Which version of Phantom do you prefer?
I have both recordings and find myself listening to Yeston's version more and more. "Home" is such a beautiful song. I do prefer the plot in ALW version more though.
I do have to say I love ALW's The Phantom of the Opera, it's one of my favorite shows ^__^
Yeston's is alright, I just am so attached to ALW's I can't say I like it too much though.
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/03
I have actually seen both productions - Yestons' Phantom was brought here to Manila.
Lloyd-Webber's PHANTOM wins it hands down for me - whether it is the musical score or the staging.
As a show, I like ALW's better, but Yeston's score has some glorious moments.
PHANTOM aside, Yeston is a totally better composer than webber.
On stage, ALW's is more spectacular, but on CD Yeston's has, for me, prettier music. I LOVE "Home," "You Are Music," "My True Love" and "You Are My Own"
Broadway Star Joined: 11/12/04
As much as I like Yeston, his Phantom will always be the ugly stepsister of ALW's. ALW's has a gorgeous design & staging and a more interesting score/plot. Yeston's has some good musical moments (mentioned earlier in the thread) but its parts don't quite measure up to the majesty of ALWs.
Though his Phantom is not my favorite, I LOVE Maury Yeston's work.
I personally do not care for either one.
Yeston without a question
I did one of the very first regional productions of the Yeston Phantom back in the early 90s and found it to be a wonderful experience. The show is SO much better written than the Lloyd Webber version. The story of how Erik became the phantom is played out so that the audience isn't left wondering how he got that way, and the characters are much more fleshed out and appealing, except for Phillipe because he seems to be a whiner, and his only song in the show sounds as though it was written by Jerry Herman and doesn't fit the style of the rest of the music. Carlotta, if played right, can be a VERY funny role. We had an excellent Carlotta and she never failed to make me laugh each night. And she gets an amazing Diva song called "This Place is Mine"..which any good comedic actress would want to sing. Overall, I think Yeston's version should be on Broadway, and not that dreck by Lloyd Webber.
I like the phantom as more of a mystery. I thought how we knew the phantom's exact origins, etc, in the Yeston one was kind of dumb.
Leading Actor Joined: 2/22/05
redhotinnyc2: I agree with your analysis completely.
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