White Horse Opera

For many unfair reasons I was not alive at the time when this version of the musical came out on record and on stage. So I do not have a visual experience with this version and only have the recording to go on. It is a well known fact that when you take just the music from a musical with no images you notice many more bad things about the vocals. And since I have no image to go with the music I’m very irked by this recording. I find the voices grating on the ear, it sounds as though the singers have no control of their voices, and much of the music is out of the leads’ range. Sarah Brightman(Christine)’s voice sounds untrained, it’s all over the place, and it sounds weak as though she’s going to faint any minute. When she hits the high notes I find myself running for cover under my bed or desk. Michael Crawford(Phantom)’s voice is quite frankly too high and harsh in places where it should not be (like The Music of the Night) but I will say that he has the better voice out of the two and seems to have more control of it. But when Brightman and Crawford sing together it just sounds wrong. The Phantom and Christine only have about two duets in the whole show but those duets MUST sound good and on this recording they don’t. Their voices just do not go together at all.

Now on the acting side of this recording I’ve found myself horrifide. Through about the first half of the show the acting is fine but after All I Ask of You it goes on a down hill ending in a horrid Down Once More/Track Down this Murderer. The ‘emotional climax’ of the show was, to be honest, flat and weak acting-wise. One needs to be emotionally moved by the ending of the show whereas I was just moved to hide under my bed and pray to the Gods for mercy.

All in all this recording is painful for me to listen to. And to make matters worse for years it was the only recording I had (so yes, it was the first version I heard and I’ve ALWAYS hated it).

If you want a good version of The Phantom of the Opera buy either the 1993 recording with Claire Moore and Graham Bickley or the 2004 movie soundtrack.
Rating: 2 / 5

I bought this CD to compare it to the 2004 movie soundtrack. I remember Music of the Night from the 80’s. That was the only song I could remember from that time from Phantom. I have listened to the movie soundtrack over and over ( and seen the movie several times), but everyone says this CD was heads and shoulders above the movie. Well, I listened and compared and, believe me, if these singers had been in the movie, I don’t think I would have gone to see it. Michael Crawford’s voice was just too high and his Phantom wasn’t the least bit threatening or appealing. Gerard Butler had his critics but his Phantom was way more appealing. I liked his voice. Sarah Brightman sounded like she had a mouthful of marbles. If I hadn’t known the lyrics, I don’t think I would have known what she was saying at times. The singers on this CD are proficient, but I didn’t feel the passion. I had to laugh and I think it was at places I shouldn’t have been laughing. Well, I listened and compared. To each his own. I’ll take the movie music anyday.
Rating: 3 / 5

“The Phantom of the Opera” is such a wonderful album. There are no words to describe it. It has so many beautiful songs on it, and is a truly beautiful story. I’ve been a fan of this musical for many years, and this album is just wonderful!
Rating: 5 / 5