I know that many find Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera cheesy and over-the-top. I agree with that though where I differ is that I still adore it. This blu-ray version of the long running production was filmed during the 25th anniversary staging of the musical, which was done at London’s legendary Royal Albert Hall.
Cameron MacKintosh directed it based on the original staging by Hal Prince and Gillian Lynne. It boasts a cast and orchestra of over 200 people. Ramin Karimloo is the Phantom and Sierra Buggess is the soprano Christine. There are also some very special guest appearances.
Broadway’s longest running production of all time is basically a love story. Though this one has plenty of twists and scares. Most of the musical takes place beneath the Paris Opera House, where a terribly disfigured Phantom, who was at one time a promising musician, continually terrorizes all who work there. The Phantom, who hides his face with a white mask, has fallen in love with the beautiful Christine Daaé. He begins to secretly give her voice lessons and he falls for her at the same time something begins between her and the wealthy Raoul (played by Hadley Fraser). Passion and anger clash then chaos ensues.
The Phantom of the Opera premiered at Her Majesty’s Theatre in London on October 9, 1986. It went on to win more than 60 major theatre awards, including Tony Awards and Olivier Awards. Webber’s musical is based on the novel Le Fantôme de L’Opéra by Gaston Leroux.
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