The Phantom of the Opera - Behind the Mask

[DrinkOmally]

who is the madame giry in this or rather who is the original canadian madame giry

[megs7783sendzik]

Ooops pantages

[megs7783sendzik]

I was spoiled i saw this musical when they were together in toronto at the phantages theater absolutely wonderful

[ItsIssay]

that was beautiful

[OkamiGirl1982]

I agree with you "Judan96"... My eldest sister always had the Rebecca Caine version of POTO on tape cassette... Well i grew up with her voice and love it... i also do like Sarah but i do favor Rebecca's :)

[07foxmulder]

i have a poster with colm wilkinsons autograph. it's from around 1993.

[nestersg]

If she was the original instead of the understudy poeple would be saying Sarah who?

[venomchickkk]

Rebecca and Colm are the strongest. Amazing job.

[littleLotte8]

dang i want the phantom...i wish i could have him

[banita67]

Yes, Colm is Jean Valjean also.

[Sophieste]

Is Colm Wilkinson the same guy who played Jean Valijean in the 2007 version (the one Lea Salonga was in) of Les Miserables? Because his voice sound really familiar :P

[MaskedLion]

No. He wasn't in that version. He was the original Jean Valjean, but he wasn't in the revival.

[orangeapplecandy2009]

great voices!

[CoolMapleStore]

I prefer Sarah Brightman, but Rebecca Caine is simply amazing.

[BeeWilla4]

Colm Wilkinson is a very sexy phantom (:

[nathiecutie]

oh he IS! :) *drools*

[venomchickkk]

woa! amazing! was there a phantom tv show and this is like an extended version of the theme song?

[Judan98]

Years ago, I was in London's West End and saw Phantom there. It was supposed to be Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman, but Sarah was off or ill, and her "second" Rebecca Caine was playing the role of Christine that night. I was initially disappointed, knowing only Sarah's voice. But a woman behind me in the theatre said "Oh thank God...its Rebecca tonight" and I thought..give her a chance. WOW! After hearning Rebecca no Christine has ever come close. As MusicalLover said'She IS Christine"

[MusicalLover6]

Yes, after seeing Rebecca - not only she makes the role real, but her voice is mature (as if it was fashioned by the Phantom himself). It's beautiful. And, I love it.

[RaWrZzZz]

rebecca has this effect on people, though i do prefer sarahas original alternate, claire moore. :D maybe she'll come close? check her out.

[MDkid1]

@Judan98 she truly is...my fav! 

[MusicalLover6]

I'm sorry, but this video is far too beautiful and gorgeous to watch than the film. I wish that the film looked like this. I love Rebecca Caine, she *is* Christine to me.

[stephantom53]

i agree too

[RaWrZzZz]

if the film looked like this i wouldn't leave home, i'd just watch it repeadedly.

[Chachi255]

ditto. I wish they made the original phantom of the opera into a movie, like, tape it then sell it, isn't that what they did with Rent?

[MDkid1]

@RaWrZzZz tell me about it eh? nothing beats the original stage version!

[dotmacis]

Much as I loved Colm's Phantom, though, I have to admit that in my opinion the role he was born to play was that of Jean Valjean. I had the pleasure of seeing him in Les Mis in Toronto when it was here in 1998. For the record, my favourite Phantom is a gentleman named Peter Karrie. Colm was going away on vacation and he recommended that I see Peter's performance. I'm so glad he did that!!!!

[dotmacis]

I've known Colm for many years. I saw his Phantom quite a few times and have seen Michael in concert three times. Unfortunately I didn't get the opportunity to see him in person as the Phantom but I have a few videos of him, though it's obviously not the same thing. They're both fabulous performers and I wish there wasn't such bickerings when comparing the two. As far as I'm concerned, it's like comparing apples to oranges ... cont'd ...

[CourgetteValjean]

She has a solo album out now called Leading Ladies!

[phantomgirl1126]

love love love colm wilkinson. my fav phantom

[announcermike]

I hope I to do behind the mask when I play The Phantom Of the opera.

[Renfeildette]

Pretty sure that Rebecca is a goddess!

[ChantantReve]

I've always love CW soulful version. The OCC is still my favourite :) Anyone heard the Hungarian version? What do you think of it?

[OoBellaRogueoO]

ii love the intro how they talk about who the phantom is

[dondonp12004]

COOL!

[AplsHottie]

When I first listened to the OCC, I was very so-so on Colm. I LOVED his Valjean,(to me he IS the definitive JVJ) but I wasn't crazy about his Phantom.

