phantom of the opera dramatic music

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10 best songs in the phantom of the opera (2004).

Joel Schumacher's 2004 film The Phantom of the Opera highlights the classic songs from the timeless Broadway play by Andrew Lloyd Webber.

The Phantom of the Opera   is synonymous with certain famous symbols and images: the rose with a black ribbon, the phantom's white mask, and a falling chandelier, to name a few. Besides these, and the grand spectacle of a Paris opera house, deep underground catacombs that make up the Phantom's lair, and a large mausoleum,  The Phantom of the Opera  is most acclaimed for its sweeping, soaring songs.

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The movie, which is based on the play by veteran Broadway artist Andrew Lloyd Webber (who also did Cats ), is a stunning extravaganza of music that's devastatingly romantic, and just plain devastating.

"I Remember/Stranger Than You Dreamt It"

After Christine Daae's introduction to the Phantom, she awakes from her faint-induced slumber to find herself in the Phantom's lair. She sings her portion "I Remember" that leads into his "Stranger Than You Dreamt It" after she peels the mask from his face in a moment of his weakness.

Christine's portion is full of an innocent curiosity and naiveté, which ultimately leads to her being hurt and scorned by the angel of music. Phantom's song is the first time viewers get a peek into the trauma of the opera ghost. Shackled to the underground labyrinth of the opera house, he refers to himself as a beast, a carcass, a monster, and believes he's in Hell, forever burning and yearning for Heaven's beauty. The instrumentals involve quick, successive sharp tones of orchestral strings. Though not present in the book,  the tune in this musical (based on the 1911 French novel)  is a memorable scene nonetheless.

"Wandering Child"

After her mournful song in the graveyard where her father is buried, Christine sits on the steps of her father's mausoleum to say her final goodbye. As she does, the angel of music appears again, hypnotizing her again into the Phantom's presence.

In another beautiful duet between Phantom and Christine, they start to draw near one another again, Christine "yearning for his guidance" and declaring her angel of music her protector and beholder of true beauty.  Phantom reminds her that he is the watchful presence that keeps her safe and cultivates her voice. The music swells and encompasses brass, winds, and strings, as she makes her way up the steps, and Phantom's voice is passionately mesmerizing.

"Prima Donna"

This song, which involves the whole cast (minus Phantom) sees the opera house players as they get ready for that night's opening play. After securing Carlotta once again and demoting Christine to a mute role, the artists prepare during song in which they all reflect on the situation they're in.

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"Prima Donna" reinforces the feminine divine of Carlotta and her leading soprano, while Raoul, Meg, and Madam Giry wonder what will happen to Christine, what misfortunes will occur when the Phantoms demands aren't met, and how a nation adores their artistic pleasures at the theatre. The musical accompaniment is smooth and sailing for much of the song, then comes to a loudly triumphant end.

"Masquerade"

The whole cast joins one another on-screen once again during this spectacular music number following a new year. The opera house is holding an exorbitant masquerade party full of costumes, drinks, dancing, and physical affection. It is one big party to greet a new year -- and simultaneously celebrating 3 months of being Phantom-free.

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Perhaps the biggest of the film's operatic numbers due to the sheer size, magnitude, color, and musical force of "Masquerade", it is an unforgettable musical moment. The size of the orchestral instruments and everyone's voices add to the already magnificent and larger-than-life song where people must "guess the face" in a sea of yellows, blues, and reds, clowns, ghouls, and beasts.

"Think Of Me"

The first time the audience gets to her Christine Daae's voice is in her solo performance in "Think of Me" when she replaces Carlotta after she storms out in a huff.  Daae's entrance mimics the books' as she steps in to take her place on center stage.

The song, crystal-clear in its vocalization, and the light, springy, and sprightly music behind it makes this song one of the most memorable for the central character. The sound crescendos at the end produce a monumental effect on the audience as they listen to Christine's words of asking her lover to promise to remember her when their love has faded, much like the fruits and flowers of seasons do.

"Past The Point Of No Return"

In one of Phantom and Christine's sexiest duets, this song comes towards the end of the film at a pivotal moment in their relationship that literally takes them past the point of any return.

