Musical "Phantom of the Opera": reviews, reviews

The musical "Phantom of the Opera" is the legendary and world-famous masterpiece by composer Andrew Lloyd-Webber. For almost 30 years he has not left the stage of the world's theaters, and now he has finally reached Russia. In 2004, a musical film was made on the musical. At the heart of musical history lies the book of the French writer Gaston Leroux "Phantom of the Opera". Reviews are available in large quantities and on the book, and on theatrical productions, and on the film. To get acquainted with them it will be useful to those who, before reading a book, watching a film or attending a play, prefer to know the opinions of those who have already read everything and have looked all. And those who are used to making their own opinion about everything first, it will be interesting to compare their impressions with the impressions of other people. And both can be advised: be sure to read, look and visit. "The Phantom of the Opera" certainly deserves attention.

Roman Gaston Leroux

The novel "The Phantom of the Opera" was released in 1910. The author of the author's book was inspired by the largest in the world Parisian theater "Grand Opera". Leroux visited his basements, where, he claims, a skeleton with a strange shape of the skull was found. From the theater workers, the writer heard a legend about a man who lived in the theater, was ugly and unrequitedly loved one of the artists. It was said that he died of love, and now his ghost wanders around the theater. It was this legend that became the basis for the book. Gaston Leroux claimed that the hero of his novel existed in reality.

"Phantom of the Opera" - a book, reviews about which are very diverse. Someone writes that the main character is an unhappy man. Others believe that he is a villain. For some, this is a grim story, for others - a romantic one. Therefore, in order to form an opinion about the novel, it is better to read it.

The plot of the musical

Events of the musical take place in the theater "Grand Opera". The main character is the Phantom of the Opera. But he has nothing to do with otherworldly beings. He is an ugly man outwardly, hiding his face under a mask and living in the cellars of the theater. He is an inventor, composer, artist, magician, in general, a genius in all its manifestations. The ghost is in love with actress Christine, he gives her singing lessons and tries to do everything to make her a star. On the main hero of the musical "The Phantom of the Opera" reviews are very different, but most of them come down to the fact that the Ghost is the most romantic villain, because all the crimes he committed in the theater were committed in the name of love.

The ghost does not show Christine's face, trying to bewitch her with a voice. But one day, out of curiosity, she tears off his mask ... The girl is scared, and the Ghost is furious, he dreamed that she would fall in love with him, but now that she saw how terrible he is, it's impossible.

The theater has a patron - Viscount Raul. Between him and Christine, feelings flash, but the Ghost is going crazy with jealousy and trying to separate the lovers.

After some time, the Ghost writes the opera "Don Giovanni" and wants it to be staged in the "Grand Opera". Directors do not dare to refuse him. The main role should be performed by Christine. Raoul believes that this is a chance to catch the Ghost. During the performance in the image of Don Juan, the composer himself enters the stage instead of the actor. The idea of catching the Ghost turns into the fact that the Ghost kidnaps Christine and takes in her dungeon, he tells her that now she will stay with him forever. Raul manages to find the Ghost lair, he breaks in, but falls into a trap. The ghost offers Christine a choice - if she stays with him, he will let the viscount go, if Kristin refuses him, then the viscount dies. To save the life of the groom, Christine agrees to stay with the Ghost. But he suddenly lets go of the lovers, because he can not make the unhappy one that he loves so much, the Ghost himself disappears. So the musical "The Phantom of the Opera" ends. Comments of Russian-speaking spectators who managed to attend the production in one of the foreign theaters agree that even if you do not know the language in which the musical is performed, you will still understand everything.

The History of the Musical

The idea to write this musical appeared in Webber in 1984, when he married actress Sarah Brightman. The composer wanted to create for the wife a large-scale project in which she could fully demonstrate her talent and become famous. The script of the musical, Sir Webber, was created by himself. Authors of the texts to the arias were Richard Stilgow and Charles Hart. The artist of the project - Maria Bjornson, it is her idea that the famous chandelier, falling, swept over the heads of the amazed public. She is also the author of the Ghost mask.

Thanks to the genius of Webber and the perfectly selected team "Phantom of the Opera" - this is the best musical. The review of the "Phantom of the Opera" by one of the famous critics of John Simon was not very flattering, Simon criticized the music, the libretto and the performer of the main role. But most of the reviews have been and remain enthusiastic. The performance received a huge number of awards and won the whole world. Reviews about the musical "The Phantom of the Opera" are not only positive. But, in spite of everything, this production broke all records, becoming the most cash and long-playing.

