Phantom of the Opera - Olivier Awards 2016 - Covent Garden Piazza

Phantom's Perforamce at The Olivier Award Covent Garden Stage.
The Phantom - Ben Forster
Christine - Emmi Christensson

[@madeleinetierney8993]

I think it can be agreed that the sign language lady is the real star of this show.

[@cameronwatson471]

She is me at every musical audition I have ever tried out for. 😂

[@strangeandinteresting]

IT'S BOOK CHRISTINE!

[@kaciebroadfield262]

I cried when I met her because of how accurate she was.

[@lankstonlife6125]

im-so-2460-done It's weird to see book Christine on stage. I'm so used to Christine with brown hair in the Lloyd Webber version that it's weird to see the Leroux version.

[@hsg2012]

im-so-2460-done Makes me excited!!! lol I hate that she's always brunette.

[@strangeandinteresting]

Quick addition, I'm going to see Ben as the phantom next month and I'm thoroughly looking forward to it!

[@lourdesdiaz4557]

Yeah

[@kennaeverhart6650]

everyone: look at the sign language lady me: look at his eyebrow

[@blackngoldcuttlefish3390]

omg blonde wig makes me too happy :) (book accuracy, haha)

[@_..jolene.._]

Same!!!

[@Xushish]

It isn’t a wig... or I don’t think so

[@Xushish]

And she’s a Swede... ACCURACY

[@darkangelw8472]

Yes, it's a wig, cos styling the actresses hair would destroy their real hair, so they're using wigs

[@beautifulstrangers78]

Finally! A blonde Christine! I'm glad to see tribute finally being paid to Gaston Leroux!

[@iridescentvids]

First blonde-haired Christine I've ever seen...

[@PolyBiBadger]

Same here

[@selinakyle4747]

Second for me. In my country, the actress who played Christine is a natural blonde and they didn't put a whig on her. She looks stunning though, unlike this one :)))

[@adamnomdeplum3]

Kate Wibberly even better, she's probably Swedish or Norwegian like Christine was in the book

[@LadyDragonbane]

Adam Pajkowski She's Swedish! I love that she has a bit of an accent, which I assume Christine would've had ^^

[@nina.harr1ngt0n]

She's my second. She was blonde in the original tale so I kinda like it.

[@HavvahartKL]

OMG A blonde Christine!!! People, I'm geeking HARD

[@jhenderson4637]

Loved the performance, Emmi has such a beautiful voice, very pure and innocent portrayal of Christine as well. Bens sound is really refreshing and different from the recent phantoms on the west end. They really showed why the phantom deserved the win this year.

[@jstnshea]

The sign language interpreter is getting more into this performance than the actors are.

[@lepetitchat123]

Is that a common feature now? How does she interpret when Christine goes hysterical at the end of the number?

[@daniellaorbe6906]

im laughing sorry

[@angelinemae6564]

Justin Shea 😂😂😂 the girl at 4:29-4:30 perfectly described my reaction after watching all these.

[@arleen123100]

Justin Shea I know lol😂 but good that People with hearing impairment get the same performance.

[@AlexB-vb2tw]

I'm so excited there's a blonde Christine like in the original novel! :D

[@Bokskorpion1]

I am really impressed by her voice, she hit all the difficult notes perfectly ✧

[@MixieChan94]

She truly sounds like an angel.... And it sounds like she could go even higher with those notes!

[@TenakaKhan1981]

I'm a complete musical novice, someone who three years ago would never go to one. Bought a trip to London for my girlfriend with tickets to this and it was great. How anyone could be disappointed in this is beyond me, it really is. Cracking show, cracking music and singing, get yerself to it.

[@TheRealityfades]

+TenakaKhan1981 TBH, I was disappointed with this performance and I'll tell you why: in the West End, there's a habit of hiring light sounding Christine's like Emmi. She's not bad, but I'm used to the Broadway production [which I've seen like nine times so far], where they cast heavier sounding Christines like Sierra Boggess, Sandra Joseph, Marni Raab, Rebecca Pitcher, etc. So it's not that Emmi was bad per se, just that it's a matter of personal preference in my case.