The song is hot and heavy with passion, and love, which is reflected in its lyrics, the props and set, and even the clothes they are wearing, a clearly perfect creative aura from director Joel Schumacher . The actors' voices are on full display as the song gradually comes to its louder close, and the images of their bodies, desires, and physical prowess for one another is unmatched when they sing of the flames consuming them.

"Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again"

In another of Christine's solo acts, the soprano ventures out to the gravesite where her father is buried to finally say goodbye to him.

The song is a heartbreaking one full of anguish and despair as Christine wrestles with the end of her affair with the angel of music. She is torn between wanting to maintain the relationship but realizing she can no longer be what is necessary to make him happy. She wants to break free and "try to forgive...give me the strength to try."

"All I Ask Of You"

The dizzyingly romantic duet between Christine and Raoul is a highlight of the budding relationship between the two lovers and childhood friends.

As they stand in the snow on the rooftop of the Paris opera house and sing of their love, devotion, and commitment to one another, it becomes increasingly harder for fans not to root for the two of them. It is a genuine show of sincere love and affection that culminates in a passionate kiss and the song that defines their relationship forever.

"The Music Of The Night"

Phantom takes the spotlight in his own song that he serenades to Christine after bringing her to his lair.

The solo performance from the opera ghost is one that follows on the heels of their famous duet together and that introduces Christine to the musical genius of the angel of music and his workspace. In a way that is almost intoxicating, Phantom seduces her with his world full of night, dreams, and music. He inspires her to let her spirit soar and succumb to the rich, full existence of his world.

"The Phantom Of The Opera"

The most famous duet in the production, this song comes just as Christine is seeing and physically meeting Phantom in person for the first time.

This rock-and-roll-influenced song from the film has a rougher, sexier edge to it than what theatergoers might be used to. Christine begins the setup describing how he visited her and now he's here, while he sings back to her how they are here, once again, singing their "strange" duet. By the end, their voices and spirits become one, and audiences see the beginning of the famous love story unfurl.

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The Phantom of the Opera: Classical Music at Its Best

The Phantom of the Opera is one of the most popular and enduring pieces of classical music ever written. Composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber, the musical tells the story of a masked man who falls in love with a young soprano, Christine Daaé. The phantom ultimately tries to force Christine to marry him, but she instead chooses to marry her true love, Raoul.

While the story may be fictional, the music is not. The Phantom of the Opera features some of the most beautiful and moving classical pieces ever composed, including “Think of Me,” “Angel of Music,” “The Point of No Return” and, of course, the title song. These pieces have been performed by some of the world’s most talented opera singers and have been enjoyed by millions of people around the world.

If you’re a fan of classical music, or if you’re simply looking for a new musical to enjoy, The Phantom of the Opera is a great choice. Featuring unforgettable music and a moving story, it is sure to please any fan of opera or classical music.

The History of the Phantom of the Opera

The Phantom of the Opera is a classic piece of literature that has been made into a Broadway musical and movie. The story is about a phantom who lives in an opera house and falls in love with a singer. The music in the story is some of the best classical music ever written.

The Phantom of the Opera was originally a novel by French author Gaston Leroux. It was first published in 1909, and has since been adapted for stage, film, and television. The story follows the life of a young singer named Christine Daaé, who is taken under the wing of a phantom who lives in the catacombs beneath the Paris Opera House. The phantom falls in love with Christine and develops an obsessive attachment to her. Ultimately, the phantom’s true identity is revealed, and he must face the consequences of his actions.

The novel was hugely popular when it was first published, and its success led to numerous stage and film adaptations. The most famous adaptation is Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical, which debuted in London in 1986 and has since been performed all over the world. The musical features some of the most iconic songs in musical theater history, including “The Phantom of the Opera” and “Music of the Night.”

The Broadway musical The Phantom of the Opera premiered in 1988 and quickly became a smash hit. Based on the classic novel by Gaston Leroux, the musical tells the story of a disfigured composer who haunts the Paris Opera House. The Phantom of the Opera has won numerous awards, including Tony Awards for Best Musical and Best Original Score. The musical is still running on Broadway today, making it the longest-running Broadway show of all time.

