The Phantom of the Opera - Broadway Overture

Overture from The Phantom of the Opera on Broadway.
*PLEASE DO NOT REPOST WITHOUT PERMISSION*
VIDEO FILMED: 05/07/22
CAMERA: iPhone 13 Pro Max
LOCATION: Majestic Theatre, NYC
SEAT: Front Mezzanine, Row A, Seat 107
NOTE (PLEASE READ):
This video was uploaded purely for entertainment purposes only, and to preserve the legacy of the final flagship Brilliant Original production of The Phantom of the Opera, which permanently closed on April 16, 2023. This, along with the several other videos on this channel, were uploaded with the hopes that viewers would see what this incredible show once was before being reduced and scaled down (except in Japan and Korea), only to be called "substantially identical" to the original. To all new and long time "Phans" of the show, please do not be fooled by the show's official spokespeople and creatives. No matter what they say, any version of this show that does not resemble the one in this video is NOT the Brilliant Original, and is NOT "bigger and better" in any way. All this to say, please do not take this as me saying one should not appreciate Phantom. I am simply aiming to inform those who do not know about the true reason this show lasted for so long (as I'm sure by the time you read this the creatives will act like this version never existed). So please, enjoy this preservation of musical theatre history.

[@random_parakeetALT]

The auctioneer I saw when I went to Broadway gave so much enthusiasm when saying "with a little ILLUMINATION, GENTLEMEN!!!!" I believe that shouting gentlemen adds so much excitement to that first spine chilling chord.

[@brightspacebabe]

Yes!! That is how one auctioneer said it when I saw Phantom in San Francisco in 1995. Magical.

[@Drunkmanatee]

Absolutely. Just increases the intensity for that initial hit.

[@JordanVanRyn]

Every time I hear the first chord of the Overture, I get goosebumps.

[@lo-firobotboy7112]

So do the members of Pink Floyd

[@lepetitchat123]

Probably the best part. That chandelier is stunning.

[@jeffhodge7272]

​@@lo-firobotboy7112Why?

[@jeffhodge7272]

It's haunting.

[@ThePersonToInspire]

@@lo-firobotboy7112 Chromatic scales aren't their intellectual property, you know.

[@Nurichiri]

I saw this in person in Chicago many years ago, and there was a collective gasp when the chandelier came to life.

[@enikata7349]

Nothing beats seeing this in person, utterly incredible!

[@lizmorganjake]

The last few times I saw this on stage, audiences starting clapping and cheering as soon as the overture started, then really cheered as the chandelier started to rise.

[@ashleysleeper5311]

Thank you for posting this! This gave me chills. I've never seen phantom of the opera in person but I always wanted to. It makes me sad to know it's off Broadway now.

[@arthurkohn7957]

Still going strong in London

[@christinedaae7323]

The Phantom of the Opera will return to Broadway someday! When things improve in America!

[@saxyben81]

@@christinedaae7323 it will never be this version again. This way they don’t have to pay the estates of the deceased set designers and director. It will always be the scaled down version moving forward unfortunately

[@christinedaae7323]

The estates of the deceased Costume Designer and Director don’t need to be paid. I am confident that Phantom will return to Broadway in it’s entirety someday!

[@dadoletta]

😏😏😏

[@weirdfantasy00]

This captures the true feeling I got when seeing in live in person. Thank you for uploading this.

[@lepetitchat123]

You captured the ascension of chandelier beautifully.

[@ZidaneWarner]

I was very close to that seat when I was there last June. It was a fantastic view.

[@RebeccaHancock-z7o]

I absolutely love this scene and such amazing quality!

[@elizabethroberts6215]

……first time I saw this wonderful PotO stage production was in the Princess Theatre in Melbourne, Australia. I’d goosebumps at that rising chandelier scene! This particular auditorium is believed to be actually haunted by a 19th Century opera singer, Federici……… I’ve seen it about a dozen times’ since, in various cities’, & still love it………

[@XNTERTAINER]

There is nothing more exciting than seeing this in person!

[@jeffhodge7272]

I saw Robert Guillaume perform in this. His voice was deeper and very gruff. Sonded awesome.More haunting

[@magiusfantasia5506]

I watched the recorded musical for the first time at my friends house a few weeks ago before we flew to Japan (just got home last night) and watched it live in person in Japanese for the first time, and this has to be the best intro to anything I had ever seen on a stage. Those organs and drums are real epic.

[@dukeofrodtown1705]

Great clip, and a great production to boot! I seriously hope that chandelier finds use again or gets a real auction as is illustrated here. What likelihood is there of the latter now that POTO on Broadway has just closed, anyway?