[@POTOGURU25]

+R Beth see i prefer the more lighter but youthful style Christine,all the ones you have said play her more older and mature which im not a fan off as shes meant to be 16-20

[@ufewl]

+TenakaKhan1981 well when you are more expert you will no doubt become as stuck up your own arse as the critics here, so it is basically just a matter of time before you understand

[@TheRealityfades]

POTOGURU25 No she's not. Christine is supposed to be at least twenty, at least in the book. The 16 year old thing comes from 1. people who saw the movie and 2. a mistranslation from the original French book.

[@TheMsiaddict]

The video failed to catch the creepy Phantom.

[@arleen123100]

I actually really like blonde wig for Christine as much as I love dark 😊

[@darkangel4994]

Her voice is so clear and gorgeous. I have been REBORN.

[@rbeygarcia]

Oi, the mask. They added like half an inch to the protrusion of his nose. The actor's nose isn't so beak-y and hooked as all that.

[@The-Musical-Lover]

I've read few people complaining on the blonde wig. I personally think it looks better, and it nicely fits with the white nightgown.

[@The-Musical-Lover]

fxntasyland How so? I saw the photos, the star princess actually looks really cute, with Hannibal it looks normal like on Meg, and it's absolutely gorgeous with the wishing dress. And the wedding dress- it's white, so it fits the same as the gown in this video. I saw Emmi with a brown wig, and it really doesn't fit her. Look, I like brunette Christine as well, but I don't get why the blonde wig gets so much hate, just because it's something new. They've been changing the brown wig from "almost black" to a really light shade of brown over the years and nobody complained.

[@oscarpeder5390]

Can you guys just stop complaining about ben forsters voice!! You could not have Done it half as good. He makes a new and mysterious phantom.

[@TheMsiaddict]

His voice was not nasally before the trap door accident.

[@TheMsiaddict]

Oscar&Peder He's not as good as Matthew Cammelle who was Peron when he was Magaldi in Evita.

[@Manglestar14lokilaufeyson]

Oscar&Peder I’m a girl and I could do it like 10 times better than him!

[@_..jolene.._]

OMG A BLONDE CHRISTINE!!!!!!!!! Finally paid attention to Gaston Leroux!!!! 💗💗💗 I am such a Phan and geek😂😂🤓🤓

[@adamnomdeplum3]

finally! a blonde Christine like in the book!

[@Sometimes_Happiness]

Is it safe to say that Ben's Phantom is the creepiest since Michael Crawford's?

[@pjnarciso9422]

+Vikram C its the eyebrows hahaha

[@TheMsiaddict]

+Pj Narciso Most likely his eyes.

[@waynedev1621]

Don't rate him! My Fav other than 'Crawford' was the Actor who took over from him-'Dave Willetts!' Also loved 'Peter Karrie!','Colm Wilkinson!' 'John Owen Jones' & 'Ramin karimloo!'x

[@TheMsiaddict]

+Wayne Dev Matthew Cammelle.

[@Annesglitter]

Yes.

[@rickardnyberg4899]

Ben has a good voice but he sounded off from time to time and not in sync with Emmi. I wonder if he had difficulties to hear the music. And the last note was to short. Emmi is really good. I like her clear and deeper Soprano voice than many of the very light "teenage voice Christines" we sometimes hear in the London production. Christine is supposed to be young but to sing like an angel and not like a teenage girl. Looking forward to hear Emmi with Peter in the swedish production this fall.

[@TheMsiaddict]

The songs were shortened.

[@TheRealityfades]

+Rickard Nyberg I still think Emmi is too light sounding for me, but I'm used to the Broadway production.

[@TheMsiaddict]

R Beth This was autotuned. If you want to see the creepiest phantom, there's a raw video from an audience.

[@christinaaemiliana]

Yes, they butchered his interpretation in post production, I wonder why. But the last note is a bit off by itself, and in the beginning of TMOTN he sounds a bit too much like Hugh Panaro. I like him as the Phantom, though.

