Various Artists-The Phantom of the Opera

Record Label: Sony
Year: 2004
Track Listing:
01. Overture
02. Think of Me
03. Angel of Music
04. The Mirror (Angel of Music)
05. The Phantom of the Opera
06. Music of the Night
07. Prima Donna
08. All I Ask of You
09. All I Ask of You (Reprise)
10. Masquerade
11. Wishing You Were Here Again
12. The Point of No Return
13. Down Once More/Track Down This Murderer
14. Learn To Be Lonely

There is no musical bigger or as spectacular as Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera. So, it was no surprise that Hollywood would eventually turn it into a movie once again. While the film left many cold, thanks to the heavy padding and casual gothic noire of Joel Schumacher.

However, while the movie may have sucked big time, the soundtrack withstands the testament of time and is a magical delight.
While, the musicians will never hold a candle to the delights of Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman, it is a worthy effort.

Beefed up by the presence of a 100-piece orchestra and The London Boys Choir, it showcases all the main songs of the story. While we also get a delightful 16 minutes of new music written specifically for the film, it is 'Phantom of the Opera' and 'Music of the Night' that shine throughout.
Again, while they are never going to be the powerful duo of Crawford and Brightman, Both Gerald Butler and Emmy Rossum do an amazing job.

Both Rossum and Butler know only too well the importance of drawing the audience into their music and really nail it.
Rossum has a voice of an angel and Butler is surprising in his powerful vocal range. Not to mention the sheer emotion that he conveys in his music, whether he is passionately whispering the lyrics or belting them out. It’s both captivating and inspiring.

Being a huge fan of The Phantom of the Opera since the original in 1987, I have to say that this is close to becoming one of my favorite soundtracks aside from the original.

For all fans of Broadway and Musicals, this simply is a must to have in your CD collection, even if it is just for 'Music of the Night' and 'Phantom of the Opera'.

I give it 4/5

Buy The Phantom of the Opera movie soundtrack

Official Site