The Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall (2011) Online

Finally a full staging of my favourite musical and the second longest running one in the U.K is here for the first time on DVD. This live production filmed straight from the iconic Royal Albert Hall in London, which was broadcasted to cinemas and theatres around the world and celebrates 25 years of the Andrew Lloyd-Webber musical, is nothing short of a lavish treat for the eyes and ears, with amazing performances and acting from the cast, including all the songs that fans of the show will know and remember.

The 25th Anniversary production stars the amazingly talented Iranian born Canadian Ramin Karimloo as the Phantom and American Broadway star Sierra Boggess as Christine Daae, with a great supporting performance from Hadley Fraser as Christine's love interest Raoul. Karimloo and Boggess incidentally are no strangers to the characters, having played them previously in the London production of the sequel to this show 'Love Never Dies'. Their chemistry on stage is perfect as are their performances.

Ramin is terrific as the Phantom and injects emotion and passion into the show playing the phantom as essentially a victim, with a voice that at times can be vengeful and deadly, yet soft and vulnerable at others. His delivery of the 'insolent boy' line near the beginning strikes fear right around the Albert Hall. I would even go as far to say that he is the best Phantom that I've watched so far, having previously experienced others on stage live and unfortunately the terrible 2004 movie version starring Gerard Butler. His acting is great without being over the top, and you really feel for the character. Sierra Bogges is also amazing displaying sensitivity, vulnerability and sexuality all throughout the show. Her performance of 'past of the point no return' being a particular highlight. The two leads work very well together and make the show believable.

There are also good supporting performances too. Hadley Fraser's Raoul is dynamic and energetic without becoming too irritating and makes quite a good match against the Phantom in the battle for Christine's heart. Wendy Ferguson and Wynne (Go Compare) Evans are very funny as the diva Carlotta and Piangi, the two Italian opera supremos who are the subjects of Phantom's rage and eventually driven to obedience. Equally as funny and memorable are the opera house managers Firmin and Andre, played brilliantly by Barry James and Gareth Snook, who camp it up and provide some additional comedy.

The staging and scenery is spectacular, with the doomed chandelier hanging above the audience and the on stage sets, especially the bridge leading to the Phantom's lair, featuring prominently. Due to the venue they had to make a very slight change to the chandelier scene at the end of the first part of the show, but it isn't a big deal and still has a great impact in my opinion.

The show is pretty much identical to that of the theatre version that one may see in London's West End or anywhere else it may be on. Some lines were changed ever so slightly but nothing noticeable or significant. The performances throughout will leave you astounded and definitely not disappointed. In fact there are simply no scenes or performances that can be criticised. If you are a fan of the show you will love this and not be disappointed.

As in usual 'anniversary style', like the Les Miserables 25th concert, they bring back all the old Phantom's and stars who have performed over the years in various productions. Including Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman. Andrew Lloyd-Webber also makes a speech about the show and it's legacy.

So now finally you can watch the show like you were in the theatre itself whenever you want. One advantage this production has over seeing it live is that you get to see all the facial expressions and emotions up close, thereby really getting a feel for the show almost like a movie in some parts (but definitely much better than the actual movie).

We all know that the "Phantom of the Opera" is by far one of the best known and best loved musicals of the past years. It is quite amazing to learn that this year is already the 25th year of this acclaimed piece of musical theater based on the novel by Gaston Leroux. The beautiful music was by Andrew Lloyd Webber, with most of the lyrics by Charles Hart, and produced by Cameron Macintosh. It debuted in the West End in London in 1986. Phantom is recognized as the highest-grossing entertainment event of all time and the most financially successful theatrical show in history.

Last week, it was suddenly announced that the special 25th Anniversary performance held at the Royal Albert Hall last October 2-3, 2011 was actually going to be shown in local theaters! I knew that my wife and I had to see it again. This morning, I was surprised to learn that this will be a 3 hour and 41 minute movie. This caused problems in our schedule but we still decided to push through and watch. An opportunity to watch a theater event such as this on the big screen was indeed rare.

As we entered, we found out the reason for the very long running time. Before the show proper, there was first a short documentary about Phantom by Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber. Here we got to hear how the idea of doing Phantom came about, and meet the original London production crew. This lasted about 15 minutes. After which there were ads announcing the sale of DVDs of this event come March next year. I guess we still have to wait that long to get an original copy of this special. Then there was about another 5 minute pause (as if waiting for the audience to fill up) before the show itself actually began. I see that this film was going to approximate a real theater presentation. Unfortunately, this also included a real 20 minute Intermission after Act 1. The theater (we watched in SM Megamall) actually paused the movie for the whole 20 minutes! So be warned.

