The Phantom of the Opera 25th Anniversary Concert

[ClapYo'Hands]

It's been confirmed that the 25th Anniversary celebrations of The Phantom of the Opera will include a 25th anniversary concert in October of this year.



Ramin Karimloo confirmed on Twitter that he will be appearing as The Phantom in the concert.

Further casting/ticket/venue info expected soon.

[Phantom of London]

if it is in October, I be surprised if this isn't held again in the 02, so many excellent things could be done and great former stars here in the uk and from Aboard

This will be just the right time to get the CD and DVD on the shelves.

[ClapYo'Hands]

I just can't help thinking that they've cast the wrong man :/

[tenorboyo]

Could they NOT, please?????

[CONAries]

The only thing that excites me about the prospects of the O2, is a MASSIVE chandelier coming smashing down upon the arena!! This could be fantastic if they staged it more like the Vegas show, than the concert style they used for Les Mis!!

[ClapYo'Hands]

What they did at the Olivier Awards was a brilliant example of how a concert could look. Onstage orchestra, backdrops, semi-staged.

[bob8rich]

The fact that they've cast Ramin is the only reason that would make me even vaguely consider going to see this.

[The Scorpion]

I'm not so thrilled about the casting of Karimloo myself, having never been in love with his Phantom, but I suppose it will attract the fangirl audience.

Would Phantom even work as a concert? As someone who finds watching the concert versions of Les Mis fairly boring, despite liking that show, I imagine watching Phantom as a concert could prove to be even more tedious given that it's not an ensemble show like Les Mis.

Glad they're doing something to mark the anniversary though.

[tenorboyo]

a cake with some candles would suffice, LOL

[Justin D]

Phantom can work beautifully as a concert as long as the staging is done properly, there isn't a ton of people sitting on stage waiting their turn, and they get to wear head mics so they are singing at each other and not into mic stands.

[ClapYo'Hands]

From an article on Cameron Mackintosh in the Independent on Sunday today:

"2011 His first new musical in more than a decade, Betty Blue Eyes, opens. Plans celebration of Phantom's 25th anniversary in October."

So, it looks like Mackintosh will be involved to some extent, but one has to wonder why he hasn't been so openly excited about this venture as the Les Misérables concert. I wonder what his working relationship with Andrew is like at the moment? Especially with Andrew going it alone in the last decade, in particular with things like Love Never Dies.

[ClapYo'Hands]

The latest news from the Whatsonstage message boards is that the concert is to be held at the Royal Albert Hall and work is currently underway to adapt Maria Bjornson's designs for the space.

I think the ROH is the perfect venue - very grand etc, great acoustics, and it would look great in there - it's not outsized, like Les Mis and the O2.

The only thing I'm worried about is how few tickets there will be. Maybe there will be more than one performance?

[jaqs]

Much better venue, makes it feel more of a westend celebration, rather than being out at the O2.

[Mattbrain]

Is there actually gonna be a CD/DVD.

[Justin D]

I'd love a new CD, but my guess is they would just issue a CD from the concert, kill 2 birds with one stone.

I also would not be at all surprised if they cast the concert with Ramin, Sierra and Joseph just so they could tie in that CD/DVD with the recording of LND.

[luke-h***]

"The fact that they've cast Ramin is the only reason that would make me even vaguely consider going to see this."

Isn't it funny how different peoples opinions are. This is one of the main reason I would not want to see this!
As for a new CD, let's be fair, we all want it (not with Ramin, but ya know what I'm saying) but I doubt it'll happen - Andrew's probably sparing his pennies to write Passion 2 - Fosca Never Dies.

[Justin D]

He really needs to get past this bee in his bonnet about the London Phantom recording being the best selling cast album of all time or something like that and just put out a new CD. But I too am not the biggest Ramin fan. Back in the day Phantoms had something special about their voice that made it seem unique somehow. Ramin while a great singer just doesn't have it. and JOJ goes way overboard with the screaming. But it is all a matter of taste. as for Phantoms that have played the role in the last 10 years, I have always been partial to the US phantoms. Recently the London ones have been singing it more 'poppy'. But if you ask the average fan who they would like the response is usually from the more recent crop.

[CATSNYrevival]

It would be awesome if we finally got a complete recording of The Phantom of the Opera, but I'm thinking the concert will probably be abridged so there goes that. Meanwhile I'm fairly content with the Australian soundboard.

[Justin D]

Quick question, If they were to do a filming of the stage version to release on DVD, would you all prefer a filming of the London, Broadway or Vegas version?

[CATSNYrevival]

I'd probably prefer London, but it would be neat if they got a cast together and filmed the full show on the Vegas set.

[ThankstoPhantom]

It is a crime that there is not an Australian recording.

[My Oh My]

The fact they are looking into adapting Maria's designs at all for a concert tells me it's going to be more than just a concert, which could work well for Phantom.

The show certainly deserves the festivities and I'm very glad (although not at all surprised) that they are presenting as it with the original production in mind and not a lackluster new production that aims to shun everything about the original, acclaimed version being celebrated.

[EricMontreal22]

"
Would Phantom even work as a concert? As someone who finds watching the concert versions of Les Mis fairly boring, despite liking that show, I imagine watching Phantom as a concert could prove to be even more tedious given that it's not an ensemble show like Les Mis."

Exactly how I feel. (Don;t get me started at how useless I find the fact that we have TWO Miz concerts). I'm sick of this habit of filming concert versions of musicals, I suppose cuz they feel it's less likely to hurt the original still running show--though at this point I doubt a Phantom fully staged live DVD could... (And yes as a huge Sondheim fan I have the same complaint with this glut of Sondheim concert productions we've been getting for a while...)

[Justin D]

I'm wondering if it is not more cost effective to film a concert rather than the stage version as it pertains to royalties. Didn't I read somewhere that things like original direction is also coppyrighted? so that would be more royalties to shill out.

[MamasDoin'Fine]

Get Michael Crawford in as Madame Giry.
Bless him, he did a lot to get the show up and running. Then, so did I!

[ClapYo'Hands]

Ooh, do expand, Mama!