I love it his interpretation now. Still not in my top three, but my top five Phantoms for sure!

Oh, and Rebecca Caine. I have always loved her Christine.

I find it amusing they went from Valjean and Cosette to Erik and Christine.

[TangoMaureen07]

i'm used to Colm Wilkinson being jean val jean in les miz hearing him as the phantom is weird

[tjonesmusicman]

same here

[anAngelsSoprano11]

if andrew never met sarah phantom would never have been written. im not say anyone HAS to like sarah just lets just be glad phantom was written and not insult the singers

[mcbarnumphan]

By the way I do respect the talents of Colm Wilkinson and Hugh Panaro. I was just trying to make a point on how mean certain comments can come out sounding. IT's just that I have seen all 3 and seen how the audiences, press and critics have reacted. If people would watch just once some of the interviews on YouTube with MC they would understand the love, respect and passion MC had for this role and he would never do anything to make the character look bad!

[lesmisloony]

I'm sorry, but *why* can't this person have his/her own opinion about actors?

[mcbarnumphan]

Cont'd...(beginning of last post should have started out Sorry jonbrass7). If your going to call MC girly then you sure as hell have to call Hugh Panaro girly sounding as well. I've seen all 3 and Michael sensuality and charisma were amazing AND THE WOMAN LOVED HIS ERIC so I guess they sure as hell found him more then manly enough. I don't mean to yell but when people comment on a performer they have never seen live or really done there research on then we get stupid comments like that.

[mcbarnumphan]

Try watching "jonbrass7" but Michael doas not sound girly at all. Of course you would know that if you had bothered to actually watch different clips of Michael in Phantom or had seen him live like I did. I've seen both these guys live along with Hugh Panaro.

[1234AKbar]

cool

[1234AKbar]

whats a fendora?

[Ravenswood17]

The black hat that the Phantom is wearing ;)

[jonbrass7]

Colm' the best! maybe not the best but he's the most suited one for that role

MC sound too girly and dont seem Man enough

Colm Poweful Tenor voice

Hugh Panaro is good too

Caine is the ultimate Christine

long live poto

[atruephan85]

rebecca's pritty good, but i don't like him.

[Disneydanny]

Sarah didn't suck. She was just lucky enough to be married to Andrew at the time.

[mfiorell]

That last note sounds a lot better on the album

[jocegir]

If I could find the documentary, I would watch it over and over again. I saw it when I went to Toronto with my english class to see the Phantom. Before the show one of the cast members talked to us about what we were going to see that afternoon and then they showed the documentary which was very interesting. I anyone can tell where I can get my hands on it please let me know.

[Antar15]

I'll second that -- CBC did such an amazing job on this documentary, and I no longer have a copy. If anyone can help, please send a message. Thanks very much!

[Ravenswood17]

Original the had a fendora in the musical. Too bad in the musical version movie the dind't included the fendora with the outfit of the Phantom :(

[phantomphan1992]

I guess Gerry didn't want to mess his wig up... XD

[kuasehfgaiurghfilms]

Colm is the best phantom ever. this video is incredible. Infact the whole documentary is fascinating. Im going to have to upload it in full some day (i have the whole thing here somewhere)

[twilightprincess11]

i agree withh you mcbarnumphan he sang very well i love michael crawfords voice he sounds like the angel of music.

[DonJuan1992]

Sarah Brightman sucked thats how she got the part =X More serious I do enjoy her voice on some songs, somewhat. But she is possibly my least favorite overall.

[manlyman80345]

Wow, thanks for posting, great video!

[mcbarnumphan]

Con'td....I promise to never disrespect Mr. Wilkinson if his fans promise to respect Michaels fans. MC fans may say there not crazy about Colms singing style but they do not call Mr. Wilkinson names(like fake sounding or girlish which Mr. Wilkinsons fans have done to MC.)Niether sounds girlish. Just say you don't prefer Tenors and since when are people not allowed to keep improving there voices or develope them for new role demands. Please don't yell at me!

[mcbarnumphan]

Listen to Michaels live clips and especially his POTO songs on the his ALW CD. Also the original MOTN video was very well done. The video did a great job of capturing Michaels sensuality and charisma. By the way that is Michaels real voice for HeWhistledAtMe information. He kept maturing after Barnum & Billy. Hes able to sing both styles very well. It's a shame that the original who gave his heart and soul to the role and won numerous awards has to be so badly bashed now.

