Phantom of the Opera 1988 Tony Awards

[@paulg2134]

Michael and Sarah will forever be the best ... I can listen to it over and over again. I feel Michael's passion, nobody has ever matched his deep intensity. He is the one true Phantom!

[@bellnorel]

Same, I saw the tour of the Phantom in 1998, but other actors of course, it was spectacular although my favorite duet is Sarah-Michael :)

[@jazzy1260]

Michael's performance has a haunting quality of barely suppressed pain that I've yet to hear duplicated in this role.

[@rosiemcgosie7376]

I know. It's so achingly beautiful and haunting and ethereal.

[@Queenofuncool]

Amen. Exactly as described in the book "a voice at once immensely, heroically sweet and triumphantly insidious, subtly powerful and powerfully subtle..there was something definitive and masterful that must in itself inspire every mortal who appreciates, loves and makes music"

[@feralbluee]

So lovely to see Angela - one of the Queens of Broadway 🎭🌹

[@ericlewis217]

Everytime I hear these two-chills. Perfection.

[@angelcaldwell4190]

As much as I love Karimloo and Boggess, NOTHING will ever top Crawford and Brightman.

[@eduardoantonini]

Exactly, they are more Eric and Christine than they are Michael and Sarah

[@jacintacesp]

I personally didn't like Karimloo. His voice for me is too harsh. I'm sure he is technically a brilliant singer, but just not my style.

[@justess797]

@@jacintacesp agreed!! He doesnt sound like an "angel of music"

[@harperfisak]

I love them too, they (Rierra) do get WAY too much credit though.

[@Yelobutterflyable]

Just watch phantom on 2 days ago in Melbourne Australia, my first show was in Sydney years ago. I wish I watch michael crawford& sarah brightman's performance, in the 80's i was young and know nothing about this show, what a regret because I missed that moment

[@catherineelmore2004]

I have such a crush on Michael Crawford - his voice is amazing! He could sing a telephone book and make it sound good!

[@amyclarke41]

I now have a guilty crush on michael crawford 😊

[@USFanLovesMinHo]

He had the voice, acting ability and just the over all IT factor.

[@lefantomer]

We've had 35 years of Phantom thanks to Michael and his absolutely extraordinary performance. It's sad that there is so little film of his stage performance in its entirety. Seemingly the most unlikely choice to play the tormented Erik, he was brilliant and heartbreaking.

[@CarmenZynger]

I saw this musical in NYC back in '88. I'd never seen such a clever mix of music, staging, props, especially when the chandelier drops and flies over the orchestra pit! There have been some amazing other Phantoms, and Christine Daaes. Yet, there is a brilliant connection between Michael and Sarah here, that was utterly electric! You could feel it from the audience. Thank you for posting!

[@TheYellowDog14]

I have seen so many versions of this song and they've been fantastic! But watching this was like seeing it for the first time.

[@sihairuosihairuo2241]

Michael too good! He is not performing , he is the role! The best one so far

[@jenniferschillig3768]

The very first place I heard The Music Of The Night. On the last day of school that year, I went out and bought the Phantom OBC.

[@34thstreetman]

Had to tape the show cause of the junior prom.

[@hextoken]

Michael Crawford is brilliant. What a complete performance!

[@jenniferp9136]

Breathtaking. Absolutely breathtaking. I could feel eyes welling up

[@kentville72]

The two best ever, no one can beat them and their voices.

[@leedscab123]

Forgotten how good Michael Crawford was as the Phantom.

[@USFanLovesMinHo]

He was absolutely amazing.

[@jennyjpbr]

Michael é tão perfeito. Não existe outro igual. Ele é o melhor Fantasma de todos! ❤❤

[@haniyehlavoi3070]

Michael Crawford IS the phantom ! They're wonderful ❤

[@USFanLovesMinHo]

I agree 100%. When Webber heard him singing from another room, he said he knew he found his phantom.

[@haniyehlavoi3070]

@@USFanLovesMinHo ❤

[@TootsiePlunkette]

I can confirm that is true. I was among the lucky but small crowd that got to watch the taping at the Majestic. The music was pre-recorded, and they performed this multiple times during the taping (I wonder if there's a blooper reel because there were some funny moments). They told us that Michael and Sarah would perform at the Tonys, but without the props; the broadcast audience saw the pre-taped version, and at the end they cut to them live onstage. And now you know... the rest of the story.

[@sf5823]

No one can sing it quite like Sarah Brightman, I think it's Andrew Lyodd Webber's best work but then I'm biased as it was my favourite song growing up. It's written beautifully though, amazing piece of artistry to have come into the world! It's inspired many!

[@katielawrence5420]

I love Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman.

[@bawoman]

Musical theater hit its tragic, romantic, beautiful peak with these 2 in POTO.

[@karendavison6502]

People back then were so surprised Micheal could even sing, his best known performance was as Frank Spencer in the TV Comedy Some Mothers 'Do Have Em' lol

[@USFanLovesMinHo]

I think because he became well known from Hello Dolly and his singing was kind of comical that it blew them away when they heard his real singing chops.

[@КУРИЛЫ-ч1ф]

Шедевр!

