Official Phantom Cast Recordings

'Cos we need a thread like this.

Anyway, further to my earlier post in another thread, after a bit of research I can now tell you that, the words of Monsieur Lefèvre, the rumours of a brand new Korean cast recording are ALL TRUE!

It's got more material than the last one, with bonus tracks featuring the alternate cast members who aren't on the main part. Also, unlike the last Korean cast recording, this includes 'Angel of Music' (or maybe it's just 'The Mirror').

Seems like you can buy it here: http://www.yesasia.com/us/the-phantom-of-the-opera-ost-korean-casting-korea-version/1021582484-0-0-0-en/info.html

Just placed my order. Fingers crossed that this YesAsia site is completely fine and I don't get screwed over... Not a bad price though, £12 including shipping to the UK.

Really? REALLY? A new, extended CD from the original Korean cast? Holy sh....! That was unexpected, but very good news. I love the Korean cast CD. But this means they'll use (or rather, used) another backing track than the Canadian one for the extra numbers?

My favourite of the cast albums is still the Swedish one. Much because of the cast, but also of the overall feel and quality. And the fact that it's (semi) live doesn't hurt. I write semi-live since several performances are edited together, and because it's studio edited.

Other favourites are:

The Original London Cast (just because... it's still how I expect POTO to sound, though I've expanded my view a LOT since I first heard this CD).

The Viennese Cast (today mostly because of the orchestra and the completeness. I was much more fond of the cast in the past)

Original Japanese Cast (The similarities to the OLC is almost scary... But I still think it has an atmosphere of it's own, and I also think it sounds more "original Phantom" in terms of mood and details compared to the two other Japanese CDs).

Dutch Cast Album (Why did they only record a highlight CD? Lovely cast, and... yeah. I love it)

I've also warmed to the Canadian cast album.

Have to admit that I've hardly ever listened to my 2002 Korean cast recording...maybe I don't like the Phantom's voice? Dunno. I keep forgetting it exists, sort of like how I keep forgetting the Hamburg one from '93 exists. Though it's the same Phantom (I think) this time, except on the bonus tracks. That said, the 2002 Korean Christine had a lovely voice. Her WYWSHA is very nice. This new one came out on the 5th November apparently...how the h€ll did we miss it?

Our tastes are v. similiar as far as the cast albums go! I like the 2nd Japanese one too, Yuichiro Yamaguchi is amazing. And I've also warmed to the Canadian cast recording in recent years; originally I didn't like it, but now I appreciate Colm more and Rebecca Caine is wonderful. Vienna is still one of my absolute favourites...but you're right, there's nothing special about the cast except I do think Alexander Goebel was a fantastic Phantom. But Luzia Nistler and Alfred Pfeiffer just sound bored as Christine and Raoul. The cast of the Spanish film dub is really good too, but the whole thing is hampered by them having to imitate certain sub-par actors and not-that-great orchestrations (100+ orchestra and yet it sounds inferior to the 30-piece orchestra of the OLC...go figure. ).

I don't think anything will beat the OLC. Deservedly the best-selling cast album of all time. I get chills every time I listen to it.

P.S. Oh, really. Because subsituting € for E in the word "hell" is really effective censorship.

I've heard some of the new Korean recording and I really like it. I actually like most of the cast recordings, with some exceptions....A bit of a disappointment is the Spanish movie soundtrack. I love Juan Carlos Barona and Julia Möller but the fact that they must keep to Gerard Butlers and Emmy Rossums level on this CD is just sad, because I know they can do so much better than that. One of my more odd favourites is actually the Russian demo I heard a while ago, it's not really a cast recording but anyway, I like it in Russian.

Bonus tracks are an interesting way to get around the issue of having double-cast certain roles. A shame many of the current productions that have/had that dilemma aren't planning on recording cast albums.

R.

