The Phantom of the Opera (The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

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Editorial Reviews:

Amazon.com
For better or worse, Andrew Lloyd Webber's adaptation of Gaston Leroux's gothic horror/romance novel has done for stage musicals what Spielberg's Jaws did for fish stories, with worldwide sales of its original cast album approaching 25 million. While director Joel Schumacher's film turns on his typically ambitious visual verve, its new film soundtrack recording has been paradoxically focused in scope, yet beefed up dynamically via the brawny presence of a hundred piece orchestra and the London Boys Choir. This deluxe, double-disc version showcases all of Phantom's key songs, with Gerard Butler imparting a welcome, youthful sensuality to his Phantom, making a fine foil for Emmy Rossum's ever-conflicted Christine. Original show orchestrator David Cullen has fashioned compelling new contemporary arrangements to frame Webber's songs--which now conclude with the lilting, upbeat new ballad he wrote for the film, "Learn to Be Lonely," sung by Minnie Driver. --Jerry McCulley

Album Description
2 CD Deluxe Collector's Edition, contains all of the music from the single disc plus other original score material featured in the film.

Album Description
The Italian version of the soundtrack to the film taken from the famous musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber. Contains a previously unreleased track 'Child Without Love' composed especially for the movie. This Italian version has been translated and recorded with the supervision of Lloyd Webber, Nigel Wright and Simon Lee. Sony International. 2004.

Album Details
The Italian Version of the Soundtrack to the Omonym Film Taken from the Famous Musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber. The Soundtrack Includes a Previously Unreleased Track Entitled "Child Without Love" Composed Specially for the Movie. The Italian Version Has Been Translated and Recorded with the Supervision of Lloyd Webber, Nigel Wright and Simon Lee.

Customer Reviews: Read 542 more reviews...

4 out of 5 stars

Absolutely great December 13, 2004
590 out of 647 found this review helpful

Many people will listen to this and immediately compare this to Sarah Brightman and Michael Crawford. People will say that Emmy Rossum is too young, and that Gerard Butler can't sing at all compared to Michael Crawford. Some people will comment that Minnie Driver, rather than being dubbed, should not have been cast as Carlotta. To these I say the following:

Christine is supposed to be a young choir girl. Sarah Brightman is not young, nor a choir girl. Emmy Rossum sang with the Metropolitan Opera when she was seven, and is the perfect age for the part. She has a beautiful, clear voice that doesn't sound (don't get me wrong, I love Sarah Brightman, but...) like her mouth is stuffed with cotton when she sings the high notes.

Michael Crawford is, anyway you look at it, WAY too old to play the sexy, mainstream appealing Phantom that a movie needs. Gerard Butler CAN sing. Don't be fooled by the deeper, fuller tambre his voice has. Deeper isn't bad. In fact, for the mainstream appeal the movie is unarguably shooting for, Gerard Butler's voice is better than Michael Crawford's; none of the tinniness that has a tendency to creep in on high notes ("But that's the Phantom!" the people will say...). Gerard Butler's Music of the Night is great (It's more impressive to be able to reach those notes without having to resort to high falsetto, guys, it gives a fuller, deeper tone.); listen to it and pretend you've never heard Michael Crawford. It's by no means bad, or anything close. I enjoyed it. And his Point of No Return runs circles around Michael Crawford's.

The one constant in every review of the movie (not the soundtrack, the actual movie) is that Minnie Driver's performance as Carlotta is brilliant. Surely you wouldn't say that this excellent performance should not have occured because of a few dubbed singing parts.

