The Phantom of the Opera: Collector's Edition

( 87 )

Editorial Reviews

Barnes & Noble - William Pearl
It was a tough act to follow, but they pulled it off. The producers of the film version of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Phantom of the Opera were faced with the dual expectations of the devoted fans of this beloved musical: first, to match the gothic splendor and eerie atmosphere so perfectly conjured up on stage, and second, to find singers who could equal the now-legendary original cast members Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman. Thanks to both Joel Schumacher's stirring film direction and the inspired casting of Gerard Butler and Emmy Rossum in the leading roles as the Phantom and Christine respectively, both expectations have been triumphantly met. To emphasize that the...
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Editorial Reviews

Barnes & Noble - William Pearl
It was a tough act to follow, but they pulled it off. The producers of the film version of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Phantom of the Opera were faced with the dual expectations of the devoted fans of this beloved musical: first, to match the gothic splendor and eerie atmosphere so perfectly conjured up on stage, and second, to find singers who could equal the now-legendary original cast members Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman. Thanks to both Joel Schumacher's stirring film direction and the inspired casting of Gerard Butler and Emmy Rossum in the leading roles as the Phantom and Christine respectively, both expectations have been triumphantly met. To emphasize that the film and stage versions are, by nature, different animals though, the double-disc Special Edition of the Phantom soundtrack features telling portions of dialogue and sound effects from the film itself that add immeasurably to the dramatic effect of the music. Lloyd-Webber's well-crafted score has also been spiced up with appropriate new arrangements, as well as an additional song, "Learn to Be Lonely," sung by cast member Minnie Driver. Hear all this and be swept up once again by "the music of the night."
All Music Guide - William Ruhlmann
Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical adaptation of Gaston Leroux's 1911 gothic mystery novel The Phantom of the Opera proved to be at least the composer's second-most successful project, behind only Cats, and with the potential to outdo even that blockbuster. The musical opened in London in October 1986 and in New York in January 1988, and both productions were still running along with many others around the world when the film version finally premiered in December 2004. Because the same starring performers, Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman, moved from the West End to Broadway, there was no original Broadway cast recording, the original London cast album serving to represent both stagings. In line with the success of the show, that album, a double-disc set, was also a hit, selling four-million copies in the U.S. alone by 1996, with another four-million copies of a single-disc highlights version as well. Although there was also an original Canadian cast album not to mention foreign language versions from such countries as Japan and Austria, the movie soundtrack represents the first major re-recording of the score since 1986. Again, Lloyd Webber has opted to issue it in two versions, but this time, the 63-minute single CD is considered the standard release, with the double-disc set housed, for a limited time, in a cardboard booklet with numerous photographs billed as the "special edition" version. Even fans of the show and the film may want to stick with the shorter one, however. The two-hour special edition is that rarity, a soundtrack album which actually contains the complete, unedited film soundtrack, including dialogue, incidental background music, and sound effects. This, of course, makes it something of an odd listening experience, especially because there doesn't seem to be any reason why some dialogue is spoken and some is rendered in sing-song recitative. Lloyd Webber has written some extra background music here and there, as well as one new song, and that's an oddity, too. Minnie Driver, who plays the prima donna Carlotta, had her singing dubbed by Margaret Preece, but she turns up at the end and, over the closing credits, sings "Learn to Be Lonely," an irrelevant and musically out-of-place song clearly composed just to have a new tune that would be Academy Award-eligible. The film's other singers are adequate but no competition to Crawford, Brightman, and their colleagues, and the initial recording remains the one to buy.
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Product Details

  • Release Date: 11/23/2004
  • Label: Sony
  • UPC: 827969352229
  • Catalog Number: 93522
  • Sales rank: 23,449

Tracks

Disc 1
  1. 1 Prologue (2:47)
  2. 2 Overture/Hannibal (7:25)
  3. 3 Think of Me (6:33)
  4. 4 Angel of Music (2:59)
  5. 5 Little Lotte/The Mirror (Angel of Music) (4:11)
  6. 6 The Phantom of the Opera (4:23)
  7. 7 The Music of the Night (5:38)
  8. 8 Magical Lasso (1:19)
  9. 9 I Remember/Stranger Than You Dreamt It (3:21)
  10. 10 Notes/Prima Donna (10:04)
  11. 11 Poor Fool, He Makes Me Laugh/Il Muto (6:12)
  12. 12 Why Have You Brought Me Here/Raoul I've Been There (3:04)
  13. 13 All I Ask of You (4:52)
  14. 14 All I Ask of You (Reprise) (2:55)
Disc 2
  1. 1 Masquerade/Why So Silent (8:38)
  2. 2 Madame Giry's Tale/The Fairground (3:29)
  3. 3 Journey to the Cemetery (3:29)
  4. 4 Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again (3:41)
  5. 5 Wandering Child (1:47)
  6. 6 The Swordfight (1:48)
  7. 7 We Have All Been Blind (3:55)
  8. 8 Don Juan (4:00)
  9. 9 The Point of No Return/Chandelier Crash (6:43)
  10. 10 Down Once More/Track Down This Murderer (14:32)
  11. 11 Learn to Be Lonely (2:27)
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Album Credits

