A review on The Phantom of the Opera

Yes,another music review,this time it's about "The Phantom of the Opera" ,music composed by Andrew lloyd Webber,lyrics by Charles Hart,based on a novel of the same name by Gaston Leroux.There are many versions of it but the one I'm reviewing is performed by Michael Crawford as the Phantom,Sarah Brightman as Christine Daae and Steve Barton as Raoul.

There's one song that I think represents all the characters the best,and that is Masquerade.Here's a youtube link,although the video is just pictures.

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The music is composed wisely and the lyrics are also compatible.The personalities of the characters are very clear,the opera crew seen as self centred-and foolish

Firmin:Dear Andre,what a splendid party
Andre:The prologue to a bright new year
F:Quite a night! I'm impressed!
A: Well,one does one's best
Both:Here's to us!
F: I must say all the same that it's a shame that 'Phantom' fellow isn't here!

while actually the Phantom is in the masquerade observing them,and even showing himself freely as the masked 'Red Death'.

Although the music is very cheerful,the subtle message in the lyrics seems to cruelly mock the Phantom's predicament

Masquerade!
Paper faces on parade
Masquerade!
Hide your face so the world will never find you.

If you know the story,which we studied in highschool literature of course,you'd remember that the Phantom was born with a facial deformation that made him a social outcast and he had to live in hiding below the Opera House,even his own mother could not bear to look at him and made him wear a mask.

Most people do not like literature,but I loved it ,probably because of this opera.I mean,how much can a few pages summary of the original book make you like the story?Even worse if you studied in an environment where indifferent classmates cured their boredom by mocking the characters and when given the opportunity,the opera music that they don't know how to appreciate.The latest movie adaptation was blasphamous.The costumes were ok,but I did not have any feeling for the characters.And Nightwish's version was just superbly lame,like some goth highschool kids on Halloween night wearing fake fangs and plastic jewellery.Nightwish should just stick to their own lyrics,their lyrics are actually quite deep and heartfelt,so they shouldn't do any cover versions.

Anyway,back to the review.

Faces...
Take your turn,take a ride
on the merry go round
in an inhuman race

Masquerade!
Leering satyrs,peering eyes,
Maquerade!
Run and hide,but a face will still pursue you

I think this verse represents the Phantom's loneliness in the world,nobody took pity on him except Christine,but even she was about to desert him for Raoul,and his fate wasn't something he could change,even more after his violent revenges on the opera house crew.

There is a sudden break in the music and it changes to Christine and Raoul's discussion about their secret marriage.The music after this is without vocals but is beautiful and wandering and winding,sort of representing the Phantom following the couple around to spy on them.Before resuming the vocals,there is a short snippet,if you've listened to the whole CD,that part would have mirrored the Phantom's melancholy line proclaiming his love for Christine in his last song;'Track down this murderer'