The Phantom was played by Ramin Karimloo, while his ingénue Christine Daae was played by Sierra Boggess. I knew these were the same actors who played these same characters in the short-lived sequel of Phantom called "Love Never Dies." Ms. Boggess was beautiful as Christine channeling both innocence and sensuousness. Her soprano was flawless even in the most challenging and punishing notes in "Think of Me," "Phantom of the Opera," and "Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again." As the Phantom, Mr. Karimloo has got that X-factor that makes the role dangerous yet riveting and sympathetic. His voice can navigate the highs and lows that makes Mr. Lloyd Webber a musical sadist. It can be strong, yet tender and also menacing. His "Music of the Night" and "Point of No Return" were fantastic!

The supporting performances were also very strong. Hadley Fraser cuts a dashing figure as Raoul. His featured duet with Christine, "All I Ask of You," was very well sung. Kiera Duffy makes a hilarious Madame Carlotta even as she also hit those unbelievable high notes, in songs like "Primadonna." Liz Robertson makes a very imposing Madame Giry with her severe black gown always in sharp contrast with the very bright colors of the costumes around her. Everything was so expertly staged: the dancing, the costumes, the set pieces, the make-up, the video backgrounds, were all so rich, elaborate and detailed. The camera work and direction was also very effective in conveying the drama, danger and romance of the story.

After the last scene where Meg Giry holds up the Phantom's mask after he vanishes, there was a very long curtain call. The whole stage was filled with actors and dancers. It was a very emotional moment. However, after the three main characters made their bows, it was not yet over. Sir Andrew himself took center stage and thanked the audience and his crew, present and past. Then he introduced the man who played the first Phantom, Michael Crawford! Finally he brought out his "Angel of Music", Ms. Sarah Brightman (who was looking very hefty indeed nowadays).

The surprise did not end there, Ms. Brightman obliged to sing! Of course, she sang "Phantom of the Opera." I would not say it was her best because her breathing was audible, but she could still hit those killer notes at the end. Another surprise was when it was the Phantom's turn to sing, four actors who played the Phantom before came out on stage to sing with Ms. Brightman. Of the four, I recognized two: Colm Wilkinson (Jean Valjean from Les Miz) and the fantastic Anthony Warlow! The other guy was John Owen Jones (the current Phantom in London). The youngest guy of the four Phantoms, Peter Joback (upcoming Phantom in the 2012 run in London), had a rather thin and nasal pop voice, in sharp contrast with the booming tenors of the other three. Too bad, Michael Crawford did not sing a note. After this, the four ex-Phantoms all took turns to sing "Music of the Night." This was another beautiful rendition of the song. At the end, the present Phantom, Ramin Kaminloo also joined the group. Another curtain call followed, and the event comes to an end.

This is definitely a must-watch for fans of Phantom, as well as fans of Musical Theater in general. When time comes for the DVD to come out, that should also be a must-own in his DVD collection.

I nearly bypassed picking up the Phantom of the Opera (POTO) 25th Anniversary DVD because I was unfamiliar with Ramin Karimloo (Phantom) and Sierra Boggess (Christine). So I took a chance and brought the DVD home. What a surprising delight! POTO 25 was filmed before a live audience at the Royal Albert Hall in London. The cameras bring the viewer up close and personal to the happenings on stage.

Ramin and Sierra had starred in Andrew Lloyd Webber's POTO sequel, Love Never Dies (LND), just before the POTO 25 event. Their chemistry bonding had already been established during LND, so they sizzled on stage during POTO 25. Their voices compliment each other so magnificently, and their faces (especially Sierra's) portray the vast array of emotions during their songs. They are incredible! They make you believe that you are witnessing something very, very, once-in-a-lifetime special, because you are!

So, I have been transformed from an unfamiliar viewer in the beginning, to a full-fledged obsessive drum beater for Ramin and Sierra in their remarkable POTO 25 performances. Sierra is a true to life Angel of Music; her voice, radiant beauty, emotional energy, and sensational acting talent will mesmerize you. She is such a wonderful inspiration to all those aspiring to be stage actors and singers. Ramin is a powerful Phantom who brilliantly brings to life a lonely, disfigured composer who falls in love with Christine.

POTO 25 is beautiful acting, singing, costuming, stage setting all rolled up into a full orchestra, mind-blowing experience you should not miss! Crank up the volume and thoroughly enjoy this masterpiece.

Ramin and Sierra are pure magic together. They have made people (including me) cry during this wonderful production. Sierra's voice and emotional impact can, and probably will, cause shivers to run up and down your spine at times. Yes, she really is this amazing.