[@xxelectricrosexx7329]

I loved her vocalizations at the end.

[@user-yy9hg4qc5k]

It's perfect solution. Beautyful blond Christine - it's very nice, and she perfect to that scene.

[@madeleinetierney8993]

Watching this again. Wow, Ben's voice is on point.

[@samanthapaige8639]

As someone who has seen the US multiple times, it's odd but refreshing to see the blonde Christines.

[@samanthahilton9966]

These two are amazing live!

[@MegVlogz]

The guy at the beginning ... "cheaper on DVD" haha

[@user-pi9sd4wp6d]

😂

[@POTOGURU25]

lol and there laughing,bloody idiots

[@thefinalkey1694]

that last note gave me chills. They have amazing voices!!!!

[@izzymania92]

i watched him live and he was amazing!!!

[@lissapepper]

No chemistry or emotion except for the sign language lady. Keep rocking.

[@lizrochester80]

Loved the performance! I quite like seeing a blonde Christine. I'm still adamant that no one can beat Ramin Karimloo as my idea of the perfect Phantom though.

[@TheMsiaddict]

Matt Cammelle was one of the best underrated Phantom because he was the standby of Earl Carpenter. The rare gentle and soft one. His MOTN is difficult to match. He's gliding from whispers to high notes effortlessly. He's not busy touching his hair but busy wooing Christine.

[@gabriellethomas1551]

I think John Owen Jones and Ramin Karimloo are on a par. JOJ was a fabulous Phantom.

[@ivanmatev8276]

@@gabriellethomas1551 totally agree!

[@Necroherz]

I don't change for nothing to Ramin, man. He treat so well the use of suspense between the phrases and take care of deliver a so passionate way to carry Christine into his world full of sensations sheltering her far away from the "garish light of day". The seduction is a important part to and... Obviously his voice match perfectly, he drives us to feel like if we were his Miss Daae

[@annaojek8601]

I am in love with them!!

[@heval58]

Anna Łojek then go and watch the performance with Ramin Karimloo and Sierra Boggges😇

[@colleen5100]

My first thought: IS THAT A BLONDE CHRISTINE!? finally!!! Someone goes with the book Christine

[@naomizusawa1263]

Wao!!!! I fell in love with Ben's Phantom❤❤❤❤❤

[@stevesartin66]

Really loved Ben in this but really loved him in the rocky horror picture show

[@kenyomalakasan329]

nice song ,and beautiful compliments

[@POTOGURU25]

Ben doesn't sound as bad as audio I heard of him,emmi sounds amazing thou but they both look the part very much

[@KatherineMathiowetz]

I love this so much because Christine is blonde in the book..... as for this Ramin thing... the gals are only thinking of how good he looks..... This man is good but so is the newest one ... I would have never thought a black man for phantom but OMFG he is fantastic!!!

[@KatherineMathiowetz]

I mean don't get me wrong Ramin's voice is wonderful.

[@ccosta8352]

Beautiful 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👍👍

[@xoloo09]

emi christensons christne is the most lovely to see

[@ryonotrio6904]

Liked Emmi Christensson's voice. Ben Forster was great but no one can top Ramin. what I really liked most in the video is the sign language lady tho.

[@TheMsiaddict]

Trouble cuber No one can top Ramin? Are you sure?

[@MrReed314]

Trouble cuber JOJ, John Owens is better.

[@marys.8379]

Trouble cuber while I love Ramin, I believe that no one can be as amazing as Anthony Warlow

[@melissam597]

TheMsiaddict Ramin is a lovely guy and no doubt very talented, but his voice is untrained and it shows. In LND, Anastasia and as Enjolras in Les Mis, that doesn’t matter so much as they were more “pop/rock”, but it absolutely does for classical roles like Phantom and Valjean.

