Customer Reviews

Songs from the Phantom of the Opera

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Neither of the leads sound very good...And the woman playing Christine has a lisp. Buy the London cast, you can't go wrong there.

This recording of Phantom was not that great. First of all, the orchestrations were so unbelievable weak for the first 4 songs, then got better.
I really did not like Claire Moore's voice on this recording. Her voice is weak, and unemotional, besides the fact that she is not a strong soprano (at least not here), she truly sounds like a shrill mezzo-soprano. When she sings the high E at the end of POTO, she sounds like me trying to hit it anywhere but the shower. She can't compare to Rebecca Caine (Canada recording) or even Sarah Brightman (London Recording).

Graham Bickley as the Phantom was slightly better, but not as strong as Michael Crawford, and he can't even hold a candle to Phantom I saw live, Brad Little. His Music Of The Night is better than some, but not great.

John Barrowman is okay as Raoul, but I've heard much better. He has slightly more emotion than his cast mates, but loses it during All I Ask Of You.

The Good Thing About It:
1. Another Phantom CD!!!!!

2. It switches back and forth from bad to good.
3. During Prima Donna you can actually understand what someone besides Carlotta is singing!

This studio-cast album of THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA features a brilliant cast, accompanied by the Munich Symphony Orchestra under the direction of John Owen Jones as well as the National Symphony under the direction of Martin Yates.

Claire Moore gives a thrilling performance as Christine. Moore was the first replacement for Sarah Brightman in the London production, where she played opposite the Phantom's of both Michael Crawford and Ethan Freeman. Moore is especially wonderful in "Think of Me" and "Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again", and her erotically-charged duet with Graham Bickley (as the Phantom) in "The Point of No Return" is another highlight.

John Barrowman's beautiful voice is well-suited to the role of Christine's dashing suitor Raoul. His duet with Claire Moore in "All I Ask of You" is heartbreaking.

Rounding out the cast are Gay Soper as Madame Giry, Megan Kelly as Meg, Sandra Dugdale as Carlotta, Mark Wynter as Andre, Michael Bauer as Firmin and Ramon Remedios as Piangi.

A good recording for completists and Claire Moore fans.

There is only one weak link in this CD: the orchestrations could be better. But other that that, I have no problems with it. Ethan Freeman is phenomenal as the Phantom (much better than Crawford, IMO), and after seeing him on stage, I was delighted to find a POTO recording with him. The four songs and cast from Sunset Boulevard are a great added bonus, and for someone who's never heard any songs from Sunset Boulevard, this is a great introduction. I'd highly recommend this to anyone who's searching for a wonderful Phantom recording. I only wish that it was a complete, not highlights, recording!

This album is the BEST money can buy. If you love the broadway show or if you just want the music, BUY IT NOW. This is excellent, simply excellent. And that's all there is too it!!!