Performance Credits
Mike Batt Vocals
Simon Callow Vocals, cast
Patrick Wilson Vocals, cast
Gerry Butler cast
Simon Lee Conductor
Victor McGuire Vocals, cast
Miranda Richardson Vocals, cast
Minnie Driver Vocals, Singer, cast
Paul Brooke Vocals, cast
Gerard Butler Vocals, cast
Jesika Cannon Vocals, cast
Lucy Casson Vocals, cast
Oliver Chopping Vocals, cast
Jennifer Ellison Vocals, cast
James Fleet Vocals, cast
Ciaran Hinds Vocals, cast
Laura Hounsom Vocals, cast
Halcro Johnston Vocals, cast
Ramin Karimloo Vocals, cast
Kevin R. McNally Vocals, cast
Murray Melvin Vocals, cast
Chris Overton Vocals, cast
Judith Paris Vocals, cast
Margaret Preece Vocals, cast
Emmy Rossum Vocals, cast
Lee Sellers Vocals, cast
Alison Skilbeck Vocals, cast
Lorraine Stewart Vocals, cast
Jose Tirado Vocals, cast
Miles Western Vocals, cast
Imogen Bain Vocals, cast
Technical Credits
A. L. Webber Producer, Liner Notes, Author, Orchestration, Original Orchestration
David Cullen Orchestration, Original Orchestration
Charles Hart Lyricist
Mike Ross-Trevor Engineer
Robin Sellars Engineer
Richard Stilgoe Lyricist
Nigel Wright Producer
Joel Schumacher Liner Notes, Author
Simon Rhodes Engineer
Anne Skates Choir Contractor
Steve Rooke Engineer, Mastering
Peter Manning Orchestra Leader
Mary Hammond Vocal Coach
Craig "Pup" Heath Engineer
Robert Renga Engineer, Engineering
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Customer Reviews

Average Rating 4.5
( 87 )
Rating Distribution

5 Star

(70)

4 Star

(6)

3 Star

(6)

2 Star

(1)

1 Star

(4)

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See All Sort by: Showing 1 – 20 of 87 Customer Reviews

  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Lifting the veil of a person's soul

    This music is so haunting. I have never heard sounds so pure. When I listened to it, it seemed to travel with me, to sweep me aloft in the power of the song, and for a moment I,too,felt that the words of darkness and light had no meaning,and only this melody were real.As far as the singing goes,Emmy Rossum (Christine) was wonderful! I really felt like I was hearing the Angel of Music. Her voice is so sweet and angelic like ringing a bell. ''I recognized the emotion in Christine that alot of young girls feel. She's looking for love, protection, and a way to express herself creativley...'' Says Emmy. I think that ''Wishing you were somehow here again'' is one of Emmy's most emotional songs because she's expressing herself in a young girl who has lost her father and I think that everyone can relate to that. Patrick Wilson(Raoul) was also very good. He had the voice of an angel. I think that he is the best Raoul. All of the other Raouls were either to operatic(espacially the one in the Canadian cast), or either complete dorks. Gerard Butler (Erik the Phantom) was not so great as far as singing goes. Although, he does put alot more emotion into his voice than Michael Crawford and when he raving and having those ''madness'' moments he is much more agressive and expressing a man constrained emotionally and physically.Still, his singing is too rockstar-type, especially in ''The Phantom of the Opera''. ''Music of the Night'' was his best performance because he was singing softly. At the end of this CD, he has a way of breaking your heart with the music box song when he sings the ''Masqerade'' after Christine leaves him.Poor Erik...I could really feel his pain because I am an autistic savant,and even though I could live independently and I coul funtion, it is really hard to find someone that would ''share one life-time'' with me. Every time I listen to ''All I ask of you'' I feel Erik's pain of being rejected by the only woman he ever loved. I mean, Christine lifted the veil of Erik's soul and gave him a reason to live and to ''learn to be lonley''. Andrew Lloyd Webber is truley a musical genius! He could tell the story of longing for love by expressing someone's pain and lonliness through music. This is truley an amazing soundtrack!

    2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Simply amazing!

    Just listening to the music is enough to make you cry. Emmy Rossum has such a beautiful voice, and Gerard's is simply enchanting. I've performed "Think of Me" several times, and every time I do, I fall in love with the score all over again. You are not a true "phan" if you don't own this album!

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    If you liked the movie, this is the soundtrack you want.

