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Lately I’ve been listening to Michael Crawford’s vocals across the eras (I’m new to the PotO fandom and been going through ALW’s different phantom actors to see who I like best.)

At first when I listened to the old, on-stage recordings as well as a performance or two for tv, I can’t say I really cared much for his voice at first. I think I was kinda put off a little by the makeup but also the pitch of his voice in some parts and the over pronunciation of his “ooo” vowels (like when he says you, knew, music, etc). This is just a matter of personal opinion, I’m not sure if it was a combination of accent, technique, style choice or what was up with that. Just not my personal cup of tea that made him distinct from other versions since then.

Then recently I struck gold and found videos of him in concert (not the theatre role) and finally understood why people like him so much. Maybe seeing his full face free of makeup helped, but also the quality of his voice for some reason is much more ethereal. The more soft blend of the notes, the theatrical aspects toned down and giving way to more clarity especially in the contrast between his chest register and higher, more delicate notes.

I saw the new anniversary clips people have put out of him with Sarah Brightman doing the lip sync with the Phantom of the Opera main song for their performance. Comparing Sarah’s vocals, for example, on her performance with Antonio Banderas vs. her voice in the 80s obviously a LOT has changed. It’s apparent she was lip syncing the old track in the anniversary performance, I didn’t see a mic on her in the videos. It’s fair, she doesn’t sound bad at this time in her life of course, but it makes sense for the nostalgia.

I noticed that Michael did have a mic on. I know it’s probably just for the part where he tells her to sing for him in the end bit of the song. However, listening back to the specific line “that man and mystery” sounded just the slightest bit different than the original and revamped tracks. The way he partially draws out “mystery” and the notes he hits in just the one word makes it sound more like a live vocal. I’ve listened back to the two versions of the released track and the clip from the recent performance with Sarah. I’m not sure if it’s additional reverb, some kind of editing or just the room making it sound drawn out a bit more.

Is there any possibility that he may not have lip synced the entirety of the song or actually singing along with the instrumental? Maybe I’m just losing my mind a little, but every clip from the show sounds the same and not 100% like how I hear him saying that line in the official tracks.

Either way, I think he’s great! I prefer his concert versions more than stage performance vocals but I understand why he’s so iconic! It’s nice to see him an old man still rockin’ it out. It’s truly a timeless role.

Extra bit: who else loved Anthony Crivello’s performance as the phantom? I’ve only seen the bootleg version but the things I’d give to have seen it for myself!

Edit: Definitely all a lip sync but still a lovely nostalgic throwback!

heavy spoilers and I would love to know what others think

WHAT I LIKED-

— the voice work is impeccable. everyone gives it their all shout Dan Steven’s and Jesse Tyler Ferguson make a delightful Andre and Firmin. Sierra Boggess is CHEWING UP the audio scenery As Carlotta. And of course the trio. Jordan Fisher is a pretty confident bordering on arrogant Raoul which works but he has the sweetness you feel tje connection with Christine

Beatrice Penny Touree is a MARVELLOUS Christine you can see and hear the change on her character. we get a real sense of her character and her inner life and and my goodness Jordan Donica ! The way he is able to balance all the facets of the Phantom the command , sensuality rage and the extreme fragile vulnerability is remarkable. He should do more audiobooks/radio plays he has the voice for it.

— the way they use the music whether sung or the orchestral version under dialogue really creates a cinematic feel of the whole thing

— they give Carlotta a moment with Christine. in the cafe before Don Juan when she talks about getting older in the industry was a great scene

— the Rosa Josephine and Cupid and Pysche allegory for Erik and Christine and seeing their music lessons before the events of the musical. And the connection between them.

— she actively chooses and wants to be with Erik at tne s end she doesn’t do it to free Raoul. Because she doesn’t know what he’s going to do. He’s unpredictable. She thinks through that choice. It’s an active choice which then makes her surprise to Erik freeing Raoul and letting tg go feelmore earnest. Sometimes with some performances it feels like Christine is anticipating that Erik will free them and using the kiss as a tactic. .

— meeting Raoul‘s mother and the conflict. One thing I’ve always questioned about the musical is Raoul is in aristocrat surely his parents aren’t going be completely happy with him marrying a performer even if it is one he’s known from childhood. That conflict is interesting o wish we’d had more of it.

