#25th anniversary Royal Albert Hall

[missmaywemeetagain]

I’m not big into musicals and although The Phantom of the Opera is probably the most well known one, I have never fully indulged myself in it. What are some of your favorites moments from the musical and what about it changed your life?

(I figured I might as well learn about it and you seem like an amazing teacher!)

Oh, Stephanie, honey darlin’, I just LOVE this can of worms you are opening for me—thank you so much for asking!! ❤️ (Did I spend way to much time on this? yes. Did I love every minute of it? also yes. Did I cry watching the Overture clips? 100% yes.)

So, I was pretty young when I first listened to the soundtrack (only 8), and digging way deep, I’ll say that the drama of the music itself really got to me—the big orchestrations and amazing voices had me instantly hooked. Also, I was so fascinated that almost the entire musical was sung and that made it incredibly interesting to listen to because I could pretty much figure out the whole story just from the lyrics. I had been exposed to musicals prior to this, mainly Disney ones and good ole Rogers and Hammerstein ones, but this was so different. It was dark and scary (murder! crazy genius madman! problematic love story!). It was dramatic af. And it pulled at my heartstrings in a way nothing had ever done before. And I know Phantom isn’t for everyone because the opera-esque style of singing is not everyone’s cup of tea (and honestly, I am not really a classical opera fan either LOL), but I loved it cuz I’d never heard people do such amazing things with their voices before.

I saw it live for the first time just after my 11th birthday (and 12 -13 times since in various places, not counting filmed productions), and I will say I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. There is so much to look at and take in and somehow I always find something new each time I see it. It's a complete spectacle in the best way possible, honestly. It was everything amazing about theater that I longed to be a part of.

It changed my life because I wanted to be Christine Daae (lol). The more I listened, the more I wanted to sing like her and that led me to the fact that this was a musical and people could actually be in this production. So I learned as much as I could about the production and I tried to mold my little voice to be like Christine’s. And moreover, it inspired me to seek out more musicals in a similar vein, which opened an entire new world to me (hey, there Les Miserables and Evita and all the dramatic 70s/80s/90s musicals lol). Basically, Phantom turned me fully into a theater kid. I was already a dancer, and even though I was relatively shy, I thought that maybe, just maybe this was something I could do. And it set me on the path to do so! Lord knows without Phantom I may have ended up a STEM kid, but lol no. Luckily, my parents were SUPER supportive of this new passion and I owe so much to them for all the lessons and theater tickets and performances they had to sit through and for torturing them with the same thing over and over again LOL. Thanks, Mom and Dad! Anyway, I was the ultimate theater/choir kid in high school, and eventually got my Bachelor’s Degree in Theater as well.

Soooo, favorite moments! (There are many—I could go through the whole show but I’ll try to cut it down lol). 

The Overture (see links below). Seriously incredible music, sets the tone for the show, but when you see the stage production and see how the entire set transforms like magic and that chandelier rises above the audience, my god, it’s incredible. The organ kicks in and the floor vibrates and it's this (brilliant) sensory overload that will make you feel every emotion and sensation. It's magnificent, truly. And this was a HUGE deal in theater in the 80s cuz no one had done anything like it before. And let me tell you, there is nothing like watching that chandelier rise (and fall, later) right over your head! Every time I hear it to this day, I get goosebumps, but if I’m watching it, I will cry. That’s how moving it is. Here's some bootlegs of the stage production (which don't quite do it justice, but it'll have to do! WARNING: Flashing lights) Great quality BL (begins around 3:20 but the Prologue is a good watch!). Another one from Broadway (different angle)

The title song (The Phantom of the Opera) number is crazy. I’m not sure what they were thinking putting synth, an organ, strings, and electric guitars together, but somehow it works (the 80s were WILD lol). Throw in a stunning soprano cadenza at the end and it makes it both incredibly surreal and interesting. And the staging is fantastic. There’s a moving catwalk with body doubles. There’s a boat on a dry ice lake with candles rising out of nowhere. It’s just awesome. The costuming is iconic, too. 