[@ryonotrio6904]

@@melissam597 Tru Tru, but I think it comes down to personal preference I'd say. Ramin's got a lot of timbre in his voice and is very melodic which I LOVE. But Some people like a more operatic voice like John Own Jones which I can totally understand. And yeah, personally he's not my fav Jean Val Jean, but for a mysterious romantic dude like phantom, for me, he's perfect

[@alyciamartinez2704]

Omg i freaking love this

[@amyclarke41]

great they won , my fave show besides wicked to do well

[@amyclarke41]

my fave christine and i met him ben i dont know ben !😏

[@raxumbria]

Amazing

[@Equus21]

WHOOA! Ben ROCKS the Phantom! Wow..wow! :D

[@thesmeaguel6190]

I like blonde Christine

[@skeetthyreet4188]

I have to admit,the mask for phantom always makes the person at least 10% hotter. I dunno why,it just does.

[@orianamandi]

I was lucky to have met Ben here in Thessaloniki😍😍 his voice is one of a kind💎💎

[@scottibrown3274]

Damn! Why am I just now hearing about these too? That was awesome!!! And I’m so used to seeing a brunette Christine, so seeing a blonde one is a nice change

[@victoriapontmercy1428]

Anybody notice the double voice when she started the cadenza? Almost as if she is trying to sing over the recorded notes...

[@TheMsiaddict]

No. this is autotuned.

[@victoriapontmercy1428]

+TheMsiaddict This is, but if you watch one of the videos recorded by the audience (which obviously isn't auto-tuned), it's really obvious

[@TheMsiaddict]

No. I didn't hear the difference. But maybe it's just me. I'm too mesmerised by the Phantom creepiness 😁.

[@erikabautista7072]

I can hear it

[@jasminnemcdonald94A]

Christine, he's right behind you!

[@krystynarakowiecki2558]

Excellent

[@Kuralai95]

Loved Emmi's voice but her acting was a bit off?

[@leonna1947]

Ailin Ell late reply ik but anyways, the both of them was kinda of in there characters bc they didn't have the boat and everything so they couldn't get in to character as well as they do in the real show. they just had to go up and walk around on a stage.

[@user-ik3jq6kf2b]

I saw Ben and Celinde last week, and it was incredible. I feel when performances are out of context it always changes it. For the actors haven't got fully into character. I think Ben is a fantastic phantom. And I do like Emmi here. But I didn't see her live

[@Denidani]

I think I am the only one here who loved both his voice and his performance. I actually think that the character needs some feeling, and acting a little weird is to me basically part of the character. He is madly in love with Christine and will do anything for her. Loved this.

[@jessicabaxter5088]

Yesterday I went to see phantom of the opera, I met ben Forster and got a selfie with him!!

[@DawnsonRPGs]

Lucky bastard I went to see it two days ago and fell in love with it. Ben makes an amazing phantom. He brings charisma to the character and a sense of spontaneity.

[@jessicabaxter5088]

I agree

[@nicolewhinnett641]

Unpopular opinion... but I kinda like Ben as Phantom 😏 He by far isn't the best (For me it will always be JOJ) but he isn't exactly awful? He's actually really good if you hear him with a fresh pair ears.

[@POTOGURU25]

Yes John best,Ben doesn't sound too bad as I thought,before anyone says bad about his voice,listen to Marcus lovette first

[@147mcrfan147]

+Nicole Whinnett JOJ is my favourite Phantom as well (he was the first I saw on the UK Tour the other year)! I saw Ben the night after the Awards and his Phantom was absolutely brilliant. Not just his voice but his acting as well I was so moved.

[@TheMsiaddict]

Ugh. The best one chose to live in a village.

[@tinychannel5820]

Nicole Whinnett he's a good phantom

[@frankiefernando]

JOHN OWEN JONES IS AMAZING

[@deedeelizard]

AWESOME

[@jonahwilliams4966]

Emmi Christensson is originally from Sweden and will participate in Melodifestivalen this year, which is the Swedish national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest

[@harpseal513]

If you look at the phantom's lips you can see the special effects.

[@UmaAdultaNivel2]

[@prissy499]

ive been spoilt by Ramin and Sierra

[@amandacueva270]

Sarah SAMEEEE there's just no going back! Lol

[@tinychannel5820]

Sarah lol I agree nothing can beat them haha

[@carolinedomingosdarosa7728]

Ramin and Sierra are the best

[@springdayisnottoday371]

Sarah same.