The Music of the Phantom of the Opera

The Phantom of the Opera is a musical masterpiece by Andrew Lloyd Webber. The grandiose music is one of the main reasons the musical has been so successful. The Phantom of the Opera tells the story of a young soprano, Christine, who is terrorized by a phantom that lives in the catacombs beneath the Paris Opera House. Despite the phantom’s dangerous antics, Christine falls in love with him. The music of the Phantom of the Opera is some of the best classical music ever composed.

The Phantom of the Opera is one of the most popular musicals of all time. The score, by Andrew Lloyd Webber, is full of memorable melodies and themes. In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the most famous themes from The Phantom of the Opera.

“The Phantom of the Opera” is the central theme of the musical. It’s first sung by the phantom himself in Act I, and it returns several times throughout the show. The melody is both haunting and beautiful, and it perfectly conveys the phantom’s emotional state.

“Think Of Me” is another famous theme from The Phantom of the Opera. It’s a love song, sung by Christine to Raoul in Act I. The tune is very pretty, and it’s easy to see why it’s become such a popular piece.

“Music Of The Night” is one of the most well-known songs from The Phantom of the Opera. It’s a ballad sung by the phantom to Christine in Act II. The melody is very romantic, and it’s easy to imagine oneself being serenaded by the phantom himself!

“All I Ask Of You” is another popular ballad from The Phantom of the Opera. It’s sung by Raoul and Christine in Act II, and it’s a lovely duet full of hope and promise.

These are just a few of the many wonderful themes from The Phantom of the Opera. If you’re a fan of classical music, or if you simply enjoy beautiful melodies, then this musical is definitely worth checking out!

The Phantom of the Opera has one of the most memorable scores of any musical. The music was composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber, with lyrics by Charles Hart and Richard Stilgoe. Lloyd Webber’s score is sometimes compared to that of his musicals Cats and Starlight Express, but Phantom is a much more mature work, with a richer, more dramatic sound.

One of the reasons the score is so effective is its use of leitmotifs. A leitmotif is a recurring musical phrase associated with a particular character, place, or idea. Lloyd Webber uses leitmotifs to great effect in The Phantom of the Opera, helping to create an immersive and atmospheric experience for the audience.

Here are some of the most memorable leitmotifs from The Phantom of the Opera:

The Phantom’s Theme: This eerie, E-minor melody first appears in the opening bars of the prologue and recurs throughout the show whenever the Phantom is present (or about to make his presence felt). It perfectly conveys both the tragedy and mystery of the Phantom’s character.

Christine’s Theme: A simple but beautiful melody first heard when Christine is dreaming of her angel in Act 1. It represents both her innocence and her potential as an artist. The theme reappears several times throughout the score, most notably in “Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again.”

The Masquerade Waltz: This piece appears several times throughout Act 2 during the masked ball at the Paris opera house. It captures both the festive atmosphere of the ball and also its underlying sense of menace and foreboding.

The Music of The Phantom of The Opera has been described as “opera for people who don’t like opera.” Whether or not you’re a fan of opera, there’s no denying that Lloyd Webber’s score is one of the highlights of this beloved musical.

The Legacy of the Phantom of the Opera

The Phantom of the Opera is not only one of the most popular musicals of all time, but also one of the most popular pieces of classical music. The story of the Phantom has been told and retold countless times, but the original piece of music is still as popular as ever. Let’s take a look at the legacy of the Phantom of the Opera.

The Phantom of the Opera has had a profound and lasting impact on Broadway. In many ways, it defined what a Broadway musical could be. It combined elements of opera, drama, and romance into a cohesive whole that was both accessible and sophisticated. It also introduced Broadway audiences to a new level of spectacle, with lavish sets and costumes that set a new standard for extravagance.

The success of The Phantom of the Opera spawned a wave of imitators, as producers scrambled to find the next big musical hit. But few Broadway shows have been able to match the timeless appeal of The Phantom of the Opera. Thanks to its memorable music, unforgettable characters, and breathtaking visuals, The Phantom of the Opera continues to enthrall audiences around the world, more than two decades after its debut.

When “The Phantom of the Opera” opened on Broadway in 1988, it was an instant success. The musical tells the story of a masked man who lives in the catacombs beneath the Paris Opera House and falls in love with a beautiful singer.