The Music of the Night is beautiful. And it takes a major vocal and acting talent to traverse it well. I won’t get too technical vocally, but when done well, this song is so seductive and impactful. It’s a love song about music, about Christine, and it’s innocent and sexual all at once (when done well).

Masquerade (at the top of Act II) is a fabulous ensemble number and the costuming is amazing. Iconic number overall.

Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again is my favorite song of the show (if I have to pick). For anyone who’s experienced loss (esp. that of a parent), the lyrics will hit you right in the heart. But I love listening to (and singing) this one so much. 

The Point of No Return is the most underrated number in the show, imo and one of my faves. It is sexy. as. hell. and a bit unexpected, really ramping up the passion btw the Phantom and Christine under the guise of this opera that the Phantom has written and is forcing everyone to perform. A good performance has a lot of nuance and will get you a little hot under the collar. 😏 I honestly don’t feel like I can explain it well enough, but a good watch/listen/reading the lyrics will get you there. 

The Final Lair is the insane climax and it’s a bit of a roller coaster but I love it. You’ll go from hating the Phantom to weeping over him in the span of the scene. 

The staging, sets, costuming, and makeup overall (of the original production). Like I mentioned above, a lot of what they did in Phantom was new tech for the late 80’s and to this day has a pretty stellar effect on stage. The chandelier rising and falling throughout the show is just super cool. The (4 hour) makeup for the Phantom was pretty cutting edge back in the day and has a wonderful effect on stage when done well. 

I highly recommend watching the 25th Anniversary at Royal Albert Hall from 2013 if you can’t see it live. The quality is amazing, the talent is fantastic, and while the staging isn’t quite the original because of the size of the venue, it gives you a pretty good idea of the vibe. If you don’t want to watch the whole thing at first, there are plenty of clips on YouTube of the major numbers via The Shows Must Go On (linked above). (If you are just watching clips, you may want to read a synopsis of the show as a whole so it makes sense what’s going on.) The 2004 film starring Gerald Butler and Emmy Rossum is actually pretty decent from a cinematic perspective (though I have some major qualms about GB's vocal performance) but if it's all you have, its a pretty good representation of the story. And listen, with 35 years of material, there are so many cast recordings and bootlegs, you're bound to find a combo of actors that you like! (I won't dive into that here though, cuz that's a whole other can of worms...)

Anyway, I could go on forever about it, but I will stop there as to not put you to sleep! If you choose to check it out, I hope you enjoy and you’ll have to let me know what you think! ❤️

#just a fraction of my musings #i cried cathartically #amazing ask xoxoxo #the phantom of the opera #phantom of the opera #poto broadway #25th anniversary Royal Albert Hall #not elvis related lol #ask #answered #phantom phan

[everiistence]

THEY PUT THE FULL 25TH ANNIVERSARY BACK UP ON YOUTUBE!!!

#the phantom of the opera #AUGHH ROYAL ALBERT HALL 25TH ANNIVERSARY ... #sierra boggess ramin karimloo hadley fraser my BELOVEDS #Youtube

[spiderphantom1993]

Can’t believe I actually own this! 😍 One of a kind 1/6 Custom Action Figure of Ramin Karimloo as The Phantom of the Opera from his performance at 2011 25th Anniversary

#the phantom of the opera #phantom of the opera #musicals #theatre #phantom #poto #phantomphans #ramin karimloo #royal albert hall #25th anniversary #custom figure

[darklinaforever]

You see, I'm not the only one who wants an animated series adaptation of The Phantom of the Opera ! It’s 2024 damn it ! It's time to give us that! With a happy ending for Erik & Christine along the way ! What's better than animation to convey a monstrous face as aesthetically beautiful ? It's time in 2024 to have a version of Christine who accepts Erik's ugliness !

