraid of this musical? But my mind was entrhalled with the story and the music?
Skipping that, I embraced my fears and learned to fall in love with this musical. I have heard many say that this musical is terrible and stupid because "it plays the theme in different tempos over and over again". Well that IS true, but you must say that you listened to it, that is enough for me.
Sarah Brightman, Michael Crawford, and Steve Barton (R.I.P) will always be the most famous leads, ever. The fact that all three of them played in the Original Castings of Broadway & London, Michael and Steve went to star in the Original L.A Cast as well. That tells you something.
Though the musical "Into the Woods" outdid Phantom in vote for "lyrics and libretto", Phantom won best musical. Because it had something that many other Broadway shows had but didn't have. Besides "Beauty and the Beast", Phantom of the Opera has a romantic charm and mysterious beauty that draws anyone to see it.
Though the show is a whalloping two-discs (not even including the dialouge!) it's quite a beauty to listen to. Though hearing both versions of the original LP and the remastered, there is not much remastering to it... it sounds the same to me. But the voices will always be pefect. Steve Barton will always be THE RAOUL, no one else has that amazing range or emotion he has in his voice or on stage. Sarah Brightman, though throught the years I found other Christine's that surpass her, she will always be a delightful Christine. Though he voice annoys some/many, she does convey anger quite well, and she does have a voice for those high notes. Michael Crawford, after finally seeing him as Frank Spencer, makes me appreciate him more as a Phantom than before. He is a VERY versitile actor, and just because he played a comedian, ha!, doesn't mean he can't fill the roles of a "phantom". I think he did quite fine and put justice to the role and paved the way nicely for people following him.
The songs are beautiful, and not only that, they are sensual and haunting. There is even a blend of comedy to this as well, that is from Carlotta and the Managers.
Do not hesitate to get this cast! Even if you have just gotten into Phantom of the Opera (from the movie, perhaps?), do give a listen to this cast. Though, many compare it to the first thing they hear, many will stay true to this cast because even though it's not a great retelling of the novel, it does sound as if the prouduction is applying the gothic nature as if you would have seen it in the theatre.
Though because of it's length, and if you are just getting into musicals, buy the "highlights" with the songs. Then when you feel comfortable with the cast and wish to know more of the story, buy the two-disc set. And THEN watch the movie. But trust me, you'll be much more pleased with this cast than the movie--hands down.
To each to their own opinion! The London Cast is Phenominal!
Free Music Review: I <3 Phantom
Hit: 5 Stars
Ok, I've been reading quite a bit of the reviews, mostly the negative ones, because I want to see the information that they presented.
First off, I think it's absurd saying it's bad because it sucks. That has no back up. If your going to write a review, please, give some friggin support! And remember, these are all opinions. We're all entitled to our own opinion, so don't get POed when someone writes something you don't like.
Anyway, to the review! I first heard the recording when my parents brought it back from London in 1996. It was my only connection to Phantom, therefore I obviously had a biased opinion on it, as everyone does. But when I did experience it without Sarah Brightman and Michael Crawford, I was a tad disappointed.
On the subject of Michael Crawford, several people claim he can't sing. Are you tone deaf? His luring and emotional quality gives me jitters every time I listen to it. I don't hear the notes when I listen, I hear the pain of the Phantom's deformation and seclusion. That's what singing is all about [i]emotion[i/]. He put such a tortured tone into that performance, that I feel that that is the best way to perform.
Sarah Brightman, well, I somewhat agree on the vocal part. She tends to put to much vibrato when it's supposed to be a purer sound. I think that is probably her downfall. But the quality of her voice when she hits High C and above is just amazing. Seriously, how many people could hit that and sound that good? Anyone? I thought so.
Some people have complained about the lyrics. Some of the lyrics are supposed to be rather odd. Whenever Firmir and Andree sing, they're supposed to not understand and be a little out of it. Christine is hiding things, so she tends to cover up and avoid. Raoul is a little clueless at first, and recounts childhood fantasies. I think that people tend not to take into account the characters, and just look at the lyrics dry, without the story to go with it.
On the issue of the book: does everything have to go along with the book? I read the book and I found it rather immature and tend to go off topic a lot. The musical was intended to be dark and brooding, in a gothic style, like the Phantom's character.
In all honesty, I love this recording. I get this weird feeling whenever I listen to "Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again" that almost brings me to tears. "Phantom of the Opera" give me a freaky yet cool feeling.
And, yes, I have seen the musical, and the movie. In my opinion, the recording is better than the movie, but that's a different story. Not enough time to support it, and I don't want to be called a hypocrite.
Yes, I recommend that you buy this recording. It even comes with the movie script, so you can read what was not included in the CD, which is not very much. Most of the musical is sung, so it's on the CD.
Free Music Review: Absolutely Divine!
Hit: 5 Stars
It was twelve years ago today that I received my copy of this Lloyd Webber masterpiece. Ever since then, I have considered it to be one of my favorite possessions.Andrew Lloyd Webber created this musical for his then-wife, Sarah Brightman, who, while bearing no physical resemblance to Gaston Leroux's description of Christine, has a soprano like no other, and could still play the role majestically if the film version is ever made. Her crystalline voice has such strength that an audience knows that the Phantom has met his match in this ingenue.
As the title character, Michael Crawford's choir-boy training has carried very nicely over into his adult life. One can still hear more than a few simple traces of the tones that drew the attention of composer Benjamin Britten years earlier as Crawford delivers every breathy, sensuous and appealing note with such profound expressiveness. His tone is warm and inviting in "Angel of Music" as he beckons to Christine before their initial meeting, intense and explosive as he sings the title song in a duet with Brightman, and elegantly seductive as he sings his now signature tune, " The Music of the Night", of which I could never get enough. Ther is such yearning and lonliness emphasized during the last stanzas. He always seems to enter the scenes voice first, as befits his character.