The impact of “The Phantom of the Opera” on classical music has been both immediate and long-lasting. The musical brought opera to a whole new audience and helped to popularize classical music in general. Many people who would never have otherwise gone to see an opera found themselves enthralled by the story and the music of “The Phantom of the Opera.”

The popularity of “The Phantom of the Opera” has also led to an increase in popularity for other works by Andrew Lloyd Webber, such as “Cats” and “Les Misérables.” These musicals have introduced even more people to classical music and opera.

The legacy of “The Phantom of the Opera” is one of making classical music accessible to everyone. The musical has helped to break down barriers between different genres of music and has shown that classical music can be enjoyed by people of all ages.

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The Phantom of the Opera

Writers: Richard Stilgoe Andrew Lloyd Webber Charles Hart

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Based on the 1910 horror novel by Gaston Leroux, The Phantom of the Opera is a thrilling and romantic account of the legendary Phantom, a musical genius who dwells deep beneath a majestic opera house in Paris. Shunned by society for his horrible facial deformity, he takes a promising young soprano, Christine, under his wing and grooms her for operatic fame, all the while falling deeply in love with her. As Christine grows ever more successful, and a handsome young man from her past begins to successfully court her, the Phantom descends into a jealous rage and terrorizes the opera company with increasingly dangerous threats. Andrew Lloyd Webber’s score soars with such famous tunes as “Think of Me,” “All I Ask of You,” “The Music of the Night,” and the title song, “The Phantom of the Opera,” and Phantom has gone on to become a cultural tour de force, and one of the most successful musicals of all time.

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'Phantom of the Opera' ends on Broadway after 35-year run

April 17 (UPI) -- The Phantom of the Opera , the longest-running show in Broadway history, went dark for the last time on Sunday night.

Composer Andrew Lloyd Weber dedicated the final show to the memory of his son Nick, who succumbed to gastric cancer at age 43 in March.

"Thank you to absolutely everyone who has made this extraordinary run possible... It is just amazing really what has happened, and in the last few months I don't think any of us thought that Phantom would go out quite with the bang it has," Webber said to the audience.

The original Phantom, Michael Crawford, couldn't make the last show due to dental surgery. But he shared a tribute to the production.

Wishing the cast, crew, orchestra and alumni o f The Phantom of the Opera an unforgettable closing night," he wrote. "Thank you for carrying on the legacy of this beautiful show for thirty-five years. Though I can't be there for the final performance due to ill-timed emergency dental surgery, my heart is full of love and gratitude for everyone involved in this production including all who are celebrating tonight at the Majestic Theatre, and those from the original and truly special creative team and Broadway company who are no longer with us."

Laird McIntosh, who stepped in for Ben Crawford who was sick, and Emilie Kouatchou, were the last to perform The Phantom of the Opera on Broadway.

"It's like no other show I've done," McIntosh told WPIX News. "And I've done my share of them. But there's none like Phantom. So if audiences are feeling a melancholy that the show is closing, I'm most certainly feeling it."

Kouatchou talked to WPIX before the show.

"I feel excited and overwhelmed and anxious but mostly just happy that I get to do this with all these people over here," Kouatchou said.

Brightman remembered Nick, saying that he was around when Webber was writing the music. "When Andrew was writing it, he was right there. So his soul is with us. Nick, we love you very much."

The last night ended with Brightman singing one of Phantom's most famous songs, "The Music of the Night" along with the current and past cast members and crew.

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Phantom of the Opera: cast, lyrics and famous songs

26 December 2018, 16:58 | Updated: 26 December 2018, 17:00

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s famous musical has been wowing audiences since 1986

The Phantom of the Opera is a 1986 musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber. The lyrics are by Charles Hart and it’s based on a French novel by Gaston Leroux.

The plot of the Phantom of the Opera

The story of the musical revolves around the singer Christine Daaé and a mysterious figure who lives in an underground lair beneath the Paris Opéra House.

The story begins as the singers of the Paris Opera are rehearsing for a new production. As the prima donna Carlotta performs an aria, a backdrop falls onto the stage and just misses her. The chorus immediately realise that the Phantom of the Opera is here. Carlotta refuses to perform.

