Phantom "Notes" pre-recorded?

[fiyero8132]

Posted: 5/16/05 at 5:47pm

Hi - I'm an aspiring singer/pianist/everything to do with broadway!!! I managed to get a copy of the complete piano/vocal score to "Phantom Of The Opera". It's like a frickin phone book! I am constantly playing thru it and singing. I was looking at one of the sections in the song "Notes" in Act 2 where the Phantom sings a note he writes. In the piano part it says SYNC TO TAPE. Is the Phantom's voice in this pre-recorded? How does this work? What if an understudy goes on?

[StephanietheStar]

Posted: 5/16/05 at 5:49pm

I don't know about that...but I've heard a LOT of the show is pre-recorded...esp. that high F or w/e it is that Christine hits at the end of "Phantom of the Opera". It wouldn't suprise me.

[kitkatgirl54]

Posted: 5/16/05 at 5:58pm

the first verse of 'phantom of the opera' is also pre-recorded, until they are in the boat. the people running down the steps are doubles.

[HeyMrMusic]

Posted: 5/16/05 at 6:07pm

Ugh, that annoys me. It shouldn't have to be prerecorded. I don't know the reasons why it should have to be prerecorded or the logistics of the show, but I'd rather have it less visually complicated or whatever and hear the actors sing live. After all, it's live theatre. But again, I don't know why it's prerecorded. Whatever.

~Steven

[wickedfan]

Posted: 5/16/05 at 6:12pm

Both parts of "Notes" on the Phantom's part are prerecorded. This first one is because he has to get to the top of the awning in time for 'Il Muto' and staying backstage to sing that part live would not leave enoug htime for him to get up there. I don't know why the other part is prerecorded, or what they do if an understudy goes on, maybe they've prerecorded the understudy's voice as well? Three other parts that are prerecorded is right before 'Il Muto' when Raoul says to Andre and Firmin that he will be sitting in Box Five, Christine telling Raoul they must go to the roof, and the Phantom's line before Don Juan, you know, "Seal my fate tonight, I'd hate to have to cut the fun short..."

[Thenardier]

Posted: 5/16/05 at 6:18pm

There is a link somewhere here (I think by Josh) to a page where all the Phantom pre-recorded stuff, etc. is listed.

[wickedfan]

Posted: 5/16/05 at 6:20pm

Dont bother, here's the link:
http://members.fortunecity.com/adrianduarte/phantomphacts.htm

[chinkie azn jai]

Posted: 5/16/05 at 6:21pm

I heard somewhere that the equity rule is if pre-recorded material is used, it must be the voice of the person who is performing the role for that specific performance. That means, every person who plays the Phantom (for example) has their own recorded voice for the "notes" part.

They also use a pre-recorded track during the "why so silent" scene when the Phantom is wearing the red death costume.

[PJ]

Posted: 5/16/05 at 6:34pm

Unfortunately Phantom isn't the only show that uses pre-recorded vocals during performances. Mamma Mia! uses them as well during the bigger company numbers.

[HeyMrMusic]

Posted: 5/16/05 at 6:35pm

Well, I know the original production of Company used prerecorded singing for that really long note in the opening number, but see that's understandable.

Wow, Phantom must have a really good sound designer.

~Steven

[Joshua488]

Posted: 5/16/05 at 7:05pm

The high Eb at the end of the title song is not prerecorded. Christine is singing the high notes live. The parts that are prerecorded are just little bits. Like someone said, Christine's first verse in the title song is prerecorded because the people onstage are doubles; the real actors are rushing into place for their next entrance. Updated On: 5/16/05 at 07:05 PM

[birdboy782]

Posted: 5/16/05 at 7:36pm

Actually, I believe its an E natural - not flat, and I've been told by a Christine in the past it is pre-recorded. Maybe some performers opt to sing it - but others certainly do not every performance.