Now that I've gotten that out of the way, I love this. The reorchestration is great with a COUPLE of exceptions. What on earth happened to Phantom of the Opera? What's with the claps? And the wailing guitar solo? Woah. I like that it's much fuller, but it Learn to be Lonely. Now I know it's not on the extended edition, thank god, but I felt it's existence needed to be mentioned. Why? For the love of god, why, did the creators of the wonder that is Phantom, write this tripe? Guitar plucking and bongos. BONGOs! Was it for the oscar nomination? There's no chance of this song winning an Oscar! None! Not in a million years! Minnie Driver has a beautiful voice, but displaying it is not worth the humiliation! Ehem. This CD set really deserves 5 stars, I think, but, (to my discredit I admit) I lowered it a star. Not just because of the Phantom of the Opera rock wackiness (though that was a big reason), or the tragedy that is Learn to be Lonely (although that, while it probably shouldn't have, played a small role), but also to acknowledge to diehard fans of the Original Cast that this isn't your old 1987 CD set with one track per disc. They're different singers. Their voices have different tambres. Gerard Butler is not the tenor that Michael Crawford is (thankfully, at some parts). Deal with it, and learn to be happy with a great soundtrack for the long awaited movie version of one of Broadway's greatest shows. December 22nd can't come quickly enough.

5 out of 5 stars

Disappointed in myself for not being open to the new singers December 13, 2004
230 out of 251 found this review helpful

I'm not going to write a long review on this soundtrack. Those of you who have only listened to the soundtrack but have yet to see the movie judge too soon and too harshly. All true fans of ALW's Phantom of the Opera will be impressed. The music will come together a lot better when you see the movie. I'm disappointed im myself for not being open to Gerard Butler's part as the Phantom. It's not fair for any of us to criticize him for his singing only because it's different from Michael Crawford's. I'm also not going to revolve this subject about the singers not quite measuring up or that they don't sound like the original cast of almost 20 years ago.

I believe M. Menzer said it best on their review that

"They're different singers. Their voices have different tambres. Gerard Butler is not the tenor that Michael Crawford is... Deal with it, and learn to be happy with a great soundtrack for the long awaited movie version of one of Broadway's greatest shows. December 22nd can't come quickly enough."

Please take this morsel of advice when you approach the silver screen; view the movie with an open mind and do yourself a favor; cast away the sounds of the original cast when you see it. (They're too old to take those parts again and you know it) You'll only disappoint yourself if you don't. You won't be let down, I anxiously await its release on DVD, and will probably see it a couple more times at the theater while I wait.

5 out of 5 stars

Don't listen to the negative reviews. November 29, 2004
20 out of 28 found this review helpful

This is a great soundtrack, with some superb performances. I noticed most of the negative reviews here are saying the performances don't compare to Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman, that's one thing that's always annoyed me about some fans of the show that they aren't willing to experience anyone knew in the roles. Being a fan of the show for nearly 20 years, and having seen the original production when it opened. I can safely say this soundtrack does it justice.

Gerard Butler is a great Phantom, is he as good as Michael Crawford? ofcourse not nobody ever could, but he puts a new interpretation to the role which works wonders. I was never a fan of Sarah Brightman, her singing was quite nice but her acting and emotion was absolutely dreadful, so it was lovely to hear a Christine who actually acted aswell. Emmy Rossum is a wonderful Christine, with a lovely voice and superb acting skills.

If your a phantom fan get the soundtrack, just don't expect it to be like the original cast, this is a different cast and all the biased fans must be willing to experience some new people in the roles.