[mcbarnumphan]

I know I'll get yelled at to but I have nothing against Colm Wilkinson(liked his singing in Les Miz very much) but I have tried to listen to all his Phantom clips and just don't like his voice much on the Phantom material. Michael Crawford doasn not sound girlish but is a Tenor. That means most of you hate most of the guys who have played Phantom. Someone who has seen Michael live(especially in N.Y. and L.A.) please comment. He sang with amazing passion.sensuality and power when appropriate.

[Fiyero06]

its odd how the man who played her adopted fatheR IN LONDON is now playing as the man who loves her

[miep8675]

They were both in Les Miz as Valjean and Cosette.

[Judan98]

Rebecca is also one of the few women who has played Christine that has actually sung in true operas. She is fairly unique in being able to garner rave reviews from critics for both her musical and opera roles.

[Judan98]

Yes Sarah was ALW's wife and he wrote the part for her, but Rebecca Caine was an alternate for Sarah and took over the role from Claire Moore. When the show was brought to Canada, ALW himself insisted on Rebecca playing Christine, arguing not only that she was Canadian by birth, but that she "played the role with the vocal maturity and acting talent I always wished for Christine" (quote taken from an article published in a Canadian magazine after the opening of Phantom in Toronto)

[petrolhead]

This has to be my favourite rendition of the title song. CW is choppy in some other songs but RC is stunning!

[at1212b]

He takes getting used to as i didn't like him at first either. But once I did, I like him the best (Crawford's awesome too but sounds a bit too girly at times). The depth and despair of the Phantom's emotion shines through. Rebecca can also hit and sustain the notes Sarah can only dream about. Aparently Sarah also wasn't the first choice as aparently she had some sort of connections or something (I read this in a phantom book at the library)

[Norina1982]

Um... Sarah was married to Andrew Lloyd Webber (the one who wrote the musical) so I'd say it was more than "connections", especially since he wrote the musical FOR HER (including the song Music of the Night). Sarah was first choice for London AND Broadway and when Equity wasn't going to allow him to give her the role on B-Way he threatened to close all his shows currently running in NYC. So of course they allowed her then.

[dadarkdude2]

i dnt like colm as phantom, at all. and it is E natural - check on a piano

[caitlinette]

I don't really like how thin her voice is. And Colm -- he sounds like he's got a mouth full of oatmeal.

[cutegirlsue]

they both great

[ArmandsChild]

i have the two dik, but i do not see this, where is it?

[HeWhistledAtMe]

Colm was actually offered the role of Phantom before Michael Crawford. He was doing Les Mis at the Barbican and had to decide whether to take the chance that Les Mis would transfer to the West End (it got terrible reviews when it first opened) or do Phantom. He chose Les Mis.

[beatlephan]

what was Rebecca's age here?

[CDNjen]

27-28ish.

[fizzypepsi]

I LOVE Rebecca. What's that note she sings at the very end?  It sounds like a high F (or Fb), but someone told me it's an E natural. I don't believe them. =/

[saltrules23]

Actually it's an E flat. Or that's what it was when I played Meg on the West End (understudy thought) :]

[FedermanD]

Actually, it's an E-natural.

[saltrules23]

No it is an E flat. In the movie though she only an E natural. But I am sure it's an E flat.

[FedermanD]

Check against a piano. It's an E-natural. Trust me on this; I've got perfect pitch.

[OoScotlandForeveroOo]

E natural is higher than E flat.

But it's E natural. I have the sheet music sitting beside me.

Gareth -- S.F.

[saltrules23]

Oh my gosh. Im sorry I was thinking of a completly different musical! Im such a loser sometimes! Im awfully sorry. I wasnt even thnking at all. Sorry!!

[phantomphan1492]

bs you played meg

[1duncan2]

i just wanna know why is colm "bad". In his aiaoy reprise people frickin hated him, and he is amazing. best val jean. i dont think the best phantom but hell, hes pretty damn good. he could out sing michael any day. more of a vocal rangs. He is just plain out better

[HeWhistledAtMe]

I couldn't agree more. Don't get me wrong - I love Michael Crawford but I hated his voice in Phantom. It just wasn't him. After seeing him numerous times in Billy & Barnum it just seemed phony. At least with Colm you know it is his (gloriously) real voice.

[LucentRose]

Beautiful performance. I love their empassioned facial expressions at the end. It definately makes up for the corny voice over at the begining. The close ups of Madame Giry are sort of random. But goodness, it was emotionally powerful. Colm is much better than Crawford.