[@frederickfranchi6408]

Thanks for the Memories, in 88 I was in a store like Kmart and had a really nice music department and I was wondering what was playing and it was the intro to Phantom of the Opera, and I thought wow that's something different never realized that it was a Broadway play I bought it the spot, an amazing piece of music the whole Broadway play 😎😍😎

[@Sydride98]

This is my school musical this coming school year! Beyond pumped for it :-D

[@cooljul1]

Wth can I move to your school

[@ejaubel]

+cooljul1 ikr! My school literally does the same thing every year

[@leodurkin8539]

Is their no end to this mans talents 👋🏻

[@amyclarke41]

Both were class

[@gabriella6713]

I love this musical so much

[@johnrsanchez3890]

Michael Crawford the best of all the phantoms that’s my opinion Beautiful song

[@bencuraza6503]

ORIGINAL LEGENDARY LEGENDS 👏👏👏👏

[@lilliedoubleyou3865]

EPIC.

[@barryplant2895]

Alwaysssssss Michael and Sarah.

[@Go-I-CHI]

Quite an entrance. Can't find anyone top this combination.

[@iheartdisneymusic]

They are perfect. I am in love with both their voices. I don't know why people hate Sarah Brightman so much. She is Christine Daae and the only other person who can play Christine as well as her is Anna O'Byrne. And no one compares to Micheal Crawford.

[@oliver91ist]

Ashley Stringham Ashley Stringham the hate was because she was Andrew Lloyd Webber's wife. Everyone thought at the time the show was a star vehicle for her, thankfully in London she proved herself, but on Broadway there were reviews that still came for her, it's a case of mud sticking

[@sarahcha7119]

Ashley Stringham I thought Sierra Boggess was a wonderful Christine

[@fernandachirinos7384]

tottally agree with you !!!!

[@cryinglaughingemoji1741]

Really? Who hates sarah? She's great

[@inlonging]

@@cryinglaughingemoji1741 people who’ve been exposed to phantom through the movie 😅

[@geertvanwyk3357]

MINDBLOWING!!!°

[@zackstark24601]

R.I.P Hal Prince

[@greenvalley87]

The OG'S really did have as much chemistry like Sierra and Ramin

[@USFanLovesMinHo]

I love Ramin but Michael will always be my favorite Phantom.

[@kollerbrian]

Sweet intoxication, You can say it again. Thanks, this Male part that helps create a male mystique. A man and his forever love. Brian A Koller

[@juliehawkins3907]

No offense intended, but there can't be a great phantom or Christine than Michael Crawford and Sarah Bright man!

[@vladimirazubcekova7727]

why not?

[@USFanLovesMinHo]

There are other great Phantom's and Christine's as I LOVE Ramin Karimloo and Sierra Boggess and they ARE great. With that said, Michael will always be my favorite Phantom. But I can't say that I like Sarah better than Sierra although Sarah is great.

[@jjfroemke3505]

Phantom of the Opera 1988 Tony Awards

[@suzannerider9460]

He was in musicals before Phantom. He was in Hello Dolly-the film version.

[@LilaAngelique]

I can't understand why Sarah would lip the entire first half.

[@devinguerreri]

Lila Angelique me either. All I can think of is that it was so important they didn't wanna risk it being off? Idk.

[@Gizmoji]

Was the last cadenza prerecorded? I know they do it for the show (hitting that note 8 shows a week? There's a reason the actress is not usually a legit opera singer) But did they do it for the tony performance? Kinda sounds like it and would make sense.

[@Budcat101]

not at all a favorite of mine BUT can appreciate the theater of it all1

[@elhadaazul8484]

they believe that michael and sarah could have been boyfriends in the pbra of the ghost since good. I do not know if it's me, but since there is a certain love between them, please help me clarify my question

[@bawoman]

Sarah was with ALW and married and very happy at that time. Sometimes good chemistry is just that, good chemistry

[@andrespaoloski]

Sarah Brightman solo lyrics, please!

[@nancycalhoun3702]

The ONLY TRUE Phantom! ALL others fail in comparison.

[@gaygialli]

I'd argue Ramin Kalimaroo was just as good

[@feralbluee]

This is an opera. . . She has the most perfect soprano voice - I can’t begin to describe its beauty. . . He gives the music a deep tone - it’s magical. How could Andrew Lloyd Weber compose this, and the disaster “Cats” as well, which was so boring (I saw it, so disappointed).

[@clownprincessoffear8204]

sounds nothing like Sarah brightman... sorru

[@McGirlie1]

+Alesana Nygma yeah it does. It sound just like her.

[@juliebrehove6775]

+Alesana Nygma I can see why you'd think that. I think Sarah's voice has matured as she's gotten older. Here, she was just starting out and her voice was very operatic, as that was how she was trained. She's definitely developed a signature sound since then that's different.from her early years. Now her style is more soft, light, and a little less vibratto-y than it was when she was in Phantom. Still has a voice like a bell.

[@wolfvision5154]

This would actually be enjoyable if it was a movie and not a boring play

[@contagiousintelligence5007]

Looks like lip sync?