Michael Crawford compared to other Phantoms- Page 2

[Mamie]

Posted: 8/30/05 at 10:02pm

I saw Michael in NY and I thought he was just incredible. I found his voice to be (please excuse me here) HAUNTING. Every time the Phantom appeared, singing or speaking, you really felt like it was 'the Opera ghost'! I couldn't get it out of my head. It remains my favorite musical and I've seen some wonderful Phantoms since then, but Michael will always be my favorite. (I've seen one or two stinkers too.)

[Unknown User]

Posted: 8/30/05 at 10:11pm

Emmy was an awful Christine... she cannot compare to anyone who is actually on Broadway or a good singer. I think she was a joke as Christine.

[Born2cthelightsofbway]

Posted: 8/30/05 at 10:33pm

korenglish- Couldn't have said it better myself.

[AnotherDay46]

Posted: 8/30/05 at 11:36pm

Personally, I loved Michael Crawford. He is probably my favorite phantom. When I saw him he had so much emotion in his performance it was just amazing. I like Hugh as well, and I have seen many others. But I just believe Michael's voice was the purest of them all and his acting was right on the dot. Just my opinion though... ^_^

[CaTheatreGirl]

Posted: 8/30/05 at 11:40pm

I agree with AdamChris. I, too, saw Michael Crawford in Phantom a number of times in Los Angeles. He was wonderful and his "Music of the Night" had the audience captivated. No one seemed to move until the thunderous applause at the end of the song. He didn't play the phantom. He WAS the phantom. I've seen a few other phantoms and he's still the best. I would like to see the show with Howard McGillan in the role. Perhaps when I return to NY this winter.

[ChristineDaae]

Posted: 8/30/05 at 11:51pm

I never saw Michael Crawford but when I listen back to his voice on the cast recording I think hes awsome. Hes got an amazing voice.

[BroadwayBettini2]

Posted: 8/31/05 at 12:02am

I like listening to Micahel, but Hugh he is just so much better IMO.
Emmy though beautiful and no doubt she looked like christine, she was awful vocally. She's not a soprano. Someone should have told her that.

[jsg03jd]

Posted: 8/31/05 at 12:50am

Disagree about Emmy Rossum. She was much better than Julie Hanson, who has severe vocal disabilities that are inexcusable for someone her age and experience. Rebecca Luker sang a great Christine and so did Claire Moore in the West End.

Michael Crawford was a great Phantom but Hugh Panaro really made the role his own. Hugh's terrific.

[phantom_tenor]

Posted: 8/31/05 at 12:57am

Michael Crawford = Good Actor, overrated and not all that great singer

Anthony Warlow = Brilliant singer actor.

Anth was the greatest. End of story. I saw Michael Crawford's performance by, um, dubious means.....

[kec]

Posted: 8/31/05 at 3:12am

I have seen 7 different Phantoms over the last 18 years in four different cities -- NY, Washington DC, LOndon and Vienna Austria. Every one of them was good in their own way. Michael Crawford was the first and one of the best. The others that stand out to me were Matthew Cammelle, who was the Standby Phantom in London last October, and John Owen Jones who holds the record for most performances as the Phantom in the West End -- ovef 1400.

[MagicToDo82]

Posted: 8/31/05 at 11:49am

I adored Hugh Panaro as the Phantom. I also enjoyed Brad Little. Strongly disliked Gerard Butler. Waiting for Michael Ball to take on the role......someday.

[Lori]

Posted: 8/31/05 at 12:10pm

I've seen seven different Phantoms...loved Kevin Gray and Hugh Panaro here in the States, but I think my favorite is John Owen Jones in the West End Production. He was fabulous!

Magic...I think Michael will do the Phantom some day...probably in the West End though.

[Adam Chris]

Posted: 8/31/05 at 12:50pm

This probably is not a nice thing to post...but oh well.
BRAD LITTLE had the worst interpration of Phantom I have ever seen! I swear, I wanted my money back after the show! He was such a joke. His voice was crackin and he was way, way, way overacting.
http://www.bradlittle.com/

[Hanna from Hamburg]

Posted: 8/31/05 at 12:53pm

I don't care for Michael Crawford's voice. I think the best statement about his singing is made by Forbidden Broadway:

"Put on your PHONY voice, and sing like Alfred Drake, turn up the reverb when the song's a b*tch. To sell a million records is a piece of cake, just sing real slow just a touch below the pitch and your suddenly RICH!"

(something like that)

LOL

It's so true, because if you listen to his singing in the movie Hello Dolly, he's HORRID . . . sounds like a total dweeb.