I watch my favorite parts of POTO 25 several times a week. It never fails to lift my spirits and to appreciate the spectacular talent on display whenever I wish. Bravo, Ramin and Sierra!!!!!

I have loved "The Phantom of the Opera" for many years and listen to the soundtrack album with Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman almost religiously. I began watching this with great worry, remembering how underwhelmed and disappointed I felt with the 2004 film adaptation. Imagine my delight when I discovered this even better than the original cast!

Ramin Karimloo and Sierra Bogges are both incredible actors and singers and are absolute magic together, as well as individually. Ramin has the passion and soul the Phantom needs and Sierra has the voice of an angel and makes feel every note she sings.

For years, I have had to put up with people telling me that Joel Schumacher's utterly redundant 2004 adaptation was actually brilliant; or that they cannot afford to see the real show. Well, the 25th anniversary concert exposes the 2004 adaptation for the diabolical mess that it is, with it's far superior singing, acting and set. And the fact that it is available on DVD means the 2004 film can shoved into the deep hole it belongs in.

Simply perfect, there is no excuse to miss this. Watch it and let it's music caress your soul.

Assuming one likes this musical (and few don't), I believe this is the finest film presentation of all, far surpassing the big budget movie of a few years ago (which I thought was pretty good). As others have said, the staging is magnificent with backlighting and projection enhancing the performances. The singing and acting are superb. Costuming goes beyond the pale. Also, we get the closeups one cannot have in a live performance. We get to see the emotional expression of the actors. There is little time wasted on minutiae as the play goes forward. Some of the highlights are the duet "All I Ask of You" and the magnificent "Masquerade." The three principles are all at the top of their game in this 25th anniversary performance at the Royal Albert Hall. It is a visual and auditory delight and I am excited that the play I have seen numerous times is there for the viewing.

The Phantom of the Opera is one of my personal favourites, and for me easily Andrew Lloyd Webber's best musical(though I do have a soft spot for Joseph). Anybody who loves The Phantom of the Opera will fall in love with this Royal Albert Hall performance, and while I didn't hate the 2004 film as much as others did this performance is a huge improvement. The costumes and sets are sumptuous and exquisite to look at. The camera work allows you to admire the production design and does so unobtrusively, often it has a very cinematic look which I loved without feeling overblown. The sound is resonant and clear, giving the feeling that you are actually there at the ROH watching it live. The orchestra give the score the powerful sweep it should have, a great thing in itself as it is one of those musicals where every song works. The chorus enunciate clearly and have a vibrant and carefully-blended sound. The stage direction is hugely compelling all the way, you are thrilled, terrified and moved to tears throughout and you do empathise with the characters and are fully engaged in Phantom and Christine's love-hate relationship. Nothing feels overdone or stillborn, you do miss the falling chandelier set-piece but at the same time you can understand considering the venue why it wasn't done. The singing is fantastic, embracing the somewhat exposed- from my experience having performed at ROH with various choruses at 3 Christmas concerts, one concert as a guest choir and 2 prom performances- acoustic.

Ramin Karimloo is an incredibly powerful Phantom, imposing in stature, somewhat scary, somewhat seductive and very affecting, and he has a gorgeous voice, one of the most beautiful of anybody in the role in my opinion. His make-up is genuinely hideous, and Music of the Night is really heartfelt. Sierra Boggess' Christine is alluring, charming and her stage presence is as moving as Karimloo's. Her soprano voice is bright and lyrical with no breathy sound(despite some of her breathing having a gasping quality), and I personally prefer her high notes to Sarah Brightman's finding them much clearer. Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again had me weeping buckets. Raoul is I agree more abrasive than usual, but Hadley Fraser still sings beautifully- especially in All I Ask of You- and doesn't forget to act. All the supporting roles are filled solidly, but I want to really credit Kiera Duffy, she is every bit the Prima-Donna diva Carlotta ought to be but displays also a sympathetic and vulnerable side that I have rarely if ever seen from past Carlottas, most of which are basically caricatures. We are also given the bonus of having the likes of Sarah Brightman, John Owen Jones, Anthony Warlow and Colm Wilkinson performing, Michael Crawford doesn't sing but it was still a pleasure to see him. I was less taken by Peter Joback, it is a rather a lightweight sound and sounds rather nasal, a sound that is not very easy to warm to. But he isn't enough to bring down the performance in any way because everything else is so good. The appearance also of Andrew Lloyd Webber himself was also very touching. In conclusion, amazing, if you love The Phantom of the Opera this is everything you could possibly want and more.

