Editorial Review:

Amazon.com essential recording:
What's left to be said about Andrew Lloyd Webber's adaptation of The Phantom of the Opera a decade after its premiere? That it's maddeningly ubiquitous? A stitch-up of various themes shoplifted from the Italian operatic repertoire? A critic-proof crowd pleaser that's probably being staged somewhere in the world as you read this? A megahit that will likely outlive Titanic in the pop-culture pantheon, Phantom has largely redefined--for better or worse--the manner in which modern musicals are conceived, staged, and marketed. Its influence has reached far beyond the traditional confines of London and Broadway. A favorite example: an abridged version that was the centerpiece of Los Angeles's longest-running transvestite revue, replete with 14-inch chandeliers and a man-playing-a-woman-playing-a-man in the title role. --Jerry McCulley









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Disc 1:

1. Prologue
2. Overture
3. Act One, Scene I: Think Of Me
4. Act One, Scene 2: Angel Of Music
5. Act One, Scene 3: Little Lotte.../The Mirror (Angel Of Music)
6. Act One, Scene 4: The Phantom Of The Opera
7. Act One, Scene 5: The Music Of The Night
8. Act One, Scene 6: I Remember.../Stranger Than You Dreamt It...
9. Act One, Scene 7: Magical Lasso...
10. Act One, Scene 8: Notes.../Prima Donna
11. Act One, Scene 9: Poor Fool, He Makes Me Laugh
12. Act One, Scene 10: Why Have You Brought Me Here.../Raoul, I've Been There
13. Act One, Scene 10: All I Ask Of You
14. Act One, Scene 10: All I Ask Of You (Reprise)

Disc 2:

1. Entr'acte
2. Act Two, Scene 1: Masquerade/Why So Silent...
3. Act Two, Scene 3: Notes.../Twisted Every Way...
4. Act Two, Scene 5: Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again
5. Act Two, Scene 5: Wandering Child.../Bravo, Monsieur
6. Act Two, Scene 7: The Point Of No Return
7. Act Two, Scene 8: Down Once More.../Track Down This Murderer

Rating: - Sentimental value, but not timeless.
"The Phantom of the Opera" is a show I like, but for the wrong reasons.

For many it's their first musical often because as a global hit there are productions around every corner. The result is a lot of people, including myself, being attached sentimentally to the show rather than for its artistic merit.

That's not to say it doesn't have its moments - despite very self-indulgent and over extended "Music of the Night" has become a standard. The reprise of "All I ask of you" with Michael Crawford's haunting falsetto can be moving and "The Point of no Return" can be a showstopper. "Poor Fool, he Makes me Laugh" is funny and "The Mirror" is a haunting revelation of the Phantom, but this revelation can become tiresome with the over repetition of the melody - unskillfully transposed to add some interest by Andrew Lloyd Webber. The title song also needs to be re-arranged into the 21st century as the synthesized drums have not aged well (there was some improvement in the 2004 film cast). In this particular recording Sarah Brightman can also be unintelligible at points.

Still, there is no denying the music is catchy and hard to dislike (except when it's repeated throughout the show many times). It's no "Fair Lady", but because of its few redeeming tracks, its very high quality recording, Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman's definitive performance of their roles and its place in musical theatre history, the 1986 cast recording of "The Phantom Of the Opera" is a must buy for anyone who listens to music.

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Rating: - Almost perfect

As a PHANATIC, this double box set is a must-have. I must say that the box is cute, it has the complete libretto (with ALL dialogues)... all inside a little cute box.

I used to have a 80' double K7 set, given by my aunt when she saw the Phantom for the first time back in 90'. The main difference is that those K7 had the COMPLETE DIALOGUES, with NO cuts. And these CDs do not have little dialogues... but it still worths buying.

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Rating: - Original cast is better
Had just finished watching the film version and realized how much better the original cast sounded.

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Rating: - well worth purchasing
I chose to purchase this after my 4 year old became obsessed with the Highlights of Phantom of the Opera CD. We both like this one much better. I had forgotten some of the songs over the years since the Highlights CD does not cover them all. The 'new Phantom' as my son calls it is wonderful. My son listens to it every day during his rest time and I often catch him humming songs from the CD around the house!

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Rating: - A Phantom Fan's Perspective
The Phantom Of The Opera soundtrack by Andrew Lloyd Webber is the best and most meaningful music ever created. The music provides story with a catchy tune and still provides a powerful theme. Throughout the songs you can establish a story about a young opera singer named Christine, and how she has encounters with the Phantom. The song, "The Point of no Return", is the most meaningful because it has the Phantom giving Christine a decision to spend her days with him, or watch her boyfriend, Raul, get hung. This part is very suspenseful and is presented in a very awesome way because it has all of the characters singing in a trio.
The theme of The Phantom Of The Opera is that you shouldn't judge a book by its cover. The Phantom wears a mask over his face so people won't see how ugly he is. When the mask is on people don't think he's unattractive at all, but just mean. When Christine rips the mask off of his face, she sees how disgusting it looks and she freaks. Then she realizes the theme of this story and she gives him another chance by going back and looking for him so he'd teach her, but mysteriously all she sees when she goes back is his mask lying on a table before her.
At first riding in the car to see the show, I thought that I would hate it because it was opera but then my mom slipped in the CD and my thoughts about opera totally changed. That's when I finally realized that you shouldn't judge a book by its cover because you never know. Someday you might try deep fried banana.