[broadway86]

Posted: 5/16/05 at 7:42pm

You're correct, birdboy. It is an E natural.

[kitkatgirl54]

Posted: 5/16/05 at 9:05pm

i was sitting front row for the tour a few years ago and i am positive the E was pre-recorded. (she was also an understudy so i figured that had something to do with it).

[Sumofallthings]

Posted: 5/16/05 at 9:06pm

Phantom isn't so much pre-recorded as it is phoned in.

[IMsooHyprToday]

Posted: 5/16/05 at 9:14pm

lol sum.

[Joshua488]

Posted: 5/16/05 at 9:35pm

Oh, yes, it's an E natural. I'm thinking of the Bb at the end of the cadenza in "Think Of Me".

Sandra Joseph definitely sang her E live. I was front row and I could hear it come straight from her mouth. It was very soft, even with the two microphones on her head and the speakers right next to me. It was pitiful. GO HOME, SANDRA JOSEPH! Updated On: 5/16/05 at 09:35 PM

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 5/16/05 at 9:39pm

the E at the end of the title number is the choice of whoever it is playing Christine whether to record it or sing it live. some chose to sing it live but it is usually recorded. check out the Phantom DVD extras during the "Behind the Mask" portion showing the title number and you can tell that the actress does not sing it live. also the Phantom's "Seal my fate tonight..." section prior to Don Juan is the choice of the actor. some record it some choose to sing it live...

Updated On: 5/16/05 at 09:39 PM

[Joshua488]

Posted: 5/16/05 at 9:44pm

I was just thinking that because I just watched that documentary (yet again) about ten minutes ago. The actress clearly is lipsyncing the E... badly. If you watch her, you'll see that the voice starts singing the note before she even finishes taking a breath. Just watch it... you'll see.

Needless to say, I was angry that this little weak son-of-a-%&*^$ doesn't sing her E live. IF YOU CAN'T DO THE PART RIGHT, GET OFF THE STAGE!



Although, I did wonder if that Christine actually sang it live, but the editors in post-production of the documentary dubbed it over. Perhaps she hit a sour note? She almost did hit a sour note in the second-to-last note prior to the E. She faltered a bit and quickly silenced herself before she took a dive. Updated On: 5/16/05 at 09:44 PM

[StephanietheStar]

Posted: 5/16/05 at 9:45pm

I watched something not that long ago and the look on the girl's face made me go "She is NOT singing that note" it was this big powerful E and she just had her mouth open..she didn't try to make it look like she was singing it!

[Aigoo]

Posted: 5/16/05 at 9:45pm

Juuuuuuuuuuuuuuust kidding!

Updated On: 5/16/05 at 09:45 PM

[Joshua488]

Posted: 5/16/05 at 9:50pm

she didn't try to make it look like she was singing it!

Maybe she actually was singing it, but she was trained in opera, so she had no tension in her face. That was one of my (many) problems with Sandra Joseph. She had so much tension in her face and her body and she always looked like she was trying so hard to sing the high notes. I discussed this with someone I know who is an opera singer and she showed me how one is to sing higher notes properly. According to her, Sandra Joseph sounds like just a plain ol' musical theatre singer that happens to have a high soprano.

Oh, and the five characters were directed towards the actress featured in the Behind the Mask documentary. She didn't even sing it live at all; at least Sandra tried. Updated On: 5/16/05 at 09:50 PM

[kitkatgirl54]

Posted: 5/16/05 at 9:58pm

i don't have the dvd yet .... exactly what is this 'behind the mask' segment? how many clips from phantom on broadway are on the dvd?

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 5/16/05 at 10:07pm

actually the clips are from London but there is quite a bit of footage from the original London production, the Sydmonton festival presentation and the London cast from 2004...

[Joshua488]

Posted: 5/16/05 at 10:09pm

It is divine. I cherish the live clips with Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman. And I LOOOOVE the clips from the recent London cast! It's such a great documentary... I learned so much!