10/10 Bethany Cox

I've been an IMDb user for a few years now, but this title is the reason for which I write my first review here. This first review, as well as the 10 stars I give, I hope these will somehow (highest rated search, etc) attract at least one more person to this title, which is essentially flawless.

It's hard to review a title which is not really a movie. It combines the best of the cinema, theater and opera. The cinema, as after all it's still a movie. Secondly, as it's an opera, the actors and the crew perform live and you get most of their talent this way. The combining element is the emotion which you do not see without the close-ups in the traditional theater. The actors' play is simply excellent. Scenes depicting relationships between the main characters are played by them so perfectly, that simply cause tears in eyes (vide the final one of the first part).

It's just incredible, that this masterpiece remains so little-known.

Andrew Lloyd Webber's the phantom of the opera is the world's most successful entertainment event of all time to date grossing about 5.6 billion dollars worldwide and seen by over 130 million people. i personally love this musical, having seen it in London last year and became a "phan" i went on to check the 2004 film adaptation starring Gerard butler as the title role. and absolutely hated it. luckily for me i heard about this special royal Albert hall production released on DVD celebrating the show's 25th anniversary and when i saw it i absolutely loved it. it was spectacular in every sense of the word. the thing that matters most in any production such as phantom is the cast, since one cast member that isn't rightfully cast can ruin the entire show (for instance, butler's casting in the film), but here every cast member was brilliant. ramin karimloo's phantom was exactly what the phantom character needed, having a voice that is intimidating yet caring and tender at the same time, and his acting was also superb. sierra bogges was also perfect as Christine, with a great voice that completely blew my mind away. all the other cast members were also brilliant in their roles, and the casting was ideal in my opinion. the scenery and effects were good, but not perfect. the sets for example was replaced by screens (due to the fact that the royal Albert hall is a concert hall not a theatre, and the sets of phantom are enormous) which was okay, but not as jaw-dropping as in the original London production, also the chandelier effect was barely believable here, instead of rising over the audience like in the original production, the chandelier simply shoots some fireworks and move a little, and at the end of act I instead of crashing down the stage, it shoots fireworks again and turns off it' lights, which might have been effective for the audience sitting in the royal Albert hall, but not very effective for the DVD viewer. still those flaws didn't bother me from enjoying this tremendously. at the end of the show the composer Andrew Lloyd Webber (whose music is nearly perfect in every way no matter how much criticism it received over the years) says a few words about the show and introduces the creative teams and original London company to the stage, which was very exciting. the grand final consisted the original Christine daae, the wonderful Sarah brightman performing the mesmerizing title song with 4 phantoms from the past, present and future was wonderful despite the fact that you could hear her breath a little during the first part of the song, but she hit those really high notes at the end perfectly, then the phantoms performed the iconic "music of the night" for one huge encore. all n all this production was awesome, and the next best thing to seeing the show in person, it proves why phantom is so loved and appreciated around the world and why it celebrated 25 years. a huge recommendation to fans of the musical and i think people that aren't familiar with the stage musical will like it too (not everyone though, if they don't like musicals and don't like this kind of repetitive musicals, which doesn't bother me). Andrew Lloyd Webber's the phantom of the opera: the most successful musical of all time is as timeless and haunting as ever in a sweeping breathtaking production. well done to all the ones involved in it.

I have not yet gotten the chance to see this show live but I have always loved the music. I was excited when I heard the movie was being made but found it to be pretty disappointing. My biggest complaint with the film is the casting decisions. The phantom was terrible at singing and Christine was pretty weak too. That was that until I was on Netflix recently and came across this gem. I found myself getting teary eyed ten minutes in mostly as a reaction to how grand and powerfully this is executed. Every performer is kicking some serious ass and the stage production is mind- blowing. The sound it great as well as the editing and lighting. And if that wasn't enough there's a special 25th anniversary event at the end that is sure to be any Phantom of the Opera's fans wet dream. Watch this video!

