pre-recorded music

[SuperSchubert]

Posted: 7/12/04 at 11:49pm

So, there was a discussion about Lloyd Webber, and somewhere there was a mention of the fact that parts of Phantom are pre-recorded, including the title song.

Whenever you've seen POTO, have the sound people done a horrible job making the pre-recorded music blend in seamlessly with the preceding live music? This happened when I last saw the national tour in 2002. Let me explain:

Right before Raoul breaks into Christine's dressing room, there is a pulsating vamp/ostinato (dun dun dun dun dun) that underscores the Phantom's lyric "I am your angel of music...come to me angel of music..." Well, I discovered that the pre-recorded track MUST begin somewhere within this vamp because the transition was NOT handled very well. It sounded like this: dun dun dun dun ddididid dun dun dun.

That might look stupid, but I hope someone understands what I just typed...

-SuperSchubert Updated On: 7/12/04 at 11:49 PM

[spiderdj82]

Posted: 7/12/04 at 11:54pm

same in Bombay Dream for "Shakalaka Baby" but I understand since dancing in water with electical things is not fun.

[Broadway Matt]

Posted: 7/12/04 at 11:55pm

the dun dun dun technique doesn't carry too well in print but I get what you're saying. I've seen the show 11 times and the sound folks have always been able to bring in the prerecorded stuff pretty seamlessly. the only problem i can remember wasn't anyone's fault. it was the SF production and Lisa Vroman got sick offstage during the overture, so they delayed the show, made an announcement, and her understudy Bonnie Rapp went on. She did a great job but her voice was quite different from Vroman's. During the title song, it was really obvious what parts were recorded because they were in LISA'S VOICE! i noticed anyway, don't know about the rest of the audience.

[SuperSchubert]

Posted: 7/13/04 at 12:45am

That Lisa Vroman story makes me wonder... Wouldn't they have had a recording of the understudy as a backup? I was under the impression that they make recordings of all the Christines/Phantoms in a company (regardless if they are the 'listed performer') singing the title song. I guess that could be wrong. Maybe there are only recordings for the regularly-scheduled Christine/Phantom and the Matinee/Alternate Christine.

Anyone know the real story? Updated On: 7/13/04 at 12:45 AM

[Broadway Matt]

Posted: 7/13/04 at 12:50am

My guess is that they don't usually send Bonnie on because Lisa had an alternate, Karen Culliver. Or maybe Bonnie was a new understudy and they just hadn't recorded her yet.

[Musetta1957]

Posted: 7/13/04 at 12:57am

I've seen one understudy Christine (Jessica Henson), and the recording was definitely of her. I've also seen a couple understudy Phantoms, and it was all definitely them on the recordings as well.

Bonnie Rapp was with the SF cast for the entire run, wasn't she?

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 7/13/04 at 2:34am

Yeah, in Phantom, they usually record the lead, alternate, and understudy(ies).

[J.]

Posted: 7/13/04 at 2:39am

Shakalaka Baby is supposed to be recorded in Bombay Dreams because they're filming a movie/music video in the plot at that point. The song you're hearing is the single and same as they plaed in the London production.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 7/13/04 at 2:42am

Ah... good to know. I didn't think it was due to the water at all. "Singin In The Rain" features a mic-d cast singing onstge during adownpour... they have waterproof heads for mics.

[ponine24601]

Posted: 7/13/04 at 12:13pm

also christine's whole high part at the end of the title song is recorded. elizabeth southard told me that when i saw the show 2 years ago.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 7/13/04 at 12:17pm

First of all, why do they pre-record the title song in POTO and are there any other pre-recorded parts? I thought the point of going to the theater was to get the full effect of the story with live acting and singing.

Any other pre-recorded songs in POTO?

Updated On: 7/13/04 at 12:17 PM

[ShbrtAlley44]

Posted: 7/13/04 at 12:19pm

The title song is pre-recorded because the whole sequence involves doubles of the Phantom and Christine moving around onstage as they progress down toward his lair. The real Phantom and Christine would have a hard time singing as they run unseen to their next mark.

[ponine24601]

Posted: 7/13/04 at 12:20pm

i learned great things from going backstage. many MANY spoilers. yay! fun!

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 7/13/04 at 12:23pm

amen to that ponine

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 7/13/04 at 12:23pm

Yeah, I wondered how they entered the trap door and exited so fast. So the doubles appear before the trapdoor and the real ones exit on top? BTW, who are the doubles?

[ShbrtAlley44]

Posted: 7/13/04 at 12:26pm

I don't remember exactly which ones they are. I know there are two sets of doubles. One pair, I think, goes down the drawbridge, if I remember correctly. I haven't seen the show in forever.

[ponine24601]

Posted: 7/13/04 at 12:28pm

yeah that's what happens. well, during angel of music, there is double for christine and the phantom when they are going through the mirror. the real stars are running to get to the top platforms.

[BlueWizard]

Posted: 7/13/04 at 1:37pm

Am I the only one disturbed and rather appalled that some of POTO, esp. the title song, is partially pre-recorded? If I pay to see live theatre, I want live theatre! Not a lip-synch job! If Christine can't hit that high note, then maybe that note shouldn't have been written in the first place. It's kinda a conjob to make the audience impressed with her hitting a high note, when she's not doing it live.

[morosco]

Posted: 7/13/04 at 1:43pm

Whenever you see a conductor don headphones, there's cause for suspicion!

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 7/13/04 at 1:56pm

I am disappointed to know this also, but hey, I just have to accept it. Do the musicians just not play during that time, or do they play live...because if they aren't playing then someone from the first row might know something is up. Sorry for all the questions!

[ponine24601]

Posted: 7/13/04 at 4:39pm

the orchestra does not play during those pieces, but the conductor still waves his arms, so that it looks like they are playing. i hate telling everyone this because i bring the bad news. sorry!

Updated On: 7/13/04 at 04:39 PM

[spiderdj82]

Posted: 7/13/04 at 4:46pm

Oh well. I still love the Phantom, so this little ditty will not make me love it any less.

[ponine24601]

Posted: 7/13/04 at 4:50pm

yeah me too. i saw it after i knew all these things plus more and i was still excited about every little part.

[ChristineDaae]

Posted: 7/13/04 at 5:14pm

"Whenever you've seen POTO, have the sound people done a horrible job making the pre-recorded music blend in seamlessly with the preceding live music? This happened when I last saw the national tour in 2002. Let me explain:"

No, as I explained in the other thread about ALW, I always thought just the ending of the title song was pre-recorded when Christine does her opera singing. I've never noticed any horrible sounds...
but maybe thats because you saw the tour and I'm talking about the show in New York? Maybe they were having problems? I don't know.

[shlamdiddly]

Posted: 7/13/04 at 5:25pm

"Whenever you see a conductor don headphones, there's cause for suspicion!"

what if the conductor needs to hear news from somewhere else in the theater. What is someone broke their leg backstage...the conductor would need to know and the best way would to be through his headphones.