[@noagerrits_]

Once you’ve seen them you’ve passed the point of no return.... Sorry. Check out Celinde Schoenmakes, she’s pretty awesome too!!

[@AlcmeneUndertaker]

Love that Christine is blonde tbh

[@nina.harr1ngt0n]

I love Ben!

[@sarahchaffey7141]

Celinde should have sung this

[@TheMsiaddict]

Agree.

[@hollylawless1654]

+Sarah Chaffey I agree! She's a lot better

[@zenpoace2291]

+Sarah Chaffey See Emmi's performance in theater, its stunning

[@ElleHartStrings]

+Sarah Chaffey why didnt she?

[@sarahchaffey7141]

Elle Oswald I'm not sure it could have been to do with the scheduling at the theatre or something.

[@GuidedByAngels]

Goose pimples, the set here at Covent garden is breathtaking, makes me want to see it a 3rd time. Ben is amazing.

[@andrewgaudyn933]

Bravo

[@user-ho7uw3lr6y]

Blonde swedish Christine ever who can speak proper british accent and crystal clear soprano voice

[@juliasteryakova]

Послушала 46 секунд закрыла глаза и уши, внешность отталкивает актрисы, ну не Кристина она. Для меня как отметили ниже, лучшая пара это Ramin $ Sierra! До сих пор пересматриваю их партию! Ах, какая мимика, какой взгляд Ramin. Надеюсь все-таки снова увидеть их потрясающий дуэт!

[@pikeybot]

Why is she wearing a blonde wig.?

[@Joee2636]

Because she is a blonde Christine!

[@FullmetalGirl94]

+chris d Because Christine, in the novel, is a blond Swedish girl. Emmi is Swedish, I think, so I believe they're paying tribute to the original source!

[@victoriapontmercy1428]

+M. Imari I think that might be part of it, but I've also read a lot about them not liking her with brown hair (?)

[@TheatreTards]

When someone is cast in a show, the people in charge come to watch at some point (rehearsal or show) and see what they want. For Emmi, they wanted her blonde (maybe because she is Swedish) and not a brunette. It's the same with Les Mis, Zoe Doano has a blonde wig because the directors liked her blonde.

[@georginaelizabeth3224]

The understudies have blonde hair. I have seen the show twice and the first time I saw it was with the understudy and she had blonde hair.

[@lilyann168]

Oh WOW, I have never seen stage Christine as a blonde before. That is a crazy visual difference, so used to the dark hair. (Yes, I know she was blonde in the book) Anyone know why they changed it here? Book tribute, or some other reason?

[@kahaanvyas8330]

awsome

[@leedscab123]

She is very very good but I saw Celinde Schoenmaker on her opening night and I am still recovering from it months later it was that good with easily the Best Christine in Celinde and by far the best Phantom ever in John Owen Jones.

[@tomgallowitz4464]

From other videos here, Celinde's Fantine is incredible as well, I'd put her up there with Lea Salonga and Ruthie Henshall.

[@byebyebye2203]

She and Sierra is kinda my fav ATM, but no one Can top Rierra AND SHE IS BLONDE. I LOVE IT!!!

[@mars9380]

Finally a blonde christine!

[@MisterMagikarp]

I'm pretty sure that last note is pre-recorded and they use it for all the Christines because it literally sounds the same in almost every video I watch. xD

[@ceryshemmings6755]

Ben Forster!!!!!!

[@XXooXY]

That clímax was insane

[@GordonHorneOfficial]

Loved Emmi's performance when I saw her play the role last year. Ben sounds a bit off though.... Hmmm

[@TheMsiaddict]

Autotuned. There's a video of an audience that catched the creepiest Phantom ever.

[@TheMsiaddict]

*****​ Lol. I only gave the link once. I mean he is one of the best. The creepy Erik is good.

[@isabelbahmann1605]

I´m a little bit disappointed. Especially the last note of Ben Forster was not clear..really sad bout this..