I just this version of Phantom of the Opera last night with one of my dearest friends and I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed it! Pretty much this is the best version I have seen so far! Everyone did a fabulous job at portraying their characters especially Ramin and Sierra. Towards the end of the show, my friend and I completely lost it because of the intense emotions that the two literally put into their characters so well that their performance will tug on your heartstrings. Ramin is by far the best Phantom in my opinion. He blew me away by not just his voice but the emotions he put into his character, showing his character's sensitive side and vulnerability with just a dose of sexuality. I do put him as my favorite above Gerard Butler's Phantom (Gerard was very good in the 2004 movie version, but he didn't have that intense emotion that Ramin has). Sierra was excellent and the best Christine I have seen so far (Emmy Rossum was also very good in the 2004 version, but sounded more classical than operatic to me). Towards the end, Sierra's emotions got the best of me and I did see she fought really hard to stay in character when she sang one last time to the Phantom. I have always been not a fan of Raoul and I still am not,but the guy who played him in this version has an amazing voice and played his character well! I think he exaggerated his performance just a tiny bit, but at least he didn't have an emotional breakdown on stage. For the lady who played Carlotta was hilarious and she is right up there next to Minnie Driver's 2004 version. It was great having Carlotta as the snobbish but sort of comedy reliever that makes the story less intense. All in all, like I said everyone on the stage performed well into their characters and I truly want to see them perform in other Broadway roles as well. Well worth watching on Netflix and be sure to have a box of tissues near you...just in case.

My 'Phantom of the Opera' experience has now completed its tour. I have heard all the music, and have some of the recordings. I have seen the 1925 silent movie version with Lon Chaney, I have seen the 2004 movie version with current movie stars, and with this viewing I have seen the premier stage production, albeit on film. Each one of them is good in its own experience.

But musicals, on stage, are unique in their own way, and this one, at the Royal Albert Hall, has to be the best if you are forced to put them in order. All the singers are trained operatic singers and in general are clearly more accomplished than what you will find in movie versions.

The musical is called 'Phantom' for a reason, and in the title role is Ramin Karimloo (from Iran) as The Phantom. He plays the role, and sings, marvelously. The object of his affection is Sierra Boggess (from USA) as Christine. And her suitor is Hadley Fraser (British) as Raoul. Not to be overlooked is Wendy Ferguson as Carlotta and she performs that role marvelously also.

The live production included an addendum after the final curtain, honoring cast members over the years, including most of the original cast. Plus some performances. That is also included in the film.

Saw it via Netflix streaming video, in hi-def and surround sound. A really fine viewing experience.

Having never had the opportunity to see PHANTOM OF THE OPERA live in the West End, I settled on the next best thing; this DVD release of the show's 25th anniversary special, which took place in front of a huge audience at the Royal Albert Hall. It's a vivid, spectacular show full of the requisite sumptuous sets, costumes and damn good singing, and offers pretty much everything you could wish for from a musical.

As this is a filmed performance of a live musical, you have to remember it's not quite the same as being there. The cameramen focus on certain parts of the action in close up and miss out other sections; it's as if you're viewing the show through the funnel of somebody else's interest. Sometimes, the bigger picture is lost in favour of a moment of detail. On the plus side, you get to watch the show from the comfort of your own home, so it's all a question of weighing up the positives and the negatives.

The singers all give very good performances, particularly Karimloo and Boggess as Phantom and Christine respectively – there's no faulting them. This production includes an encore featuring appearances by Andrew Lloyd Webber and the original Phantom and Christine, Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman. Values in terms of costumes, effects and scenery are strong, with the only disappointment the lack of the crashing chandelier set-piece; apparently, the effect couldn't be staged within the constraints of the Royal Albert Hall. Never mind – there's enough excellence elsewhere that it isn't missed too much.

If you can't go see it live, this DVD is an excellent substitute. Though nothing compares to the live experience, this is a life saver for people like me who live in places where traveling productions of this caliber are few and far between. Little else can be said in it's favor simply because this is the genuine Lloyd Webber Phantom in all it's phantomy goodness, that alone ought to sell the product.

The special ending is almost tear-jerking for longtime fans of the show. It was unreal to see the epic guest appearances, albeit mildly somber by the obvious lack of Mr. Barton, may the generous and kind gentleman rest in peace.

As for the quality of the performances specifically, the vast majority were as wonderful and memorable as fans have come to expect from this show. Lovely, witty, perfectly pitched. I have only two complaints and bear in mind that these are merely my personal opinion and I hope that you go out and grab this DVD and judge for yourself.

I thought the character of Raoul seemed more pushy and abrasive, more like the Love Never Dies version, less like the romantic "hero" of Phantom. And as for the title role, although Ramin is a phenomenal singer who has played this role so successfully for so long, I found this particular performance of his to be more shouting and less singing, unwittingly conjuring up horrible visions of Gerard Butler's teeny bopper Phantom, much to my distaste. With significantly more emotion to his acting, of course.

All in all, those little complaints do very little to bring down the quality of this DVD. If you don't already own this, why in the world are you still reading reviews in IMDb? Go buy it!