Christine, a chorus girl, offers to take her place. And the managers of the house are surprised at her talent. It turns out that Christine has been taking singing lessons with a mysterious figure whom she only knows as her ‘Angel of Music’ – the Phantom himself.

One of the opera house’s new patrons, Raoul, the Vicomte de Chagny, recognises Christine as one of his childhood friends.

But the Phantom has chosen Christine to sing his music, and he becomes increasingly obsessed by her.

The Music of the Night - Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera

The Music of the Night – lyrics

One of the most famous songs in the musical, The Music of the Night is performed by the Phantom just after he's taken Christine to his underground lair.

It opens with the words: 'Nighttime sharpens, heightens each sensation / Darkness stirs and wakes imagination'

Read the full lyrics here >

All I Ask of You – lyrics

This song is a love duet between Christine and Raoul – he promises to love and protect her… but unfortunately the jealous Phantom overhears the whole thing.

The song begins with:

'No more talk of darkness, Forget these wide-eyed fears'

All I Ask of You

The idea for Phantom came from Lloyd Webber, who contacted legendary producer Cameron Mackintosh and suggested creating a musical based on Leroux’s novel. There had already been two film versions of the novel, but never a musical.

Lloyd Webber said: “I was actually writing something else at the time, and I realised that the reason I was hung up was because I was trying to write a major romantic story, and I had been trying to do that ever since I started my career. Then with the Phantom, it was there!”

The style of Lloyd Webber’s music is deliberately operatic in style, while still remaining committed to its West End/Broadway origins. In fact, the story includes a number of made-up operas called Hannibal and the Phantom’s masterpiece Don Juan Triumphant.

Original cast

The original cast of the 1986 West End production included Sarah Brightman (Andrew Lloyd Webber’s then wife) as Christine and Michael Crawford as the Phantom. Steve Barton played the role of Raoul.

The musical opened on London’s West End in 1986 and then on Broadway in New York in 1988.

The Phanton of the Opera won a strong of awards including the Tony Award for Best Musical in 1988. It’s the longest-running show on Broadway, and in 2012 it celebrated its 10,000th performance!

Is Phantom of the Opera an opera?

Not exactly. Much of the music – especially the operas-within-the-musical – mimic the grand operas of the 19th century in their orchestration and style.

But the music makes completely different demands of its singers and the blockbuster songs of Phantom are custom-made for the powerful singers of the West End. And we wouldn't have it any other way.

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Andrew Lloyd Webber wrote a new song ahead of final ‘Phantom of the Opera’ performance

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“The Phantom of the Opera,” the longest-running Broadway musical, gives its final performance this Sunday,

And its creator is asking fans to think fondly of the show with the release of a new song.

Andrew Lloyd Webber, 75, penned a new arrangement of “Think of Me” as a trio between the musical’s main characters, Christine (Emilie Kouatchou), Raoul (John Riddle) and the Phantom (Ben Crawford), and the song was released Friday as a single.

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‘Phantom of the Opera’ to close on Broadway as pandemic fallout continues

Broadway’s “The Phantom of the Opera” will close after a record-breaking 35-year run. With the pandemic keeping audiences away, the iconic show is among many unable to stage a lasting comeback.

Sept. 16, 2022

The original version of the ballad takes place within the musical’s first act as a duet between Christine and Raoul. In the musical, Christine has just earned a leading role in a fictional musical. As she performs the song on stage, Raoul, who is in the audience, recognizes her as a childhood friend and begins to swoon over her, joining in the song.

Webber wrote the song with updated lyrics to include the Phantom. And even though the cast members are out of costume in the video of the recording session, the new lyrics seemingly fit within the show’s love triangle narrative, offering viewers a completely original moment within “The Phantom” universe.

“Though it was always clear / that this was never meant to be, / if you happen to remember / stop and think of me,” sings Crawford alone as the Phantom, who at the end of the play disappears after his romantic love for Christine goes unfulfilled.

Later, Kouatchou and Riddle join in with Crawford as the trio sings in harmony, “There will never be a day when I won’t think of you.”

Kouatchou , who grew up in Chicago, is the first Black actor to play the role of Christine. In October 2021, she first performed the role as an understudy, but by the start of 2022, she became the primary lead.