The Original Canadian Cast Recording will always have a special place in my heart, as it was the first cast recording I ever owned. (I still have the original tattered old cassette, even though it's long been replaced with CD). I also reeeally love Rebecca Caine's voice.
The Vienna cast is another favorite of mine, not so much for the vocalists, but for the orchestrations. Plus it's a pretty complete recording, and that's always a plus.

operafantomet wrote:
My favourite of the cast albums is still the Swedish one. Much because of the cast, but also of the overall feel and quality.

Same here. Of all the cast albums I'd heard bits and pieces of, that was the one that made me scream, "I HAVE TO HAVE THIS!!!!"

The original London recording is a sentimental favorite just because it's how I first fell in love with the show.

Where can you get some of these recordings? I've looked everywhere for the Swedish and Dutch casts, but I can't seem to find them.

Soprano Rose wrote:Where can you get some of these recordings? I've looked everywhere for the Swedish and Dutch casts, but I can't seem to find them.

I had to order mine from Germany.

http://www.soundofmusic-shop.de/Home_English.html

This site has a HUGE selection of foreign recordings, including POTO. A little pricey, but worth it...and the service was faster than I expected.

Thank you, Paula! I didn't see the Swedish cast on there, but maybe I overlooked it. Again, thanks for the link!

I think both the Swedish and Dutch cast CDs are out of print, but they do occur in online auction places every now and then. Try http://www.ebay.com and http://www.tradera.com/

Paula, I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one adoring the Swedish cast CD.

operafantomet wrote:
Paula, I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one adoring the Swedish cast CD.

I bought the Swedish album a while back, I think from Sound-of-music.de. I also happened to buy it at a time when I didn't realize the exchange rate of the Euro to the US Dollar was quite unfavorable. Ouch.

It really is a good recording, though, and worth tracking down. Mikael Samuelson has a very unique, though not displeasing voice. Kinda delicate and ghostly at times. Mmm... might have to pull out the discs and have a listen later tonight, then.

~Madame~

Madame Giry wrote:

operafantomet wrote:
Paula, I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one adoring the Swedish cast CD.

I bought the Swedish album a while back, I think from Sound-of-music.de. I also happened to buy it at a time when I didn't realize the exchange rate of the Euro to the US Dollar was quite unfavorable. Ouch.

It really is a good recording, though, and worth tracking down. Mikael Samuelson has a very unique, though not displeasing voice. Kinda delicate and ghostly at times. Mmm... might have to pull out the discs and have a listen later tonight, then.

Worst thing is that the first two-three times I listened to it, I kinds disliked him. I thought him too rough and... I dunno. But I kept listening to it because of the excellent cast and the Swedish lyrics, and I soon enough got addicted to his Phantom. Now he's one of my ultimate favourites...

The Original London Cast Album is my favorite of course, cause Michael Crawford is my fav Phantom.

Original Candian Cast: Hmmmm well I love Rebecca Caine's voice. Colm Wilkinson is just....... a big no for me. Sorry to the people who like him.

I also really love the highlights cast album with Claire Moore and Ethan Freeman.

So I myself just got the new Korean Cast.. I think this translation is new, the lyrics sound totally different than the original Korean cast


I will give my opinion of it when I have given it a few listens, but I am surprised that Yoon Youngseok is still in the cast and was featured in this recording. Considering he was in the first cast album. The cast switches in several places.

I wish that the recording had Jang-seob Kim as The Phantom, he was my favorite Korean Phantom.


The cast is

Phantom: Yang Jun-Mo/Yoon Youngseok
Christine: Kim So-Hyon/Choe Hyon-Ju
Raul: Jeong Sang-Yun/Hong Gwang-Ho

This list looks rather complete:

http://castalbumcollector.com/shows/270

operafantomet wrote:Really? REALLY? A new, extended CD from the original Korean cast? Holy sh....! That was unexpected, but very good news. I love the Korean cast CD.

Just to clarify in case there was a misunderstanding...this is a brand new cast recording with the current Korean revival cast and is quite different from the 2002 recording (although some of the cast members are the same).

