So remember yesterday when I talked about the song “Masquerade?” Well, today I’ve decided to talk a little bit about the show it comes from: The Phantom of the Opera.
The movie trailer – not quite the same as the stage show, but close enough for our purposes.
As I mentioned, it’s my favourite theatre show. I’ve seen it four times in four locations: Toronto (2007), Las Vegas (2012), London (2012), and New York (2013).
I also read Gaston Leroux’s original novel (an English translation. My French probably isn’t that good) and marveled at the plot points left out of the stage production (like the Persian who, I believe, is simply referred to as “the Persian”).
While the story itself is good – and tragic – the music is really what makes it so phenomenal.
Here are my top five favourite songs:
1) “Masquerade”, obviously
2) “Angel of Music” (up to and including “The Mirror”)
3) “The Phantom of the Opera” and 4) “The Music of the Night”
5) “Think of Me”
BONUS: The ending. The chair, and the mask, and the way the music swells for that final moment…I’m tearing up just thinking about it.
I really do love the Phantom, he’s so misunderstood (like, yeah, stalking is a big no-no, but if no one taught him what love is/how to love someone without being creepy, how was he supposed to know how to treat Christine??).
P.S. Raoul’s a jerk. Maybe not a jerk, but the whole thing really is his fault.
There’s a new tour that I hope will end up in Toronto. I’ve read reviews and apparently certain things have changed (this trailer shows the “Masquerade” scene happening on a completely different set), so that worries me. However, most reviews have also said the chandelier’s descent is much more remarkable (and it was pretty good to begin with).
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