I got this DVD as a gift a couple of years ago. I mistakenly thought I had already seen it and didn't have a strong desire to watch it again. I was content with watching the 2004 film whenever I felt the need to watch POTO. It had it's problems, but I was content. Well one night I got bored and decided for kicks and giggles I would watch it. I quickly realized I had never seen this performance before. I got excited and curious to see how this version would play out. And I was not disappointed.

Just a heads up to anyone curious - this is not a film version of POTO. This is a recording of a play performance. It's not shot like a film so if you hate seeing plays in film format, then skip this and go to the 2004 film. However, if you are curious to see what the heart of Phantom of the Opera is, I strongly encourage you to watch this production. It is stellar. The music is top notch - the live orchestra brings so much passion and warmth to the sound. The costumes are glorious and the excellent use of technology is well placed. The support cast is fantastic and made me all the more invested - fearing for them and laughing with them (though I am disappointed by the lack of an audience response at the humorous bits but that's nitpicking). But the real stars are Raoul, Christine, and the Phantom.

First Raoul - Hadley Fraser has a different take on the childhood sweetheart of Christine. Fraser brings an energy and eagerness to the character. I always found Raoul in every performance to be fairly bland - he promises to protect Christine and shelter her. But aside from the dialogue, there is not much else to draw me to him. I loved Fraser because he brings a new energy and charisma to the character. He is a great contrast to the dark and passionate Phantom. Sierra Boggess portrays the innocent and charming Christine Daaé and Boggess is my favorite Christine by far. Her voice has such a sweet and warm sound to it. She captures perfectly both the innocence and sexuality of the young chorus girl as her world is turned upside down. But what makes her stand out is her chemistry with both Fraser and Karimloo (the Phantom).

And finally, the Phantom himself, played by Ramin Karimloo. I am convinced that if Morgan Freeman is the voice of God, then Ramin Karimloo is the singing voice of God. Good Lord is his voice gorgeous. The way he goes from a growling baritone to a delicate tenor blows my mind. He is both very threatening and very vulnerable. He is both aggressor and victim. He captures the fragility of the Phantom's mind and the strength of the Phantom's will. His rage, his passion, his trepidation... it's breathtaking. His chemistry with Sierra Boggess is unbelievable. I could watch the two interact all day it's that good. By far, my favorite couple performance.

This movie is wonderful. I can't express enough how much I enjoyed it. It actually made me cry. The only movies I have ever cried in where Schindler's List, The Pianist, and Les Miserables. The emotions are so raw and beautifully executed that it was impossible for me not to be moved. If you are a phan, then this film is a definite watch. Enjoy the magic and prepare to be amazed.

I have always grown up with the Phantom close by thanks to the love of this title coming from both my mother and grandmother. From watching the Movie over and over again with my mother to seeing it live with my family i had always come to cherish this title, which drew my to this 25th Anniversary. As I watched in awe i began to remember all of the love that that i had felt threw the years and all of the strength this gave my threw my hard times. To see such a play brought glorious tears to my eyes, and here is why. (Spoilers)

First and foremost the Phantom. Going in I wasn't sure what to expect, I had always held a special place in my heart for Butlers Phantom (2007) and I was amazed by the live one which i had seen. But I must say, Ramin Karimloo shines and took my breath away. I truly could see the pain at the end when Christine leaves him and he is left alone in the dungeon with nothing but his monkey, voice, and tears. I was amazed by the notes he hit and the tone this man set that differed from the mood Butlers Phantom had always set in my mind, Simply Amazing.

Second the Rest of the cast was amazing as they blended together. From Christines fear and confusion that is so well shown to Raouls love for her that blew me away. And compared to other adaptions, I truly did love the comedic look the managers of the Opera gave off. From scene to scene I was constantly lifted off my seat by the beauty that every singer gives.

Lastly the costumes and music brought the entire thing together in one perfect set piece. From the production of Hannibal to Masquerade i was constantly amazed by the bright costumes and light to dark mood that it gave off allowing the viewers to see just how amazing or terrible it was becoming. And i especially liked the Phantoms outfit and makeup threw out from the hat he wore to help hide his face better to his Masquerade costume with the moving skull jaw. And don't get me started on how wonderful the music was, setting the mood and bringing the tone from bright and happy to horribly sad in a mere few seconds.

All in all this was an amazing show with little to no error. From start to finish i was constantly enjoying the fun the actors had playing there parts and the sheer emotion each actor put into their characters. I give this a 10/10 for an amazing experience.

I have been a "Phan" of Andrew Lloyd Weber's The Phantom of the Opera for almost as many years as it's been around. My parents came home from seeing it in San Francisco with the Original Cast Recording on CD and it was actually the first CD we ever owed. I fell in love immediately. Living in an area that has had to rely on touring productions of the show (and with years spanning the time between the show coming to my area) it's always been difficult to see it live on stage. Seen it I have, however, and my love has only grown over the years.

