But it is really the Opera Ghost, or Phantom of the Opera, who teaches her. She has never seen him but she thinks her father sent him from heaven. Christine explains that an Angel of Music comes and teaches her. She asks Christine how she learned to sing so well. During Christine's performance, Raoul recognizes her from his childhood ("Think of Me").Īfter the performance Meg finds Christine in a small room where she lights a candle for her deceased father. At first the managers have doubts about her, but Christine proves to be worthy when she sings for them. Madame Giry insists that Christine can sing it because she's had lessons from a great teacher, whose name is still a mystery to Christine. Firmin and André say they will cancel the show because of Carlotta's absence. The note says he welcomes the new mangers, reminds them of his due salary of 20,000 francs per month, and that instructs that they leave box five empty for his usage for every performance. Meanwhile Madame Giry receives a note from the mysterious "Opera Ghost", the Phantom of the Opera, who lives within the opera house and is believed to be a ghost. Outraged, Carlotta refuses to continue perform that night and storms off. ("Hannibal") The lead soprano Carlotta Giudicelli performs an aria for the managers but a backdrop falls, almost crushing her. Christine recognizes him from her childhood. Raoul is introduced to the cast as the patron. Madame Giry the ballet mistress and the mother of Meg Giry, introduces them to Christine Daaé, a young but talented singer who was orphaned at seven, being the only daughter of the Swedish violinist, Gustave Daaé, revealed later by Madame Giry. As the auctioneers display the restored chandelier, which illuminates and slowly rises to its old place in the rafters the opening crescendo of music wipes away the years of decay and dust from the opera house as the black and white turns into color, and is transported back in time to 1870 ("Overture").ĭuring a show rehearsal, the opera house is put into the hands of two new owners, Richard Firmin and Gilles André. The next piece, lot 666: is a chandelier in pieces which has been restored and newly wired with electricity. During the auction, he sees a familiar face Madame Giry, whom he met as a young man ("Prologue"). Raoul De Chagny, an old wheelchair-bound man, purchases a coveted music box in a shape of a monkey in Persian robes and playing cymbals. The dilapidated Paris Opera House holds an auction. It assumed this name in 1974, six years after havi… Catherine Malfitano, Opera singerĪmerican soprano Catherine Malfitano is one of opera's most daring stars.The scene opens in black and white in the year 1919. English opera company with policy of usually performing operas in English. With his boyish charm, boundless energy, and supreme gift for phrasing, American opera singer Jerry Hadley spent his life… English National Opera, English National Opera. opera producer for Glyndebourne, ENO, Scottish Opera, NY City Opera, S. Sarah Caldwell, who was born in 1924, was the founder of the Boston Opera Group, now known as the Opera Company of… John Anthony Quitman, Besch, Anthony (John Elwyn) (b London, 1924 d London, 2002). Gerard Butler, Emmy Rossum, Patrick Wilson, Miranda Richardson, Minnie Driver, Simon Callow, Ciaran Hinds, James Fleet, Kevin McNally, Murray Melvin, Victor McGuire, Jennifer Ellison D: Joel Schumacher W: Joel Schumacher, Andrew Lloyd Webber C: John Mathieson M: Andrew Lloyd Webber. Some changes are made from stage to screen but fans won't be unduly alarmed although the film's cheesy romanticism is unlikely to find new converts. Christine is then torn between two would-be loves well-mannered opera patron Vicompte Raoul de Chagny (Wilson) and that mystery man. Story is simple: Paris Opera engenue Christine (Rossum) gets her big chance when diva Carlotta (Driver) huffs off the stage. As played here by brawny Scottish actor Butler, the Phantom is positively swoon-worthy. This umpteenth adaptation ramps up the romance over the hideousness of the title character. Andrew Lloyd Webber's London musical finally hit the big-screen in this extravagant version from director Schumacher.