Listening to it now...my copy came a couple of weeks back. I really like this one and MUCH prefer it to the 2002 recording. It helps that I much prefer Yang Jun-Mo's voice to Yoon Youngseok's. Both the Christines are lovely.

'Angel of Music' did alas turn out to be only 'The Mirror' but it looks like that the 2002 recording never even had that anyway, so that's a plus.

I love the packaging to this recording, very classy. It's done as a digipack. Has the lyrics to all the songs featured (not that I can read them) and also a 'stuck in' booklet which is effectively a mini-souvenir brochure...quite a generous amount of pics from this revival production.

The auctioneer is very menacing...he makes me laugh when he talks about "the strange affair of the Phantom of the Opera" as it gets quite OTT!

More detailed thoughts after a few listens...trying to work out how many of the Canadian backing tracks have been used or whether this is a new orchestra backing. From the sounds of it, they've used the Canadian title track backing (that was also used on the old Korean recording and the Mexican recording) which I don't really like that much (too heavy on the brass), not sure about the other songs yet as I need to listen properly.

Scorp wrote:Just to clarify in case there was a misunderstanding...this is a brand new cast recording with the current Korean revival cast and is quite different from the 2002 recording (although some of the cast members are the same).

(...)
Has the lyrics to all the songs featured (not that I can read them) and also a 'stuck in' booklet which is effectively a mini-souvenir brochure...quite a generous amount of pics from this revival production.

So we're talking a revived Korean production? Aaaaw, even cooler! But I wonder what sets and costumes they're currently using. Last time they used the Aussie stuff, but that is still used by the "World Tour", yes?

Will browse online for pictures and stuff. Seems like it's playing in a musical theatre called "Charlotte", and the official site is http://www.phantomoftheopera.co.kr/ - though it doesn't work on my computer.

Thanks for your thoughts on the CD so far!

operafantomet wrote:
So we're talking a revived Korean production? Aaaaw, even cooler! But I wonder what sets and costumes they're currently using. Last time they used the Aussie stuff, but that is still used by the "World Tour", yes?

Will browse online for pictures and stuff. Seems like it's playing in a musical theatre called "Charlotte", and the official site is http://www.phantomoftheopera.co.kr/ - though it doesn't work on my computer.

Get with the times! The Korean revival opened the same day Leroux's serialisation turned 100 -- I was the only one geeky enough to notice and post it on the Twitter centenary feed. I bet if the Korean production knew they'd have taken advantage of that fact in the publicity, but oh well, missed opportunity...

RUG posted some pics from the revival here: http://www.reallyuseful.com/shows/the-phantom-of-the-opera/gallery/production-pictures-from-the-phantom-in-korea

Scorp wrote:RUG posted some pics from the revival here: http://www.reallyuseful.com/shows/the-phantom-of-the-opera/gallery/production-pictures-from-the-phantom-in-korea

He-he, they lack the mirror bride in the "handing back the mask" picture (although the mirror is there)

I agree about promotional potential... A pity if they think Western audience is only interested in English productions. I crave everything international when it comes to POTO, and I'm sure I'm not the only one.

I can't wait to get to listen to this CD.

But, let me just say that what I know of Kim So-Hyon as Christine has blow-me-away. Her voice is gorgeous. She is surprisingly one of my favorite 'foreign' Christine's.

I absolutely love:

Dutch: Henk Poort and I are in love (not really, but, lol). I love his Phantom. Esp. paired with Joke's. Her Christine is lovely, and is one of my favorites.
Canadian: Didn't care for Colm at first from the CD but after listening to him in video(there are legal ones), I've come to appreciate him live than what is on the CD. And, Rebecca, being the beauty that she is, is always going to remain one of my favorite Christine's as well.
London Cast: Steve.Michael.Sarah = my little cast of perfectionism. I don't give a crap for Sarah's acting, but when I listened to the CD for the first time, it was so vivid in my mind that it felt like I was reading a book/watching a movie. Steve Barton is my favorite Raoul, and I haven't heard many that come close to him. But there are some amazing moments, especially the Wandering Child trio.