Nothing will beat seeing it live, but this production of the show comes awfully close and with the camera work you always have a great view. I was concerned at first when initial announcements labeled it as a 'concert', I worried that it would be like the Les Mis 10th and 25th Anniversary's that were both simply the actors standing there singing with little to no actual performance. My worries were soon put to ease and I couldn't be happier that it's as much a full staged production as they could do. There are some things that they had to alter due to the restrictions of the location (spoiler) such as the chandelier not actually falling (safety restriction due to the age of the building) and some props removed due to there not actually being full functioning wings or limited backstage (no mirror & mannequin in Phantom's lair, no Elephant during the Hannibal rehearsal, etc...). These changes did not lessen my enjoyment of the performance, however.

The cast is phenomenal, Ramin and Sierra have amazing chemistry as The Phantom and Christine. The costumes are gorgeous and the sound of the orchestra electrifying. This performance has now become my 'go to' to watch, and I watch it often

I've watched this performance about a dozen or so times. It is incredible and draws you deep within the world of the Paris opera house. You will be utterly entranced!

Andrew Lloyd Webber and Cameron Mackintosh did a clever thing all those years ago by releasing the songs to promote their up and coming new musical.

The title track with a soft rock score and the accompanying video was a smash hit. It whetted the appetite.

My wife saw the musical in the theatre many years ago. I only saw the feature film with Gerard Butler.

Watching this specially filmed staged adaptation to celebrate its 25th anniversary. It is clear that this is a spectacle for the theatre. It is so well presented.

Ramin Karimloo is the demented tragic Phantom. Sierra Boggess is Christine whose voice and beauty the Phantom becomes enchanted with.

Outside of the better known tunes, some of the songs might test your sensibilities. It really is a case of whether you like mock operatic musicals.

The bonus is at the end. Andrew Lloyd Webber pretending to be chummy to the audience. (If you want to see his true face, find a clip of him on the night the Labour Party won the 1997 election with a landslide. His miserable face was a picture.) Sarah Brightman shows the audience she can still reach the high notes after all these years.

Michael Crawford turns up from another musical he was doing at the time, unfortunately he did not sing but his popularity is still undiminished. I count myself fortunate that I did see him play the wizard in The Wizard of Oz at the London Palladium.

Well, what can I say? One of the best musicals of all time, beautifully brought to life by a dream cast. Boggess and Karimloo have perfect voices, both alone and together. Fraser gives a fantastic performance as Raoul, bringing out the more heroic, protective side so often ignored. Boggess conveys every expression flawlessly, from elation to heartbreak. Erik's pain at the end is felt so keenly by viewers, as if they themselves experienced it. All the songs are sang brilliantly, but special praise must go to: the title song, Prima Donna, point of no return and the final song. The disappearance of the phantom at the end intrigued, as always!

My all time favorite musical! It's true I have not watched a lot of musicals but I know this one will always be a favorite. I watched the movie as well and it was fine, but nothing of the grandness of this musical. The singers/actors have the most suitable voices and they fit their roles perfectly. The songs are very iconic, of course. And the entire execution of the musical is incredibly well done, the lights, the costumes, the dancers were spot on, AND THE CHANDELIER. It is a performance I would have risked blood and bone to see live, if time and distance weren't obstacles. All in all, this is the musical that got me into musicals and opera.

As much as I love this show (practically wore out my original London cast album and even enjoyed the much-maligned film version) I've never actually made it to a live performance, so this was a lot of fun to watch. I was delighted to see Sierra Boggess and Ramin Karimloo perform the original show, having admired their performances in the same roles in the otherwise wretched sequel Love Never Dies. In fact the only thing I didn't enjoy was Andrew Lloyd Webber coming out onstage after the curtain call. I realize the curtain speech is an old English theatrical tradition but way to ruin the magic.

I've been a fan of the Phantom since childhood and saw as many versions as I could--Lon Chaney, Claude Rains, Herbert Lom, and my favorite, Maximilian Schell. As a little girl I liked the idea of being a heroine with two men fighting over me and thought being abducted to a secret island under an opera house was a cool adventure. Now I see the Phantom for what he is--a despicable murderer, racketeer, kidnapper and stalker--and I like the way his villainy is played up in this version rather than the pathos. It's not really healthy to encourage young women to find the Phantom romantic. We need more Raouls in our lives.

