James Barbour talks "Music Of The Night" in Phantom Of The Opera

Award winning Broadway Star James Barbour talks about what it was like to sing The Music Of The Night 8 times a week for nearly 3 years in the longest running Broadway show of all time "The Phantom Of The Opera.'
www.jamesbarbour.com/newsletter
He talks about the difference of singing the song in the studio for his critically acclaimed CD Bring Me Giants (which is available on iTunes) which you can see here: itunes.apple.com/us/album/bri...

[@alexanderzamora5930]

I have seen 15 phantoms (three times on Broadway and 12 times in Toronto both touring and the Toronto cast whenever a new phantom is cast) and the last Phantom production I saw was you, James, on Broadway. After seeing you, I have decided that you will be my last Phantom. I wanted to close this chapter of my love for the phantom with you as the perfect Phantom, flawless and mysterious. For me, you are the music of the night ❤️

[@JamesBarbourNow]

Alexander Zamora Thank you very much!

[@cassieblanchette9754]

No one will ever sing this song the way you do. Absolute perfection and your portrayal of the role...unparalleled.

[@jasminedonaldson6809]

my fave Phantom ever... ❤

[@JamesBarbourNow]

Thank you!

[@fireworks990]

The phantom should be a baritone. James was great at it one of the best.

[@stogiecub4036]

Your the best Phantom I ever saw!!!

[@AlejandraRamirez-sf4qr]

You are the best phantom ever!!!!! I saw the play & I immediately fell in love with your particular preforming...

[@marylougold8333]

Your voice is amazing !

[@cindyerbacher2670]

As the years have gone by seeing Phantom, "Point of No Return," has become my favorite song, which I didn't see listed in the survey. Had the opportunity to see you twice in this role and enjoyed each performance. Thanks for sharing your insight into MOTN.

[@JamesBarbourNow]

Thanks! Yes Point Of No return is an incredible piece of music!

[@leadingblind1629]

I can't figure out if it's how you talk about the music, the specific music you're talking about, or it just being you. But I kinda want to cry listening to you. Hero worship full swing

[@jackogracko]

My brother, Jackson, and I love you and the phantom! He saw you last April and came home and was obsessed. Now we watch all your vids together! Thanks for these :)

[@adamkerr2648]

I am a 17 year old actor and I’ve been acting since I was 6 and singing since I was 5. I started doing theatre after watching Phantom one time and playing The Phantom has basically been a life long dream of mine. Your talent and your passion is so inspiring to me as a performer and I just want to let you know that you are incredible and I want to thank you for inspiring me to push myself to work as hard as possible to be able to pursue my dream. ❤️

[@JamesBarbourNow]

Wow! That's awesome. Thank you so much!

[@julietajazming]

Talk about the final scene!

[@JamesBarbourNow]

Great idea. I'll put that into a video!

[@marinascopm]

Brilliant idea!!! I’d love to see that :)

[@CastanedaCrew4]

I saw the phantom on broadway 3 years ago. It was a magical experience, and James you were perhaps the best part. We have so many spectacular gentlemen stepping into the role time and time again captured on film, and were able to analyze it and interpret what we think of the actor playing that character. Before I went to see the performance I tried( was tempted), my best not to do much research on you or the cast at that current time because I wanted it to be fresh! More excitement, raw emotion and something new! You made my experience as an 11 year old great!! I’ve loved the show since I was two years old! It was actually(believe it or not) the first film( 2004 version) I ever saw!! I was instantly as a two year old, somehow drawn to the emotion, passion and power of the piece and it’s been that way ever since. I now receive professional vocal lessons, from a great coach, and theater, film and commercial acting classes and have hopes of one day being a broadway actor, and maybe even stepping into my dream role of “ The Phantom”. I’m now 14 and going to see the show again in New York soon! Much love James, and I can’t wait!!

[@nancycostello945]

Beautiful interpretation of music of the night,and james you are such an inspiration as the phantom of the opera!

[@Gnatali3]

I saw you as Phantom in July! You're so so talented. 💕

[@Sean_from_the_heights]

I was very lucky to see you when you first started. That night I also remembered that you were my beast back in 1995 when beauty and the beast played in la!!!!

[@JamesBarbourNow]

Wow! Thanks. I'm going to do another video about Beauty and The Beast very soon!