[@seanmeert2594]

Does it matter? THIS IS STILL AWESOME

[@jessicabaxter5088]

It's the ribvarto

[@emmarichards2191]

How many times did he fix his hair during this???

[@Annesglitter]

Wow she’s great!!!! Also 2.1K like! 😊

[@hyukas_favourite_plushie6037]

She sound like sierra boggess

[@jammingrag1339]

Why is Meg playing as Christine? 😂

[@TheMsiaddict]

Meg?

[@jammingrag1339]

It was a joke

[@TheMsiaddict]

Jamming Rag Oh, grins. I just remember the blonde wig.

[@1517CalvinMartin]

They ought to stage a POTO production where the actresses playing Meg and Christine should switch roles every other performance. Kind of like that Gilligan's Island episode where Mary Ann falls on her head and thinks she Ginger and Ginger pretends she's Mary Ann.

[@TheMsiaddict]

1517CalvinMartin London productions always have the fixed Christine as I know. They don't switch with Meg.

[@karleeweeg4998]

The very last note, the iconic beautiful high note was definitely victim to lip syncing. You can hear it cut off :/

[@Sometimes_Happiness]

Am I the only one who likes Ben as the Phantom? But for sure, he was a little bit flat on that last night. Other than that, though, I was more annoyed by Emmi's entirely expressionless and emotionless performance than his.

[@chrissauza6525]

I like him as the phantom very much!! He is stanning. Emmi is ruining everything... Celinde should have sung.

[@TheMsiaddict]

Autotuned here. Find the raw video from an audience.

[@TheMsiaddict]

*****​ Different. Because the raw video focused at Ben's performance. No zooming out. The creepiest ever. 

[@seventhefallensins5430]

no...Ramin is the best phatom ever with co-star serga bogges

[@TheMsiaddict]

Ms.jetcutie Robert​​ *****​ Matt Cammelle is the best. Find his MOTN on KZbin. 

[@brezzainvernale]

It's so beatiful! I don't get why people watch the WHOLE thourgh they cell phones... It's a pity. You lose a lot that way, I don't really live the moment! And you find a lot of this video online anyway. If I film something, than that way: Only for a few minutes only... and I film the audience, to remember the atmosphere.

[@shayvogler]

I think Ben sounds A LOT like Michael Crawford

[@wymanko5299]

Christine Daae , where is your red scarf 😂

[@gourmetkitten3377]

03:40 omg that was so sudden she was scared :3

[@7ka3ti]

3:31 Uh-oh...

[@alematosmusic7498]

OMG!!! The Phantom kidnapped Meg instead of Christine.

[@TheMsiaddict]

Not really. She's balancing his voice. Watch her with John Martin Bengtsson.

[@AveburyEddie]

Is it just me or does Christine here, look more like Meg ??? Great voice thought

[@AveburyEddie]

And to think that Simon turned Ben (The Phantom:) down on X Factor.

[@chatbud]

Judging by this performance, Ben Forster does not have Phantom in his blood yet.

[@TheMsiaddict]

Ben Lewis replaced him, though.

[@musicfantasy1354]

and when she geos ahhhhh its LIP-SYNCING

[@musicfantasy1354]

And her hair is ment to be brown

[@tillyegoodwin]

Velvet it's not. She's meant to be blonde. Research it

[@leonna1947]

they do so when it is really high notes because they do it so often when there is a musical and live and stuff, it can damage their vocal cords. so they record when she sings it and play that so she doesn't hurt herself

[@tillyegoodwin]

Leonna 1 they only do it for special performances

[@leonna1947]

Tilly Goodwin they do? oh wow then they are really good if they sing everything live so many times. thank you for correcting me

[@eeveella3763]

Isn't Celine the current Christine?

[@kaechidi5025]

Eeveella Was yes, but she was in the Netherlands and Emmi was the alternate at the time

[@bridgetcloninger6457]

Christine voice I me

[@paulettegarcia3291]

Am I the only one who had the exact face of the girl in minute 4:28 ???