The lyrics of Charles Hart and Richard Stilgoe, combined with Lloyd Webber's music create powerful levels of expression. In the notes and singing, I could feel Christine's fear after Joseph Buquet's murder, and sense the situation traveling from the Phantom's darkness to the heroic Raoul's world of brilliant light, and Christine's tears dissolving in the duet of " All I Ask of You", in which Brightman is joined by the late Steve Barton.
As the Phantom's wrath builds and the chandelier of the Paris Opera House descends to the floor, we move on. A glorious masque awaits us on New Year's Eve, and the company celebrate not having heard from their tormentor in the cellar for months, until he suddenly resurfaces. Afterwards, there is another seduction of Christine, another murder, and a final confrontation, tempered at one point by the levity of the company reading and responding to notes sent by the Phantom.
Everything that makes opera opera is included, egos, petty jealousies, as well as friendships and support among company members.In the end the overpowering voice and presence of the Phantom has the final word.
All one can really do when listening to this ethereal sounding masterpiece of light and dark, and of drama and comedy is indeed, to " Close your eyes! Let your spirit start to soar!"
And you'll hear as you've never heard before!
Free Music Review: The Cast that started it all
Hit: 5 Stars
Don't you just love them?
I know that a lot of people don't like the fact that everyone always has to worship the Original Cast recording, and shun out the others (I don't do that, I know some who do)
But every phantom is based on Michael Crawford, and his performance. Because michael IS 'The Phantom'
His voice is fluid, and soft. And in a flash, it can turn to deadly and threatening. He was absolutely amazing in The Point of No Return, especially. But he was just as good in all of the other songs, so I can't compare. Anything he sings will be rich and powerful. That's just the kind of depth and passion that Phantom needed in order to knock everyone out of their seats, like it did. I can't imagine how well or bad the show would have done without Michael. He was the star on that stage
And I have had the pleasure of seeing him on stage with Brightman. Besides his incredible voice, he has such a magnetisn to him. He doesn't just walk across the stage-- he glides across the stage. And he puts so much passion and emotion into his songs, that you just can't help but be touched by it, and deeply moved.
Brightman was just as good. Some people think that she sounds unusual at times, and that she only got the role because she was married to Andrew. But, I must admit, she does sound fairly unusual in some parts. A good example would be in 'Why Have you brought me here' and 'I remember/Stranger than you dreamt it'
But that's one of the things that makes her so unique. Her voice is very pleasant, and operatic. She was exceptionally good in the title song, and I think that she did the best version of 'Wishing you were somehow here again' ever
The other characters were fairly good, aswell. Steve Barton was a very good Raoul, and I just loved his voice. Some would say that he sounds 'stiff' but that's simply not true. Sure, he wasn't at all as 'prince charming-ish' as Patrick Wilson, but listen to the Canadian Cast Recording. Byron is even more stiff and lifeless.
Anyway, I am constantly torn between the Original London Cast and the Canadian cast. Rebecca Caine from the Canadian cast is the best Christine of all time, so if you want to hear her amazing vocals, I advise you to check that album out as well.
However, Michael is THE Phantom, as I said. No one can measure up to him.
All in all, this is my favorite album, and always has been. You won't be dissapointed
Free Music Review: How ironic... It must be my destiny...
Hit: 5 Stars
Good afternoon to you. I hope you are having a great day.By the time you'll be reading this, there will be over 160 reviews posted about this CD. I thought I'd tell you a story of enchantment not much unlike that of this wicked play.
I do find it most ironic that I keep coming back to this CD in one way or another. Let me tell you a story. I promise, I won't be too long.
About 13 years ago, when I was 8 years old, I had first heard this music in a Russian translation. I was highly impressed by the melody but that was about it. Then, out of the blue I became interested in drama, and so I took a class in my high school. That was, I believe, in 1996.
Where would you begin to guess was our fieldtrip? Of course, this was San Francisco, and Phantom was residing there for the season at the Curran theatre. We had the rarest opportunity to witness the rehearsal of this great show. Our class had seen all the stage secrets and had the chance to talk to the cast of the show. I was beyond thrilled when I'd chatted with Lisa Wroman for a little bit. She, of course, is Christine in the show.
So far, two events have come back to Phantom. Later, in 1999, I was a the San Francisco Symphony 4th of July concert in Mountain View, and who would you dare guess was the soprano? Why, of course, Lisa Wroman she was. She sung a few songs from the play.
Thus we come to the third appearance. I had since bought this CD.
Lately, I had come to love Sarah Brightman's voice a lot, and was fairly startled when her voice from "the Andrew Lloyd Webber Collection" had matched perfectly that of this CD. Sure enough, I have looked at the credits and it is indeed her voice that was in the original recording that you are about to purchase.
It truly is a small world when you try to find magnificent soprano voice recordings. They are scattered few and far apart.
Please beware, for this CD does hold the power of enchantment and it make take your soul and wake up your darker self.
I highly advise having a high end sound system available to you because there are a few tracks that simply require it. I have used this CD as a test device when I was checking the clarity of music systems. Very few were able to properly play the multi-vocal harmony that is in the later part of the play. But I have digressed from my story.
Let us end it now, and may this music calm you, and guide you far away into the realms of unknown.
Have a nice jorney,
Leonid S. Knyshov