[@KellyRoxton]

Mr. Barbour, Just wondering if you would ever rerecord Music of the Night or any of the other songs From this production?I saw you Three times and was able to shake your hand and take a photo with you afterwards it was amazing to me you were so gracious and kind to those of us waiting there and it was freezing cold yet you managed to talk with each of us. I didn't have my speaking voice that night so I had given you a letter telling you how much I appreciated all of your music. That I take your music with me to Dr's apts and it calms me down. Thank you so much. Kelly

[@JamesBarbourNow]

Thank you very much. I've actually recorded Music Of The Night as well as some other great Broadway tunes on my CD Bring Me Giants. You can find it here in iTunes: itunes.apple.com/us/album/bring-me-giants/987033323

[@KellyRoxton]

James Barbour Sir I do Own that version I love it. However in your talk you mentioned how you learned how to sing it how he wrote it and you spoke of that so eloquently that I was hoping you might in the future record it the way you did it from the show. Grins my Favorite from seeing you was Point of No Return. The music swirled and surrounded me and made me feel the depths of your emotions. I have also purchased Tale of Two Cities. The Finale song makes me feel good even on my worst days in the hospital. Especially those really bad days. I also love Tears From Heaven that was quite a surprise you and Linda Eder on a CD. I love I Will Be There that is a beautiful duet. I also love the Dracula Cd. That was amazing. Thank you so much. Kelly

[@julietajazming]

You are the first phantom i saw

[@JamesBarbourNow]

Thank YOU!

[@henrythrasher5813]

I think it’s very funny that the Phantom is often considered a tenor role. When I was growing up, before I even knew what a tenor or baritone was, I would listen to the original cast recording and would always be blown away by Michael Crawford’s low notes in Music of the Night. So I always associated the role of the Phantom with low notes. It must be such a difficult role for anyone playing it. The low notes are probably very difficult for a tenor and the high notes being difficult for a baritone.

[@Ione3012]

I saw you 7x as Phantom on Stage For me the Project Phantom starts much earlier on Oct 16 in 2011. I heard the first time the "Bring me giants" Album. In 2013 starts step 2. This time Phantom Broadway asked: "Who should be the next Phantom?" I mentioned your Name and i was the only one. At your opening Night my group Members and i wished you a good start. You stay a long time. James let me tell you a Story from the last learning lesson i got in 2017. It was the week after you finished Phantom. Since years i celebrate my Birthday no more, means i don´t invite friends. Some friends came without an Invitation to celebrate my Birthday with me and surprised me. My son came and 1/2 hour later it rings again at the door and his best friend came too with a gift for me. I was very surprised and honored. My other friends call me only by phone and i talked and talked. I got a learning lesson from my son, about something i forgot. "Mom please come, we´re here to celebrate your Birthday with you, all the other people on the phone you can call back" I didn´t prepare a cake, but i received days before a wonderful Package with a self backed cake from my friend Nancy. We all enjoyed her cake and i thank God always bring Things in the right moment.

[@larainesmith4090]

Holy Smokes!

[@khrismantei6660]

What would I happen if I didn’t know how to read sheet music? I was thought to, but I only did piano lessons, that was many years ago though 😅

[@Ione3012]

James, do you know the background to the scene? The phantom takes Christine to the underworld, there to the place under the theater. The underworld stands for the subconscious. The song "Music of the Night" stands for the dreams. The dream of harmony between male + female. We attract what our dreams show us. The feelings in our dreams are reflected in reality. Greetings Zenta

[@kathryndangelo3897]

I got to see you twice play the Phantom both times you were stunning! What is your favorite song to sing?

[@JamesBarbourNow]

Kathryn D'Angelo My favorite musical section in the show to sing was in the second act. Right after Christine throws off his hood and reveals the Phantom.

[@BryanLankston]

It is my dream to one day play the Phantom on Broadway just like you. I saw you as the Phantom in December and I loved seeing the show again. What would you say to someone who wants to be in Phantom like you were? Where did you start, what steps did you go through to get there, what would you recommend to other musical theatre actors that are just starting to get their foot in the door? I just graduated high school a little less than a year ago and fortunately had an incredible theatre teacher who actually knew Craig Bennet and he took me on a tour of the Majestic Theatre after seeing the show. She has helped me tremendously so far but I was just curious because you have actually played the role of the Phantom and that is my dream role. Thank you so much if you do get the time to reply to me. I really enjoyed seeing you in Phantom of the Opera!