Ha ha ha, I just read in one of the reviews about a "spoiler" warning! Don't fret, it is impossible to spoil this film/show, You just have to see it regardless of what you've heard. The bad memories of my trip from Sydney to Melbourne where we were ripped off to see this show after booking "A reserved" ticket and where I was half hidden behind a pillar up there in the pigeon's nest looking at the actors resembling ants on the stage...We've been told it would not come to Sydney, but it did although not in a proper theater... Then the movie came and my wife and I were blown away by its quality! We played it again and again and we shared it with close friends and relatives at any occasion. I'm a little sad to read some feel or think it was not very good but I'm glad it worked very well for us. Then comes March 2015, glancing through the TV prg I spot the 25th anniversary show at the Royal Albert Hall, we need to go out so I set the recorder on... OMG, yes we watch it a couple of day later and what a reward it is! We are fortunate to have a rather large screen with a sounds system that usually we don't use but for the occasion it was perfect! 2011, how did it escape us for four years? It is absolutely magic. And yes with a bonus a the end, this is not a spoiler this is a promise quite a few of these original people will appear at the end so enjoy it. I don't put all the fine details about it that many others have already included in their review and apart my comment regarding the 2004 movie, I do agree with all I have read before my entry.

This isn't a bad adaptation, I agree with the other review that I read that the sets were spectacular! However, Christine and The Phantom were somewhat lacking for me. Both of them seemed to be trying too hard, and that just really chaps at me. I don't like to see people trying to prove themselves, it should just be something natural. Plus the makeup on The Phantom was too distracting, seeing his lips hangout from underneath the mask pulled my attention way from the story too much. I kept on rechecking to see if I really was seeing his lips or what right up until the final time his mask was pulled off. When they pulled out the other men who had played The Phantom, both my wife and I commented at how much better singers all of them were than the guy that played him in this rendition. We both also think that the Christine and Phantom from the 2004 movie were both more natural sounding and looking, I just cannot say enough how important it is to me that the actor/actress appear natural in their role. Perhaps the theater is the wrong place to expect that, but then again so many of the other actors in this rendition gave such natural performances, even the two opera house owners (which was not impressed upon me from the recording featuring the original cast). I know I've spent so much space talking about what I didn't like, but I think it deserves stronger detailing this time. The production truly was otherwise first rate! I even enjoyed the little speech from Andrew Lloyd Webber

The Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall was a treat for the eyes and ears, a magnificent production starring Ramin Karimloo and Sierra Boggess, who played opposite one another in the Phantom sequel "Love Never Dies." They not only sang beautifully but were emotional and passionate in their portrayals.

The stars were surrounded by a top-notch cast which included Hadley Fraser, Wendy Ferguson, Barry James, Gareth Snook, Liz Robertson, and Wynne Evans.

The role of the Phantom has evolved over the years, in one sense influenced by the film starring Gerard Butler. A friend of mine played the role on stage for many years in Germany. When he tried to return to the role some time later, he was told he was not "the Phantom type." This was the first he'd heard of it. Though he's a good-looking man, he's not tall, he's not particularly young, and his portrayal probably lacked the element of overt sex that was suddenly a requirement.

At the end of the show, four Phantoms were brought out on stage. The only one I really knew was Colm Wilkinson. There was a young man on the end, very handsome, and I thought, "If this guy is playing the Phantom, who the heck is playing Raoul?" I mean, I would have taken off with this guy in a second. I should add that Michael Crawford made an appearance but was unable to sing anything but the last note of Music of the Night, which was done by the ensemble, because he is also performing Wizard of Oz and had to save his voice.

We come now to the music itself. To be fair, Lloyd Webber has written some glorious tunes, no question. He's ripped off some good ones as well. I suggest you check out youtube and put Andrew Lloyd Webber Plagarist in the search box and listen to the first video that comes up. You'll be astonished. Who knew he listened to so much Pink Floyd.

This wasn't the best rendition of the venerable opera that I've seen but for a stage to video presentation, it's pretty good. While obviously nothing beats being there in person, watching on a big screen TV has it's advantages as well. For instance, different angles, views, zoom ins, zoom outs, no one talking behind or around you, the list goes on.

The sets are beautifully done and costumes are top notch. While no Davis Gaines, Ramin Karimloo does a fine job as the Phantom. Sierra Boggess seems a bit wooden as Christine but I may be a bit jaded by previous castings. Hadley Fraser in my opinion did not come across as a good Raoul. He appeared pompous and overbearing, not someone who would charm Christine.

The above being said, the overall performances by the cast were enjoyable but a bit underwhelming for a production staged in the Royal Albert Hall.