SUMMARY: RUNNING TIME: 4:18 Min.
From the 1986 London cast, Sarah Brightman (as Christine Daae) and Michael Crawford (as the cackling Phantom) duet the title song from Andrew Lloyd Webber’s adaptation of The Phantom of the Opera. This full-length track is a sampler off the 1996 compilation album: The Very Best of Andrew Lloyd Webber: The Broadway Collection. In addition as a single digital purchase, the track appears on the complete Phantom double-disc soundtrack (2001), as well as the soundtrack’s single-disc Highlights edition (1990).
Alternatively, Crawford includes the duet on both 2005’s Michael Crawford Performs Andrew Lloyd Webber and his two-disc Ultimate Collection (from 2013). Similarly, Brightman opens her 1999 Ultimate Andrew Lloyd Webber Collection with this song.
Note: From Phantom, Crawford’s “Music of the Night” also appears on this same Very Best compilation album.
REVIEW:
Propelled by an ominously up-tempo, pop-rock melody, Lloyd Webber’s original Christine and Phantom conduct a master class re: how to bring a Broadway tune to life. Not only are Brightman’s vocals in peak form, but Crawford’s Phantom conveys his character’s spine-tingling presence in such a way that creepy visuals aren’t even necessary. In that sense, this duo’s teamwork makes it feel plausible that Brightman’s Christine has now become mesmerized by Crawford’s wicked Phantom.
Though others have aspired to match it and some have come very close (i.e. the 2004 film version’s Emmy Rossum, in spite of an outmatched Gerard Butler), Brightman & Crawford’s rendition exudes timeless audible magic. Highly recommended!
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 10 Stars