[@JamesBarbourNow]

Wow! Thank you! These are all great questions and great topics for future KZbin videos. Keep your eyes peeled here for that. I'm also launching a programs called "The Thriving Artist" which has video academy modules that teach the things never taught in Arts schools...like how to survive while pursuing your dream of playing The Phantom (or anyones dream of reaching their goals as an artist). You can visit www.yourstarpower.com and sign up for notifications on the launch!

[@haileygillen3]

James my angle if music. I will help you make the music of the night.

[@marenmclean1301]

So pretty much your going into a phantom dimension that feels restrictive but frees you as you let go of that dead weight of over interpreting? I saw a video of you performing it and it feels so vulnerable, passionate and naked! There is no way not to get sucked in. Is it method acting? It feels very internally raw. When art is this good it's hard to put it into words. It transcends the human experience!

[@bettysylvia4539]

I had seen Phantom 3 times, once in Boston and twice in Providence, but when I saw Phantom last May in NYC was the best. James you are the best Phantom by far. My absolute favorite song is Music of the Night.

[@JamesBarbourNow]

Wow! Thank you so very much!

[@into.the.wood.chipper.]

Hi James, How do you hit the Ab4 at the second chorus so big and bright with such a chesty sound? Does working the low range help get power up there?

[@jasminnemcdonald94A]

Gaston Leroux wrote "The Phantom of the Opera." Andrew Lloyd Webber just borrowed it and turned it into a musical.

[@TheRobertParks]

What is the best way of going about singing the "Where you long to be" part of the song?

[@JamesBarbourNow]

Robert Parks That’s a tough one. Key for me was breathing properly as I approached that section and to make sure that I was relaxed and not keeping my breath “high” but connected.

[@johnmoss1444]

Well my question is related to the baritone thing. I’m a baritone as well and I sang music of the night several times in my musical theatre class and I’ve been recorded and I can tell you my low notes kinda sound similar to yours whereas when I bring it in between like in “silently the senses” I kinda have that Gerard Butler sound so my version reminded me of a cross between your version and Gerard Butlers version. Im contemplating playing the phantom in the future if and when my theatre career takes off and my question is on the high notes. Particularly the all I ask of you reprise after point of no return before Christine unmasks him, I can kinda do that except I have to be loud in order for it to sound right and sometimes I had to switch to falsetto mode and sometimes I didn’t. Anyway, my question is how would I be able to get a high note like that one to come out right? You did a good job of it but for me it’s a tricky note since it is at the top of my range if not even slightly beyond. And we are both baritones so I’m just asking this so I can know how to attack such a high part and it can sound good :)

[@JamesBarbourNow]

I totally understand John. I would suggest, if you're not already doing it, to find a great teacher. Having someone who can guide you through you're voice one on one is vital. I would suggest that as a start.

[@mikabella5057]

Whats it like to audition? Also so happy to say you were my first phantom !

[@JamesBarbourNow]

That's a good topic for another behind the scenes KZbin video!

[@leadingblind1629]

I am so glad I haven't seen evidence of you being in the reimagined version. What tripe. You're better than that. Sorry that's random but on my mind.

[@ARMY_for_10_years]

I'm curious to hear how he thought Gerard Butler did in the role of the Phantom in the movie adaptation.

[@JamesBarbourNow]

Erica Beumel I’ve actually never seen the film. 😊

[@hannahmariellewellynllewel7128]

Hello i was wondering if u ever get your hands on phantom letters if u can send me one

[@JamesBarbourNow]

I'm not in the show now so I don't have access to anything like that. I know that we used to give them away for donations to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS so you might want to reach out to BCEFA and see if they might have some. Plus the donation goes to a greta cause. Hope that helps!

[@kermitthefrog1198]

Music of the night is the only song in phantom of the opera out of my range

[@Frequencyofzero]

How many weeks did the new cast have to rehearse the show?

[@JamesBarbourNow]

Jason Mortensen depends upon the cast. Normally 2 weeks. But for this role specifically I had 5 if I remember correctly.