[Becca5002]

I agree about the performance and direction. It's much better than the RIDICULOUSLY overdone music vid with the original cast.

[tremendousswell]

They are both so amazing--the best Phantom/Christine duo I've ever heard. Becky needs to start recording again.

[wentyana]

what a wonderful voice. . i wish my voice was like that one. haha.

[Dammprinsessan]

Oh I LOVE the violin in the background!! nin nin jin nin nin nin...

LOVE IT :D

[xxKristiexx]

In my opinion, I like Hugh Panaro the most... but still, these two are not bad at all!!

[Danashae]

Not a fan... not at all...

LOVE Phantom, don't like Colm or Rebecca.

[phantomdestler]

ok...i had goosebumps throughout the entire thing! that was cool

[buffyphantom]

Strange, but cool video!

[ltorr005]

They both are in the OCC recording. So if you like them, there is a cd of them out there.

[buffyphantom]

Really? Can you give me the link, if there's a web page that cd?

[dustierose]

I saw the Phantom in Toronto back in 1992. It was during the time the original Canadian cast performed. Unfortunately, I was only twelve at the time and had their understudies. I did not have Susan Cuthbert even though she was one of the Christine understudies. I was wondering if anyone knew who also performed the leading roles during this time.

[CDNjen]

Probably Mary Darcy.

[Iareto]

She's Canadian...0.o...not that that matters. It was an artistic choice to sing that last note that way. She has an incredible range as it happens.

[ColoraturaChristine]

Eh... they're not the best pair I've seen. He's not bad, but his voice isn't my thing. She's just... Well, I can't say most of the American Christine's really have the full range for that part but I didn't like her acting either. Nice video, but I prefer Gary and Elisabeth to these two.

[MoriiSensei]

Oh good, it's just because I nearly always get screamed at when I say I prefer Michael to Colm. xD, I like to take precautions.

[SpykeStrange]

I'm srry.... NO OFFENCE INTENDED TO ANY FANS OF REBECCA AND COLM, but Sarah and Michael will always be my firm favourites. Please don't reply to this by shouting at me, I'm not trying to be nasty.

[Iareto]

We won't. Your opinion is just as good as any of our's are so...why would we yell at you? I like Sarah also (can't stand Michael though...) so I can connect.

[BelAir55]

hey that's okay, you're entitled to your opinions, just like I'm allowed to say I love Rebecca and Colm.

[NHKMM]

The phantom was awful, Christine was OK-ish...that's about it. The last notes were awfully shrill.

[xxdreamydrifterxx]

i love the way he sings 'our strange duet!' i still prefer michael and sarah though

[xsing4himx]

yeah i saw the Barbie Phantom video...OMG I love Colm! and Rebecca too of course.

[Klythe]

Hell yes! Give me the goods--THANK YOU for this video. You have just made my day today.

[YouDeceivedMe]

Wow! You know theres a Barbie in Phantom video based off of this! I don't really like Colm very much, but Rebecca is wonderful

[clamman27]

You have to have SEEN Colm to appreciate how truly awesome his Phantom was. His recordings do not do him justice.

[GrobanPhreak11284]

Not a big phan of Colm. Rebecca's okay.

[kthrn]

i love rebecca! but that last note- something about the sound quality maybe made it sound like she was screaming! haha

[andresauer]

Colm Wilkinson is the voice.

[leneae]

Oh man...hadn't heard this version is a while...she's THE Christine for me..classically trained soprano...she hits every note so clearly and well modulated and with such control..it's crazy!

[witchygrrl]

I LOVE the different staging, but I'm still unsure if I really like Colm's voice...Meh.

As for the Christine...Is she from a foreign tour or something? It sounds like she's struggling to sing sometimes, and her enunciation is different.

[witchygrrl]

But despite all this, Rebecca can definitely SING her butt off. And their chemistry is amazing!!

[cefcute]

I think she's canadian or someone form london. But what I am sure of is she is the original Cosette in the original cast recording of Les Miserables. And I just love her performance there, especially in the Love Montage scene of Les Miz

[Hassolffhater]

She is canadian,and she was the original Cosette in the london production of Les Miserables with Colm Wilkinson

[Iareto]

Her TOM is outmatched by none. Sarah Brightman pales in comparison.

[Ravenswood17]

Yes! Thanks Rebecca Caine :P 

[mqjeffrey]

Rebecca Caine is the Christine :)

Anyway, fantastic post!