    The only song that is missing is "No One Would Listen," which was recorded for the movie, but not included in the final cut. Other than that, it's all here, just the way you heard it in the movie. I was disappointed in the regular soundtrack, as some of my favorite pieces had been left out. This one has them. It's definitely worth the few extra dollars for all the music.

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  • Posted October 1, 2010

    I Love These CD's!

    It's like turning on the movie and leaving the room. You can hear the dialogue in addition to the music. I often turn on the television and do chores around the house. This is the same thing. I can just pop in a CD and picture in my mind what is happening in the story. Also, Gerard Butler is singing... need I say more?

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Exellent, but there is better

    I am a huge fan of the movie, as I saw it first, and it will always hold a special place in my heart. But the live play on Broadway will blow you away. There is no way to compare them. So all in all, for the full experience, I recommend both. You'll just have to choose for yourself

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    HOMG THIS ROCKS

    The CD is amazing-while I will always say that the musical performed is better than the movie, this movie was amazing. I watched it 7 times in two days, I loved it so much. Emmy Rossum has an amazing voice. ^^

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    This was awesome!

    I loved the movie, especially the music! Emmy Rossum has sooooooooooooooo much talent! I gave this CD 100% It rocked!!!!

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    It was okay.

    The movie was okay, but if you loved the movie you should go see the actual musical live, for it is MUCH better. The live performance will blow you away thats how good it is, but the movie..well it did its best.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    AWESOME!!

    I know all of the words to these songs because I love them sooo MUCH!! I think that the movie and music were unbelievable! Standing Ovation!!

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    I AM OBSESSED WITH THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA!!

    ...the weird thing is, I'm a teenager (aged 16). I never really gave musicals a chance because the first one I watched bored me to death, but this one absoloutely rocked! All my friends now know about The Phantom of the Opera because i've been going on about it for agggges!! I'm trying to get them to give musicals a chance like I did...especially this one!

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Oh My God!!

    I absolutely love this soundtrack! I absolutely love this movie! I first heard of The Phantom of the Opera when it came to theatres and my best friend and I went to see. I thought it would be fun and different to see, but I have to admit that I was nervous I wouldn't like it that much. Boy was I wrong!! It was the best movie I've ever seen in the movie theatre and I loved it so much! So of course I had to buy it and the soundtrack and I must say that I listen to it all the time. I even now have the book that started it all, though I've yet to see it on Broadway, but I really hope to someday soon!!

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    The first and only movie I ever cried during...

    This is an awesome movie! Yet ANOTHER version of the classic broadway musical yet I think this is the best I've seen! I really loved the way they pulled the songs off, and each actor pulled off their roles beautifully. I loved it.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    best musical ever.

    i am 14 and though most may think that teenagers are bored by these musicals we are actually intrested,the phantom of the opera is an phenominal musical and none of this could have been done without the awesome cast.being facinated by this musical can inspire thousands even those who absolutley dispise musicals it is a heart-warming love story that reaches deep into the mind and makes you think about it a little bit more. so if you buy this cd you will not regret it .

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    I love it.

    I love this musical and have the normal soundtrack. I just ordered this one but know it will be outstanding since I've heard all the songs on it. Can't wait!

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Better Than The Original

    Although some might shoot me for saying it, in general I thought that while the original broadway cast was phenomonal, this recording rocked its world. Rossum pulls off a much better Christine (with the added bonus that she is, in fact, a teenager, and Gerard Butler actually injects emotion into his voice when he sings. Combine that with the heart-rendering 'Learn To Be Lonely', and this edition of Phantom of the Opera is the best to come out yet.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    mamazing

    i listen to heavy metal, and I have fallen madly in love with this cd

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Phantom of the Opera is WONDERFUL!!!

    I have listned to both the Original recording and the new soundtrack...along with seeing the action. Although I thought Michael Crawford and Sarah Brighton did well in the original their singing bothered me. The new Phantom and Christine have more emotion and also amazing voices. I could listen to them all day!!! I like the special edition the best because it has all the songs.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    What!? A young person who doesn't like crazy teenager music?!

    Yep, that's right. For exactly three weeks this CD set has been the bulk of what I've listened to. The songs are so passionate, stir up such unsatiable emotions--described simply, it's beautiful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    emmy rossum

    emmy rossum had and still has a better voice than the original christine did on the stage. I hope that evrybody will enjoy this soundtrack more than I did.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    it was different but still good

    I have to say i like the original cast of Phantom with Sara Brightman and Michael Crawford. I just think their voices fit the parts much better than the movie because they are some much stonger. Not to say i did not like the movie I love it! i think the movie having a younger cast made it much more romantic. I being a singer know for a fact the it is so hard to sing high and some times words dont sound the same when you say them and thats what i find people to have a promblem with sarah for, they dont like the way she says words. But all and all i think they did a good job and i would buy any copy of Phantom.

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See All Sort by: Showing 1 – 20 of 87 Customer Reviews