The Phantom of the Opera (Highlights from the 1989 Original Canadian Cast)

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Free Music Notes for The Phantom of the Opera (Highlights from the 1989 Original Canadian Cast)

Free Music Review: Colm Wilkinson: Phantom of the Opera
Hit: 5 Stars

This version of Phantom is a great CD, worthy of a double disc, full version set, but it works as long as Music of the Night and Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again are on there. In fact, this CD was not scheduled to be made at all, because of the success of the original. They were afraid it wouldn't do as well, or that it would surpass the original. The powers at be argued that Colm Wilkinson was an excellent Phantom and deserved to be recognized in the role he created, so the recording company said they could record one disc's worth of music. (I say that Colm created the role because he was the first person to actually perform in the role. Once Andrew Lloyd Webber finished writing the musical, he wanted to hear it, and the only cast nearby was the cast of Les Miserables, so he asked the managers if he could borrow the cast for a couple performances of his new musical. Colm was chosen by Webber to play the role of the Phantom, and after the first initial shows, shown to a select audience, Les Miserables went on touring and ALW hired Michael Crawford for the role. For more detail on this, see the book THE COMPLETE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA by George Perry.) In this version of the musical, some of the lyrics are changed, such as on the last part of the last track! It sounds more like it's out of the book than the original version. In my opinion, both Phantoms are excellent, but Colm just really puts himself into the role, as he did with ValJean. His commanding voice carries throughout the play, and he is what I would expect the Phantom to sound like. In fact, judging by the book, from Leroux, for the perfect Phantom, you would need to combine the gentle, more docile, and seductive aspects of Michael Crawford with the power, authority, pain, and rage, among other emotions, of Colm Wilkinson. Then, you would have as close of a Phantom as one could get. As far as Christine, I would stay with Sarah, as she seems to know a little more about how to change her voice for each part of the musical. Rebecca does too, but not to the extent needed for this role. As for Raoul, I would say Steve Barton is the best, hands down, as this Raoul represents what I think of the actual character, and Barton does a superb job at showing the true feelings of Raoul. If you really want (in my opinion) the best Phantom, chose this version of the Operetta. If you want more well known production, a fuller orchestra, a more intriguing Christine, and a more close-to-the-book Raoul (and the complete libretto) get the OLC double disc version. Although the Canadian version has all the lyrics to its own recording (as some lyrics do change slightly), the complete Libretto is with the double disc version. In my opinion, I would purchase this CD first, and then, after you've enjoyed what this recording has to offer, buy the double disc version to hear the complete performance. That way, you have the better of both halves, and the debate of who is better is left to you.

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