AVOID this one!
J. Enterkin | Raleigh, NC USA | 03/01/2000
(1 out of 5 stars)
"I ordered this version of Phantom for 2 reasons: 1. it was inexpensive 2. the listing said "soundtrack" so I hoped it would taken from at least the national touring company if not Broadway. When I received it, it lists only "C.C. Productions" for credits. No vocalists, no orchestra, no other information! And the music and the vocals are both just terrible! I have seen "Phantom" live on Broadway at the Majestic twice and listened to the REAL soundtrack (which unfortunately I don't own but will purchase now!) and this is barely even recognizable. Retailers should be ashamed to even stock this poor version of "Phantom"."
Mmhmm..... and?
varailo | far beneath the opera house | 12/31/2003
(2 out of 5 stars)
"I ordered this recording recently to build up my rather small Phantom collection, containing only the Original London Cast Recording and many mp3s that I've found on the internet. I listened to the CD all the way through in little more than half an hour- the short running time would not have irked me as much had half the emotion and talent of the Original London Cast been there.The whole CD seems rushed, in a sense; the singers aren't all that bad, but they appear to overlook many of the small details added in other recordings. The background orchestrations are weak, as well, and many sound like I could have made them with a simple MIDI program on my computer. It's almost a shame to see such a great score and wonderful story ruined by this lack of emotion and input.And we come to the part of the play that matters most to me: How good is the Phantom? Well, I rate the different Phantoms by whether or not I, had I been Christine in the story, would follow the Phantom, and choose him instead of Raoul. Had the Phantom shown up in my mirror with this man's voice, I might wander back to Raoul. I've heard worse... but it simply does not have the emotion, the seductiveness, and the longing that many of the other Phantoms that I've heard have.If you're looking for another recording to add to your collection, I'd suggest the Original Vienna Cast, my personal favorite. Though you can't find it on Amazon, it's worth it to find it somewhere else and order, at least much more so than this below-par recording."
I guess it's ok...
Tark Mwain :) | 09/09/2004
(2 out of 5 stars)
"I own the Original London Cast version of The Phantom of the Opera and I've seen the musical many times, and this is only my opinion, but I think the singer who sings as the phantom on this CD sings like he's getting choked by someone while he sings, and it also does not include the "Music of the Night" which is one of the main songs on the musical, so I wouldn't call this CD the HIGHLIGHTS from the Phantom of the Opera."