How did James Barbour Do as the New Phantom?- Page 2

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 2/11/15 at 2:48pm

Google him. It's like the first thing that comes up.

Let's leave discussion of that (if one must bring it up yet again) to the OTHER James Barbour thread though.

[AHLiebross]

Posted: 2/11/15 at 11:34pm

I've always thought that the Phantom should be a baritone, because I think a deeper voice goes better with the character's dark nature. ALW may be coming to that conclusion, as well, since James Barbour is the second baritone in a row to be cast in the role.

I'm always fascinated by the number of performers who have played both the Phantom and Jean Valjean. Norm Lewis is NOT one of them -- with his incredible baritone voice and his credentials as Javert, I can't imagine that he'd even want to try. However, I read somewhere that he'd like to play the role and will take singing lessons to attempt to hit that nightmare of a note in "Bring Him Home." Sounds like Norm's successor as the Phantom won't be playing JVJ any time soon either, but maybe Javert is in his future.

[Wilmingtom]

Posted: 2/11/15 at 11:58pm

I'm happy to hear the good reviews for Barbour. He's a terrific talent. Although not one of my favorite musicals, it has given many people much work over the years, for which I'm thankful.

[Wilmingtom]

Posted: 2/11/15 at 11:58pm

Updated On: 2/12/15 at 11:58 PM

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 2/12/15 at 12:11am

AH - actually, Barbour's last role before Phantom was Jean Valjean at a regional theatre. Also, he once said in a interview that he was called back for Javert (or ensemble/Javert understudy) in the Broadway production years ago but didn't get it.

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 2/12/15 at 12:31am

It's three years old, but his "Music of the Night" is incredible.

I mean.....damn.

Music of the Night.

[eponine88]

Posted: 2/12/15 at 12:40am

Was at tonight's performance. I have to admit that while I was excited to hear James Barbour take on the role vocally, I had a little trouble adjusting to his phantom at the top of the show- it felt like he was oversinging it just a touch. But by the time we reached Music of the Night, his voice was perfection. And the final scene (or really everything from Past the Point of No Return onward) was simply wonderful. His acting, his vocals, his physicality- I don't think I've ever seen those final scenes done better. Overall, an excellent performance!

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 2/12/15 at 12:53am

Auggie, I saw the Assassins revival and have absolutely NO MEMORY of him or his performance. It's as if he were an engram that my auditor helped me remove with the assistance of an E-Meter. My memory is CLEAR of him completely. I remember everybody else in that production very well, Denis, Mario, EVERYBODY. But not old what's-his-name. I'm not even kidding.

[Justin D]

Posted: 2/12/15 at 9:53am

can someone pm me a link to some sound clips (beside his youtube MOTN)

[Blockhead24]

Posted: 2/12/15 at 10:11am

^ just search on tumblr for him

[musikman]

Posted: 2/12/15 at 12:14pm

Namo, I suppose part of that has to do with Czolgosz being a relatively small role, but I actually thought he was one of the standouts in an all-around terrific cast.

[JBradshaw]

Posted: 2/12/15 at 12:59pm

I agree with musikman....his role was rather small but I def remember his performance, that whole cast/production was fantastic

[sueb1863]

Posted: 2/12/15 at 1:52pm

@JustinD: There are several clips of Barbour on YouTube playing Sydney Carton in the musical version of 'A Tale of Two Cities', mostly from the 2008 PBS concert version.

Updated On: 2/12/15 at 01:52 PM

[Stage Door Sally]

Posted: 2/12/15 at 3:30pm

His rendition of This is the Moment, makes me shiver. Whenever I play it, my husband says, "Are you listening to your boy friend again?"

For a moment.

This is the Moment Updated On: 2/12/15 at 03:30 PM

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 2/12/15 at 3:35pm

^ My boyfriend says that when I'm listening to Norm Lewis. Haha.

That song? Just wow.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 2/12/15 at 4:53pm

You have to admit the man has a set of pipes on him .

[sueb1863]

Posted: 2/12/15 at 7:20pm

A few more YouTube samples of Barbour's singing:

"No Honest Way" from "A Tale of Two Cities", I think this is his first scene in the show (the ToTC videos are from the PBS concert version of the show):

http://youtu.be/lMh6XMx2W5M

"Reflection" from "A Tale of Two Cities":

http://youtu.be/24lZYdl2oGg

"I Can't Recall" from same:

http://youtu.be/ZjugpYeSOgM

He's also done a holiday album including "O Holy Night":

http://youtu.be/qqWx3vjlwXU



Updated On: 2/12/15 at 07:20 PM

[JPeterman]

Posted: 2/12/15 at 7:35pm

He sounds good but I definitely prefer Ramin

[Testing1232]

Posted: 2/12/15 at 9:17pm

The entire "Bring Me Giants" Cd is pretty amazing, although the arrangement on "Bring Him Home" is a bit weird---- his duet with Morgan James is amazing ! ("I Will Be There")

[AHLiebross]

Posted: 2/12/15 at 10:44pm

Here's a link to JB's "Bring Him Home," on You Tube. Holy cow, he can really sing in high registers, too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gkgm1U0coHQ

Audrey

[Robbie2]

Posted: 2/12/15 at 11:21pm

I loved him in Assassins...he has an amazing voice and really was one of the highlights
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDEqngbR1kw

[Testing1232]

Posted: 2/13/15 at 8:27am

His voice is basically flawless !

[themysteriousgrowl]

Posted: 2/13/15 at 8:30am

Who?

[adamgreer]

Posted: 2/13/15 at 8:49am

Whenever I search for him on Tumblr, all I find are bizarre rants from (what I assume are) from uninformed, angsty, teenaged girls.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 2/13/15 at 9:08am

They just jealous.