— the chapters that take place pre musical Christine’s life her relationship with the dancers, Carlotta’s tantrums to everyone help us really take time to bring us intp the world

— Raoul’s expansion getting to know him and seeing him and Christine’s relationship expanded out. getting to know him more was lovely.

WHAT I‘M NOT SURE ON

— once the story aligns with the musical the pace and tone shifts at like 100 miles an hour. Even bits that are obviously given time to be fleshed out it feels like a bit more of dash to get to the next iconic song or scene. Aside from the chapters that cover interval between act one and act two where Christne is with Raoul by the sea. Those chapters which ironically drag a tiny bit because aside from the mother and that situation seems to get resolved a little too clearly, there’s not really a lot of conflict

— the dream sequences. I get why they’re there in theory. And I completely get Christine being both attracted to and scared of Erik, but they go on for too long. Especially the second one that she has about the Don Juan one triumphant rehearsals.

— they put Christine in moments and give her moments that she is not present for in the show. She’s the one who goes to Madame Giry and gets backstory. She is on stage when the guard initially tried to shoot the Phantom and he’s throwing his voice around before the Don Juan triumphant show. I think there’s something about actually having her react to things first or secondhand that is also important.

— it’s clear that Raoul sees the connection between Erik and Christine because she mentions the tension that arises between them post masquerade but it never really gets addressed or discussed. Another changes they make it that Erik seriously injured Raoul in the graveyard and he’s in hospital he seems to heal pretty quickly and this is not really discussed as much length or in the conversation that they need to have between them about the tension

— and probably the biggest one: there are Easter eggs and there is straight up setting up and there is a DIFFERENCE. this book doesn’t reference IT IS a Love Never Dies prequel as much as it is a retelling of the Phantom of the opera., There are so many moments and references to Love Never Dies that it becpmes a part of the story. Which colours all the interactions. We see Raoul and Christine being lovely and sweet, but because that lingering it’s sours the sweetness of their love because we can tell what Raoul will become.

Probably the one I maybe took the biggest issue with is the way that Meg’s character changes. Why on earth would she want lessons from the Phanrom it doesn’t align with the way she is presented in this particular book before the ? And the tension between her and Christine even though they kind of make up and all that stuff it’s never really addressed they don’t really have their moment. It never feels truly resolved and if you don’t know the story of life never dies it feels like a bit of a weird takes on plot.

And then, of course, the very ending the epilogue if they had just done this, I would’ve been fine with that but it literally ends with Beneath the Moonless Sky or at least the implication of it. And I don’t know how I feel about that. I personally kind of don’t view love never dies as Cannon. But also it kind of feels like because of that certain plot points get brought in just to set up I’ve never dies. And I don’t think that it helps the story with flowing consistency.

But overall, I thoroughly enjoyed it. I definitely will. revisits the audiobook again.

what do you guys think of it?

Note: To date there is still no recording of Martin in the role of the Phantom. Please reach out to the webmaster at http://www.inmemoryofmartinsmith.com if you can help with the search.

This is a brief news segment about Martin Smith and his upcoming takeover for the role of The Phantom in Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera. There is particular focus on the long makeup process, and we get to see the prosthetic applied to Martin and how it looks prior to the makeup being applied. This part is interesting as up until this point they had kept the makeup somewhat under wraps in marketing.

The piece seems to have aired September 26, 1989 with Martin debuting in the role about a week later on October 2, 1989. He would of course exit the show December 7, 1989.

I was looking at the Andrew Lloyd Webber licensing website to licence School of Rock for my school’s production next year, and I saw Phantom is available to licence?

I asked myself how that would work, because Christine’s range, and the chandelier, because some schools might not have the person to play Christine or the equipment for a chandelier like that.

So how would that work, discuss it in this post.

It's been 15 years since Phantom of the Opera celebrated it's 25th anniversary at Royal Albert Hall. The Phantom was played by Ramin Karimloo, Christine was played by Sierra Boggess and Raoul was played by Hadley Fraser. What did you think of the performance at Royal Albert Hall?

Box Five Club members just received an email with a link to purchase tickets from 12pm BST tomorrow.

May the odds be ever in your favor.