[@_zeerosd]

i highly doubt any auction will take place, sadly. in london, when the show closed in 2020, the chandelier was taken into storage and has been there since... until they ripped off the lyres to put them on the new chandelier for the revival that opened in 2021. my best guess is that they'll put the chandelier in storage and take parts they need of it if they need them when the show inevitably reopens on the cheap, with a halved orchestra and cheapened sets and costumes.

[@dukeofrodtown1705]

@@_zeerosd It's only when and not if that happens... but at this point, I'm still wondering why the hell that Australian production earlier this year had the full 27 piece orchestra, and the sets / costumes were not as cheap as I expected. I really don't trust Cameron Mackintosh at this point.

[@chrisparkes2179]

@@_zeerosd I've heard that they've altered the show to be more like the movie, is that right?

[@CakeKitty135]

I hope it's put into a museum. I hear they have a museum or at least an archive dedicated to the designer, Maria Bjornson. It should go there, safe, but still loved

[@dukeofrodtown1705]

@@CakeKitty135 That's what I'm saying - but, it might be too late now because they may be putting it in storage, or ripping that beautiful piece of work apart.

[@ssphilproductions7968]

I wish they had kept this pyro for when the chandelier comes alive. The new pyro did not have the same effect.

[@laslo0728]

I saved this video to my favorites just so I can always revisit the splendor of Maria Björnson’s set design. She truly was the MVP of Phantom.

[@chrisparkes2179]

Best video I've seen of this.

[@_zeerosd]

thank you! it was helpful that i was front row mezzanine so i had nothing blocking me (cus i’m pretty short 😅)

[@chrisparkes2179]

@@_zeerosd I was once reliably informed that where you were was the best place to be. I was at the back of the mezzanine or what we call the Dress Circle in the UK when I first saw it. It was like watching through a slot. But I did see it again from a better seat later.

[@ChiroVideosTVlondon]

Why can’t people just point and hold the camera with the subject in frame why is it so hard ?

[@JSRRADIO]

Why aren't most bootlegs filmed with this type of clearity.. they all seam to be filmed with old cams

[@_zeerosd]

unfortunately, some people actually reduce the quality on their bootlegs. for what reason idk. i uploaded at high quality because i just want people to be able to enjoy this production in as realistic of a way as possible!

[@JSRRADIO]

@@_zeerosd if boots were filmed like this i would fall over.. however amazing work thank you

[@chrisparkes2179]

@@_zeerosd Maybe they think reducing the quality helps evade copyright issues.

[@_zeerosd]

@@chrisparkes2179 probably. if my videos get taken down so be it. i don’t care about that, i just want to get them out to as many as i can. and besides, the show has ended so i don’t really see an issue with it

[@chrisparkes2179]

@@_zeerosd Yeah, it's not like anyone would watch it and think "I don't need to go and see it now". Even if they could. Quite the reverse.

[@최미이-s9p]

번개가 치면 폭발이 이루어졌다 0:42

[@ssphilproductions7968]

Who is auctioneer?

[@_zeerosd]

tug watson! he’s a swing who went on for carrington vilmont who normally plays the role.

[@최미이-s9p]

번개를 치면 폭발 폭발 땐 현금이야 추락하는 사망 언제야 0:44

[@MondoMiami]

Another tragic victim of Bidenomics

[@_zeerosd]

political opinions aside, rising production costs are far from the only reason the show closed. the show's producer, cameron mackintosh, has been waiting to close the show for years now, so that he can replace it with a watered down version to get out of paying royalties to the late director hal prince & late designer maria bjornson's estates. the show closing has been inevitable for a long time now.

[@lepetitchat123]

@@_zeerosd watered down version? I ain't watching it then.

[@_zeerosd]

​@@lepetitchat123 sadly yes. if you look at london where this show originated, this exact scenario occurred. during the pandemic, the original production was removed and replaced with a cheaper version. the proscenium was changed and no longer features the nymphs and satyrs lining the sides or the angel at the top, all of which were described by the original director hal prince as "key to the show". the original dark, gaslit lighting, used to further enhance the illusion of 19th century paris, was changed and is now bright and over-saturated, stripping the vintage and timeless feel to the show. the direction was modified and now feels clunky at times. many illusions and effects were cut. and, perhaps worst of all, the lush, 27 piece orchestra (as featured in this video) was reduced to a 14 piece band comprised of mostly synth keyboards, stripping the score of its richness. mackintosh has confirmed this will be the version to "return" to broadway.

[@cannibalbunny]

That really fucking sucks. I just got into POTO and I’m only 22, so I never got to experience it and now I never will :(

[@EricBailey-o5r]

Bring it back!!!!