Attention Broadway and West End Fans! The theatres may have gone dark but you can still get your fill online. And this is a performance for the books. A duet between, and you won’t believe it, a world-renowned Broadway singer and an international movie star. These two take the stage to perform a song from The Phantom of the Opera to honor Andrew Lloyd Webber on his 50 birthday celebration, and it’s a show stopper.
Here’s your front-row ticket to the festivities.
The Stage Is Set
The all-stars of Broadway are lining up in the wings to perform and give a salute to Andrew Lloyd Webber on his 50th birthday. Royal Albert Hall is packed with his friends and family, Megastars, and well to do’s, ready to see a few performances of a lifetime. No expense was spared in production and talent in order to give one of the greatest composers a celebration for his contribution to the theatre world.
The Original Christine
The lightning strikes as the Phantom pounds his massive pipe organ and the London Musicians Orchestra performs the explosive composition. The crowd cheers as from stage left a spotlight finds none other than the star of the original production of Phantom, Sarah Brightman. At London’s West End world premiere of The Phantom of the Opera, it was Brightman who took the stage and crafted the role of Christine Daaé. And here she is, years later, paying tribute to her ex-husband, Lloyd Webber.
A Trick of the Eye?
Sarah Brightman takes center stage and rolls into the eponymous song from Phantom. As she sings, the spotlight finds The Phantom walking down to take the stage. Who is that playing the Phantom? That looks like Hollywood and International movie sensation Antonio Banderas? Could it be? Can he sing?
Hollywood Heavyweight
Yes that’s him, and when he raises the microphone to sing, his unique voice fills the Royal Albert Hall, and these two smash this duet to the awe of the audience. Banderas is no stranger to Lloyd Webber musicials, as he portrayed Ché, the narrator, in the movie version of Evita.
The Impresario
Andrew Lloyd Webber has composed 21 musicals, and his longest-running musical by far is The Phantom of The Opera. The story of a beautiful soprano who becomes the obsession of a musical genius living in an expansive underground lair below the Paris Opéra House. Lloyd Webber based the musical on the 1910 French novel by Gaston Leroux, and it went on to become a worldwide sensation.
Webber created the role of Christine Daaé for his then wife, Sarah Brightman. Phantom won the 1986 Olivier Award and the 1988 Tony Award for Best Musical.
Youtubers are commenting about the two singers
“Has her voice aged a single day? It might as well be 1989 all over again!”
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“Antonio Banderas has to be the most sensual sounding Phantom going.“
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“Who knew, Antonio Banderas sings well. And he even managed to do a duet with Sarah Brightman. Wow!”
London’s West End, New York’s Broadway, and theatres across the globe have all gone dark, but check out this video to get your fix. It’s a special ticket, placing you up close and personal with two legends.
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