“I put so much pressure on myself up until then that that day I was like, ‘You know what? I’m just going to forget about it and live my best life up there,’” Kouatchou told the Associated Press in 2021, referring to her debut performance. “That night was like the most fun I’ve had in a long time.”

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March 24, 2022

“The Phantom” started its historic run of nearly 14,000 performances on Jan. 26, 1988. Its final performance will take place April 16 at the Majestic Theater in New York City.

Last September, “The Phantom” announced it would give its final performance in February, after the musical, like many theater shows, struggled to regain its audiences following the pandemic closures. However, as ticket sales rebounded in the lead-up to the February finale, the show announced it would extend its final run at the Majestic Theater for another eight weeks. In a single week in November, the show raked in $2.2 million in sales.

Times staff writer Jessica Gelt and the Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Jonah Valdez is a reporter at the Los Angeles Times on the Fast Break entertainment news team. Before joining The Times as a member of the 2021-22 Los Angeles Times Fellowship class, he worked for the Southern California News Group, where he wrote award-winning features. His work can also be found at his hometown newspaper, the San Diego Union-Tribune, Voice of San Diego and San Diego Reader.

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Haunting Soundtrack For Silent Classic 'The Phantom Of The Opera'

The Phantom of the Opera , a 1925 silent film, tells the story of an organist who lurks beneath an opera house. This Halloween night, organist Aaron David Miller will be in plain sight at the Kauffman Center, when he provides the soundtrack for a screening of this film.

Aaron David Miller is a Minnesota-based organist and composer, who travels widely performing repertoire spanning all periods. Miller has gained a reputation for his "vivid musical imagination" and improvisation style. He's also accompanied a number of silent films, although mostly early comedies.

"I tend to do a lot of Chaplin movies, a few Buster Keatons," says Miller. "It's always fun to do a big, dramatic film like The Phantom of the Opera ."

Interview Highlights: Aaron David Miller

On one of his first teachers, from Kansas City

"I studied with Carlene Neihart. She was my very first organ teacher...she was very much my first important organ teacher that taught me the landscape of the classical repertoire, and how the organ fits in the symphonic scene, and the history of the organ and so forth. Carlene in Kansas City has always been a special place in my heart."

On the appeal of the organ

"My very first experience with a pipe organ was a small mechanical action organ. Literally, there's a mechanical connection between every note and every stop and the pipe. And having somebody kind of walk me through that to see what those different connections are, and how you can manipulate the organ from the console. I was about five when that happened. I was really bitten by the bug, at that point."

On improvisation and repertoire

"With silent film...I use a lot of classical themes or themes that may have been popular when the film was first made, but also using that material to improvise the dramatic content of the film. That as a scene unfolds, I'm using either a classical theme or a folk song or something to push the dramatics of the film forward.

On The Phantom of the Opera as adventure film

"Most people identify it as a horror film, but in many ways it's kind of an adventure film. It takes place around a production of Gounod's Faust , so all the way through the film, you have all these references to Gounod's Faust and themes that occur in that opera.

"As the movie goes on, characters come in and are introduced, and other ones get killed off and suddenly become missing and so forth, so a lot of the musical thematic material for the film comes straight out of Faust ."

On Halloween organ music on the Kauffman Center's Casavant organ

"There's a number of French Romantic organ pieces that have a very dark character. There's a piece by Eugène Gigout, Toccata in B minor , that has this wonderful, dark aura about it. A couple of times, I've slipped it into the film ( Phantom ) as just kind of a fun reference of the time that that piece would have been written, roughly about the time as that the film came out. And, certainly the organ at the Kauffman Center, has that very dark French feel to it. A lot of the reeds are very dark, and there's lots of wonderful string timbres that are very lush."

Organist Aaron David Miller accompanies the silent film, The Phantom of the Opera, on October 31, on the Casavant organ at Helzberg Hall, Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, 1601 Broadway, Kansas City, Mo. It's part of the series called Screenland at the Symphony . Tickets are sold out, but there's a waiting list, as some tickets could become available before the show. (816) 471-0400.

The Artists in their Own Words series is supported by the Missouri Arts Council , a state agency.