Differences of Webber's statement from the book

In the book, the Ghost has disfigured the entire skull, and the mask covers the whole face, in the musical mask covers half the face, since if the mask and the disfiguring face of the makeup cover the whole face, it will be impossible to sing. In the novel, the Ghost has a name - Eric, in the musical his name is never mentioned. The book has a character like Pers, who was a friend and helper to the Ghost. In the musical, the role of the assistant is entrusted to Madame Giri. In the final of the musical Ghost disappears. And in the book the ending is more tragic - Eric dies of unrequited love. Reviews about the musical "The Phantom of the Opera" most often include such epithets as: "magically," "amazing," "fascinating," "to shivers," "spectacularly" and "it's worth seeing"!

The 2004 film

In 2004, on the musical of Webber, the film "The Phantom of the Opera" was filmed. Reviews about the film are by no means unanimous. The film version at some points differs from the stage version. All the actors in the film sing themselves. Reviews and reviews on the film "The Phantom of the Opera" are very controversial: someone praises artists, someone, on the contrary, is not satisfied with their work; Some say that the film is boring, and he is far from the stage version, others believe that the film is ideal. In this case, all critics chorus called the grandiose film "The Phantom of the Opera." Reviews of admiring viewers are available in much larger numbers than those of disillusioned people.

The story continues

In March 2010, the premiere of the continuation of the "Phantom of the Opera" under the title "Love never dies" was held. The sequel has nothing to do with Leroux's novel, since the story told by the writer can not have a continuation. According to the plan of the creators, the Ghost and Christine met again in 10 years. Kristin became a famous singer, married Raul and gave birth to a son who turns out to be the son of a Phantom. Meg from the best friend turns into the enemy Kristin, she is in love with the Ghost, and she is tormented by jealousy. In the final of the play, Meg shoots Christine, and she dies in the hands of the Ghost. The sequel did not become as successful as the "Phantom of the Opera", and was subjected to harsh criticism, although now the production is a success in Australia.

"Phantom of the Opera" in the world

The musical "The Phantom of the Opera" was staged in 30 countries of the world. He was lucky enough to see and hear more than a hundred million viewers. Throughout the world, the musical "The Phantom of the Opera" reviews the audience's response to stunning music, magnificent scenery, beautiful costumes and talented actors.

In the original production, Christine was performed by Sarah Brightman, and Michael Crawford became the first performer of the role of the Ghost. In the 2004 film, seventeen-year-old Emmy Rossum and Gerard Butler played the leading roles. In the jubilee production of 2011, Christina played the role of Sierra Boggez, and Ramin Karimlu played the role of Ghost.

"Phantom of the Opera" in Russia

In autumn of 2014 in Moscow, in the Palace of Youth, a grand and long-awaited premiere of this world masterpiece was held. The author of the Russian libretto was Alexey Ivashchenko, who is known to Russian fans of musicals as one of the authors of the musical "Nord-Ost". The performance makes only the first steps on the Russian stage, but to date it has been seen and heard by more than 100 thousand spectators, and reviews, reviews the play "The Phantom of the Opera" has already received in huge quantities.

In Russia, Kristin's party is played by Tamara Kotova and Elena Bakhtiyarova. The role of Raul is performed by the soloist of the Sverdlovsk Musical Comedy Theater Evgeny Zaitsev.

In the role of the Ghost, the musical actor Ivan Ozhogin shines, whose unique timbre will not leave anyone indifferent. Glory, as well as the highest theater prize "Golden Mask" he brought the role of Count von Krolock in the musical "The Ball of Vampires" in St. Petersburg. Ivan successfully played the same character in Germany. In addition to the role of the Phantom of the Opera, the actor performs the role of Woland in staging the St. Petersburg Music Hall, rehearses the main character's part in the musical "Jekyll and Hyde", participates in the project of St. Petersburg's Musical Comedy "Broadway Hits", and performs with solo concerts in Russia and abroad. He is known to the audience as Ernst Lubich and Prince Mdivani in the production of "Paul Negri", as Romashov in the musical "Nord-Ost", as Mancustrap in "Cats", and on many other roles. For the majority of Russian musical artists, his participation in the musical "The Phantom of the Opera" became a real gift. Comments from the audience say that Ivan Ozhogin is an ideal Ghost.