Phantom of the Opera?

Question

What is it about the music that makes Andrew Lloyd Webbers Phantom of the Opera special or unique and how does it aid in character development?

Please explain your answers?
I thank you in advance for your insight

Amy, not all people on here are school kids looking for a quick fix. Get a life.

Answer 1

Phantom's also a show about a theatre and about the world of opera and the people who inhabit both, so it works particularly well as a musical.

The Phantom's greatest power is in his musical prowess--his singing, his composing, his ability to scare the management into following his orders. It makes sense that he'd woo Christine by singing "Music of the Night." The fit wouldn't be as natural if he was, say, a garbage man trying to sing that song of seduction.

Christine starts off as a naive, untutored child and grows to become both a skilled performer and a young woman with at least a bit of a backbone. Her aria at the top of the show, "Think of Me," reveals her initial innocence and uncertainty. By the end, she's bantering sexily back in "Past the Point of No Return" and making her own decision about which man to go with in the final lair scene.

The score also does well, I think, at skewering backstage life. Carlotta gets a big funny diva number with "Prima Donna," in which the managers also get to reveal what a pain it can be to work with theatre people. And there are (count 'em) THREE fake operas happening as shows-within-a-show during Phantom--Hannibal, Il Muto, and Don Juan. Each has it's own distinct musical style and musical in-jokes. That's quite an accomplishment on Lloyd Webber's part.

Finally--the score is just darned catchy. Love 'em or hate 'em, those songs stick with you. Lloyd Webber has said publicly that he thinks the show's appeal is that it is, at its heart, just about three people dealing with their own self-doubt and trying to find love in spite of it. That's a pretty universally powerful theme. I think the music's complex, constantly intertwining melodies and its big, romantic sound really reflects that.

Answer 2

Lloyd Webber has two great qualities--he can almost always find a catchy tune to include in a show (quick--sing two lines from any song from "Starlight Express"), and he's been fortunate in his collaborators, as have many of the great musical theatre composers. "Phantom" also appeals to the mass audience because of the tragic romance--partly because this Phantom is more sexy than frightening (one of the biggest problems with the film version is that the Phantom was sexier than the hero). Lloyd Webber also has the market on larger than life protagonists who get to launch a popular hit song (Jesus Christ Superstar, Evita, Cats, Sunset Boulevard).

You might want to take a look at Stephen Citron's book, Sondheim and Lloyd-Webber: The New Musical (Oxford, 2001) for an interesting comparison about how these two dominated the stage over the last few decades, in two almost polar opposite ways.

Answer 3

I Have To Admit The Phrasing Of Your Question Does Make You Sound Like a Teacher Or A Student. If You Really Want The Definitive Answer See For Yourself Mate. There Is No Mystery Attached ALW Is Just Some Kind Of Genius With A Sickaning Nack Of Striking Gold Everywhere He Turns.
The Beauty Of The Plays Is In The Acting And HowThe Whole Thing Is Put Together On Stage!
Without Witnessing This First Hand You Will Never Truely See The Answer Grasshopper!

Answer 4

I think the music of Webber's version of Phantom is so appealing because it's so raw with emotion. The music grabs at your heart and doesn't let go. Also, it has a dark side to it that piques the interest.

It aids in character development because it shows that they are people. They have mixed emotions, struggle to do what's right. Christine feels bad for her stalker (the Phantom) even though she's afraid of him. She's also fascinated by his musical abilities and respects that. That shows itself in the music. It's almost as if Webber himself has been stalked, so he knows what it feels like.

Answer 5

Well, I'm no professional critic or anything, but I think the music in PotO fits the atmosphere of the setting. When the show gets suspenseful, the music adds to the tension. When Christine is expressing her love, the music gets a more romantic feeling.

As someone mentioned above, Phantom is a classic. It appeals to audiences. That's why it's been on Broadway for so long.

There. I hope I got my meaning through. I've never actually tried to express why the movie/show/music is so appealing. I just listen and enjoy it in its simplicity. It can get messy when you're analysing it.

Answer 6

I agree with Amy. Your question sounds a bit perfect, like a teacher wrote it. Aid in character development? Come on... Explain your answers?... That's what a teacher would say.

Answer 7

It is a timeless classic. It combines horror with intrigue and love. It everything a musical needs to make it appealing to its audience.

Answer 8

I think that what makes school special and unique is doing your own homework!!!