[Phantomerik15]

Posted: 8/31/05 at 1:05pm

ive never seen MC as the Phantom b/c i wasnt born yet during the time he was in the production. but ive seen clips w/ him on the movie Special features and thought he was amazing.
ive seen Hugh Panaro 4 times, the last time was just last Wed. and each time, he was just breath taking. i think HUGH IS THE BEST PHANTOM. he brings everything into the role. you can feel the Phantom's feelings, all the despair and longing...everything is there. And he's such a nice guy when you meet him! OH, how i wish i can go see him again, as that performance is probably the last i'll see of him in the role of the tormented man! I will certainly and very most likely see Howard McGillin as the Phantom since i have now vowed that every year on my Birthday i will go see Phantom on Broadway no matter if i go w/ my mother or not...(this will be no problem for me since i live in NYC)
Love that show!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOVE THE CHARACTER OF THE PHANTOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[nealb1]

Posted: 8/31/05 at 2:16pm

You have to remember.........when "Phantom" first opened in London and then moved to NYC in January of 1988, it was THE event of the Broadway Season! "Phantom" opened in May of 1989 in LA and playing for 4 & 1/2 years. When Crawford did it in NYC & LA, it was Front Page News. This was long before the internet, e-mail, etc.....it was word of mouth and publicity that made MC the talk of the town.

I saw his performance in LA 3 times. The first time, I literally couldn't speak after seeing him. He was beyond extraordinary!!!! His presence, his aura, was spelling binding. No one had ever seen anything like this before!!! Truly one of the most amazing performances I've ever seen.

Having seen other actors perform the role, I would have to say that vocally Davis Gaines is the best. I've seen Hugh Panaro and he was very good. Acting......hands down, it's Crawford........and NO ONE ELSE!

[EponineThenardier]

Posted: 8/31/05 at 2:27pm

I don't care for Michael Crawford either. I adore Hugh Panero who just is it for me Phantom wise.

Although I have heard clips of Anthony Warlow and Michael Ball doing a little Phantom and they both blew me away. Especailly Michael Ball. I would run to see POTO again if he were to do it.

Does anyone else really wanna see Raul Esparza as the Phantom? Cause I sure do!
Updated On: 8/31/05 at 02:27 PM

[kec]

Posted: 8/31/05 at 4:49pm

"It's so true, because if you listen to his singing in the movie Hello Dolly, he's HORRID . . . sounds like a total dweeb. "

Yes, his voice wasn't the best in Hello Dolly -- but that was at least 20 years before POTO. The voice I heard on the NY stage was completely different from the voice in that film.

[sharon1]

Posted: 8/31/05 at 5:27pm

Never saw Michael Crawford in the role, but the recording got me hooked on the musical. I love it. I have seen Hugh a couple of times and will see him again in a couple of weeks. He is brilliant. Yes I agree that Anthony Warlow is vocally tremendous, but have never seen him. If Michael Ball ever plays the role it will be fantastic I am sure. He too I have heard and seen, he is also brilliant. So I guess my response is that there have been and will be many good or even great Phantoms. Michael Crawford one of the best. The worst has to be Gerard Butler. That I blame on casting.

[Hanna from Hamburg]

Posted: 8/31/05 at 5:30pm

You really need to hear the Forbidden Broadway take-off of Michael Crawford, because it makes fun of the "breathy" affected voice he puts on for Phantom as opposed to his actual voice (which you hear in Hello Dolly). The actor impersonating him switches back and forth between the 2 voices and it's a SCREAM. I've heard him in recent years try to sing in a "normal" voice, and he sounds just as weird as he did in Dolly.

[Creative Lunatic]

Posted: 8/31/05 at 7:30pm

I saw Michael Crawford early in The New York run. I agree with those who said he was haunting and mesmerizing. He was the event! I think his phrasing,nuanced body language and command of the stage all contributed to an unforgettable theatrical experience.
I do not think I can erase the performance from my mind when listening to the cast recording. Certainly you cannot judge what he brought to this role by just listening to his voice

[colleen_lee]

Posted: 8/31/05 at 7:51pm

Michael Crawford acted the hell out of that role.....but his voice drives me crazy.

I would have LOVED to see Anthony Warlow, his voice is complete perfection!

[djjd007]

Posted: 8/31/05 at 8:08pm

I waited 8+ hours in the hot LA sun on a vacation to score cancellation tix when I was but a mere 12 y/o (thanks mom for enduring that with me!) and it was worth every second to see THE Michael Crawford. His Phantom will be untouched and those who weren't lucky enough to witness it firsthand will never truly understand his performance. It wasn't about just the voice or just the acting - it was the whole package. Phantoms since have either been boring with beautiful voices or overractors with terrible voices. No one I have yet to see has captured the entire role like MC.

If anyone could come close, it would be Michael Ball.

And, for the record, Brad Little was horrendous. I also wanted my money back. I was ashamed when Des Moines, IA was so impressed by his performance in the tour he was invited back to sing with their symphony. Simply appalling.