5 out of 5 stars

Beautiful beyond belief March 10, 2005
19 out of 19 found this review helpful

I'm a Phan and proud to be one. I've seen the stage-show several times plus I own every recording of POTO available. Why does this recording, despite being lambasted by Michael Crawford fanatics, stand out? Reason 1 is the impeccable orchestra and the improved sound. Plus the tempi of the conductor are way superior. Nr. 2 would be the cast. Fresh and new without any baggage they deliver sincere and intense performances. The lead is sung and acted by Gerard Butler. He is one of the few actors whose private persona disappears when he's on screen, even his appearance changes with every part he plays, unlike other Hollywood-Hunks who always play themselves (Brad Pitt...*Cough* Orlando Bloom...*Cough Cough*) He has had over a year of vocal coaching and training before he tackled the role of the Phantom and it shows. I'm one of those who prefers the Phantom to be sung by a rich voice, like Brad Little, Anthony Warlowe, Peter Karrie and Ethan Freeman and not by tenors like Crawford who sound bloodless at times. (Crawford's "Down once more" couldn't scare a mouse) While not yet perfectly controlled Butler's rich baritone sounds perfect for the Phantom, also his ability to shade and colour phrases, to act with his voice is incredible. One thing I love is his "Christine, I looooooooooooooooove......you!" Not spinning a long phrase that merely sounds pretty Butler spins a gorgeous piano and then ends on a firm vocal attack mixed with a sigh of fear until the "you" comes out like a cry for mercy. (Burn, Christine, burn for hurting a precious soul like that) Another detail is the soaring pianissimo on "Touch me! Trust me!". Others sing this as an order, Butler sings it as a gentle plea, absolutely magical. There are MANY more, I just wanted to give you an idea. ;-)
Christine is sung by Emmy Rossum, a great actress in the making. At seventeen she's blessed with the voice of an angel, unlike the matronly sound of Sarah Brightman. Christine is supposed to be a chorus-girl in the beginning. Yes, she blossoms to be a primadonna BUT she's not yet a dramatic soprano d'agilita. I DO believe that if they had waited a year or two her voice would have matured to greater heights (Listen to her and Patrick Wilson on GMA, she improved a great deal!) but she's a wonderful Christine.
Patrick Wilson sings a great Raoul, yet I prefer Steve Barton who's less foppy, acts with less arrogance and selfishness. (Plus he isn't made to look like a girl, poor Patrick, he's a handsome man in real life)
There've been those who dislike it because it isn't the OLC. Oh what a pity that Crawford no longer wants to play the Phantom, come on, if he moved on, so should you! The movie itself is beautiful and different, so I'd suggest to watch both the movie and the stage-show. It's a love-story of endless beauty.

1 out of 5 stars

Good acting... singing leaves something to be desired. January 17, 2005
17 out of 25 found this review helpful

First of all, I should probably say that I am looking at this from the perspective of a musician. I am an Opera singer and have been professionally trained since I was twelve years old, so I am likely to be more critical than the casual observer. I was never thrilled by Sarah Brightman's voice. She does, as many people have pointed out, sound like she is singing through a mouth of cotton. That said, I much prefer her to Emmy Rossum. Emmy's performance as Christine was quite good when it came to acting, but when she sings, she sounds like a ten year old. I realize that she is young and that she is supposed to be a chorus girl, but she is also supposed to have a very beautiful, well trained voice and she is supposed to be an OPERA SINGER. Emmy does not sound like an opera singer, or even an opera singer in training. Her voice is sweet when she is singing in the mid-range, but anything other than that is thin and borders on out of tune. I have little doubt that pro-tools were of much assistance to her in the recording studio, as well as her counterpart Gerard Butler. Let me say, I think that Gerard is one of the most handsome men in all of Hollywood. I think that he is gorgeous, but his voice did not impress me. Michael Crawford is not my favorite Phantom, but I much prefer his performance as Erik to that of Gerard Butler. His deep, booming voice was not what the ghost's should be. Perhaps it was my error for reading Gaston Lereoux's novel. The Phantom is supposed to have an ethereal, angelic voice, and Gerard's is neither of those things. While he might have a rockstar quality to him and might have more popular appeal, I felt that this was inappropriate for the part. I highly recommend, for those of you who are hardcore "Phans" Michael Ball's version of Music of the Night and his Phantom of the Opera duet with Lesley Garrett. Of the complete recordings of The Phantom of the Opera, I think that your best bet is the Original cast with Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman, even though they are not my favorite singers, they are better than this recording. One last thing, regarding Minnie Driver as Carlotta; I thought that she was absolutely wonderful. Minnie absolutely, in my opinion, *was* the Diva. Even if she didn't sing the part, I thought that she did a fantastic job. Please do see the movie, it is worth it, even if the singing isn't great. The acting is very well done, the sets and costumes are stunning, and the plot is wonderfully romantic.

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