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The Phantom’s character is beautifully tragic, and I found myself sympathizing with the lonely man. With every individual note and measure played, you became more immersed into the story and its subsequent emotions. The vocal parts were technically flawless, and the scores were beautifully difficult and moving. The plot was almost excessively dramatic, but the music was incredible. I can’t imagine how amazing it would be live on Broadway. The Phantom was played by Gerard Butler, Christine by Emmy Rossum, and Raoul by Patrick Wilson. I saw this show for the first time just a few weeks ago in the 2004 movie adaptation of the show. Moved by the love he had never experienced, the Phantom lets the lovers go, and disappears into the night. In a final confrontation, Christine promises to stay in the Phantom’s lair with him and sacrifices her future with Raoul in order to save his life. He makes his final desperate move by writing an opera that the cast is forced to perform in the middle, the Phantom’s hideously disfigured face is revealed and Christine is kidnapped once more. Filled with a jealous rage, the Phantom rampages around the theater and murders those who get in his way. Scared by his strangely masked face, she runs away and back to a childhood lover, Raoul. After her operatic debut, the mysterious voice reveals himself as the infamous Phantom of the Opera and brings Christine to his lair to live with him. As she grew, a mysterious “angel of music” taught and mentored her as a singer. When she was a child, her father passed away so she grew up with a family friend living in an opera house. The plot of The Phantom of the Opera follows the young and talented opera singer, Christine Daae. (This post is also perfectly timed considering the fact that just this past week, Phantom celebrated it’s 30th anniversary) This style is very appropriate for the opera pieces throughout this show. Alternately, The Phantom of the Opera is sung in the “classical” singing style this means singing with “proper” tone, embouchure, and breathing. Belting is defined as “a specific technique of singing by which a singer brings their chest register above its natural passaggio (break) at a loud volume.” This is a very technically difficult style for a performer to achieve. Many modern shows contain contemporary music performed by strong performers singing in “belt” style. This show is slightly different in style from what most people consider to be “normal” Broadway theater style. This classic show first premiered on Broadway in 1986, adapted from Gaston Leroux’s 1909 novel.
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