#phantom of the opera 1990 #the phantom of the opera 1990 #the phantom of the opera #phantom of the opera #erikstine #erik x christine #erik/christine #erik and christine #poto e/c #e/c #Instagram #le fantôme de l'opéra #gaston leroux #andrew lloyd webber #the phantom of the opera at the royal albert hall #phantom of the opera at the royal albert hall #phantom of the opera 25th anniversary #the phantom of the opera 25th anniversary #christine x erik #christine and erik #christine/erik #erik

[phanblog]

i have a lot of feelings about this show

#phantom of the opera #poto #meme #phantom of the opera meme #25th anniversary #RAH performance #royal albert hall

[fishywatches]

LOG 03/03/2024 - 5/5 rating

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall 2011

Directed by: Nick Morris, Laurence Connor

#the phantom of the opera #the phantom of the opera at the royal albert hall #the phantom of the opera 25th anniversary #christine daae #the phantom #raoul de chagny #ramin karimloo #sierra boggess #hadley fraser #andrew lloyd webber #fshwatch

[music-in-my-veins14]

#The Phantom Of The Opera #The Phantom of the Opera #Musical #25th Anniversary #Royal Albert Hall #Ramin Karimloo #Sierra Boggess #Music #Youtube

[highlighteretcigarettes]

when I am even mildly insulted I need an entire roomful of people to sing a beseeching aria to me just like La Carlotta

#babe are you okay? you’re watching the Royal Albert Hall 25th anniversary recording of phantom of the opera again

[steveharrington]

humiliating but notes is one of my fav phantom of the opera songs to listen to …. specifically “far too many notes for my taste 🤨” it just HITS

#this post is about 25th anniversary at the royal albert hall and NOTHING else

[boygirlctommy]

leasepleaepleaseplebaee let there be a full proshot. please. please. PLEASE let there be a full proshot

#my post #poto #SURELY they didnt only record the chandelier rising/dropping right right surely not #surely theres a proshot surely were getting a full ohantom proshot #easepleaspeleasepleaspleaseeee i dont want to watch the 25th anniversary royal albert hall version #i would simply like an hd recording of poto bway is thag so much tk ask. please. please alw you could say this is all i ask of you even #is it just gonna be me and that one boot from 2013 w peter joback againt the world #possibly #ol but even if no proshot. SURELY someone recordsd a boot. #SURELY right. in 7-10 monghs someone will posy it on yt right

[assorted-bean]

hadley fraser pretty pretty boy

#its hadley simping hours #the phantom of the opera #phantom of the opera 25th anniversary performance live at the royal albert hall

[toogoodashiptowreck]

I left a party early because I was having a heavy discussion about Phantom of the Opera with a friend just to go home and watch the 25th anniversary show.

Drunk me makes great decisions.

#phantom of the opera #phantom #25th anniversary #royal albert hall #drunk #i am so drunk #im not as think as you drunk i am #me

[haredjarris]

ramin got me bro 🥲

#the phantom of the opera #phantom of the opera #phantom of the opera 25th anniversary #phantom of the opera at the royal albert hall #poto #erik the phantom #ramin karimloo #crying / #eye contact / #poto 25

[darklinaforever]

One day, I would like make a rewrite of The Phantom of the Opera. (More precisely inspired by the 1990 version and by the 25th anniversary of the musical)

Of course there would be a happy ending !

#the phantom of the opera at the royal albert hall #the phantom of the opera 25th anniversary #the phantom of the opera nbc #the phantom of the opera 1990 #the phantom of the opera #andrew lloyd webber #gaston leroux #le fantome de l'opera #erikstine #erik x christine #erik and christine #erik/christine #poto e/c #e/c #erik #christine daae #Youtube

[bestmusicalworldcup]

The full 25th Anniversary Royal Albert Hall production of The Phantom of the Opera is back online for some reason!

#the phantom of the opera #musicals #not a poll #Youtube

[ablatheringblatherskite]

JUST INCASE Y'ALL DIDNT KNOW, IT'S BACK EVERYONE!! IT'S BACK!!! THE POTO 25TH ANNIVERSARY AT THE ROYAL ALBERT HALL WITH RAMIN KARIMLOO, SIERRA BOGGESS AND HADLEY FRASER IS BACK ON YT!!

#the phantom of the opera #phantom of the opera #ramin karimloo #sierra boggess #hadley fraser #poto #poto musical #poto 25 #royal albert hall #Youtube #poto rah