So, I was going over the Phantom cast albums I have with a friend (who isn't a 'phan' per se but does like musical theatre) and I was trying to figure out what albums I'm missing. So, am I getting senile with old age, or is there a Netherlands Cast album, or is that really the Basel cast album/Dutch cast album under another name? I have the Dutch one, but not the Basel.

~Madame~

The Netherland CD IS the Dutch CD. Cast is Henk Poort and Joke de Kruijf.

The Swiss (Basel) 4-single CD is in German, and cast is Florian Schneider and Ute Baum.

There was also a super rare Belgian single given as a promo, with Hans Peter Janssen and alternate Ineke van Klinken (I think). It's in Flemish, a language very similar (but not identical) to Dutch.

Hi - I compiled this list for another site but thought you may find it useful for reference on here. It is not quite complete, there are still more promos to be added to it:

1) Original London Cast (CD, Vinyl, MC – Polydor 831273 1987)
2) Original London Cast Highlights (CD, Vinyl, MC – Decca 831563 1987)
3) Original London Cast Highlights (Special Edition Gold Disc – Polydor 831-563-ZGYH 1987)
4) Original London Cast (Australian Edition to commemorate the Sydney Premiere in July 1993 repackaged with a white cover, Polydor 519696-2)
5) Excerpts From The Phantom Of The Opera (German Pressing, 3-track CD single – Phantom Of The Opera/Entr’Acte, Masquerade - Polydor 859343-2 1987)
6) Michael Crawford – Music Of The Night/Sarah Brightman – Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again (7’’ Single ‘Both Titles From The Forthcoming Cast Album’ Polydor POSP803 1986)
7) Original London Cast CD sampler promo (For radio use, 4 tracks Polydor 831-488-2 1987)
Steve Harley/Sarah Brightman 7’’ single (The Phantom Of The Opera/B-side – Overture, Polydor POSP800 1986)
9) Steve Harley/Sarah Brightman 12’’ single (The Phantom Of The Opera/B-side – Overture, POSPX800 1986)
10) Steve Harley/Sarah Brightman 7’’ single (The Phantom Of The Opera/B-side – Overture, Special Edition Luminous Disc Polydor 1986)
11) Steve Harley/Sarah Brightman CD single (The Phantom Of The Opera/ Overture - Japanese pressing Polydor PODP1049 1992)
12) Original Austrian Cast (2CD, Vinyl, MC - Polydor 839206 1989)
13) Alexander Goebel/Luzia Nistler – Das Phantom Der Oper 7’’ Single (Polydor 871490 1989)
14) Original German Cast (CD, Vinyl – Polydor 847514 1990)
15) Peter Hoffman – The Music Of The Night/Instrumental Version (CD MAXI Polydor 877369-2 1990)
16) Peter Hoffman – Die Musik Der Nacht/Anna Maria Kaufmann & Hartwig Rudolz – Mehr Will Ich Nicht Von Dir (CD MAXI Polydor 879353-2 1990)
17) German Cast Mask-Shaped CD Single (Denk An Mich/Die Musik Der Nacht/Konntest Du Doch Wieder Hei Mir Sein - Polydor 575-125-2 1996)
18) Original Canadian Cast (Highlights CD Polydor 847-689-2 1990)
19) Colm Wilkinson – The Music Of The Night/Rebecca Caine – Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again (Canadian Second Anniversary Promo given to attendees at the theatre, CD Polydor PCD101)
20) Colm Wilkinson – The Music Of The Night/Rebecca Caine – Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again (Canadian Third Anniversary Promo given to attendees at the theatre, CD Polydor PCD267)
21) Original Dutch Cast (Highlights CD, Polydor 1993)
22) Sarah Brightman and Cliff Richard – All I Ask Of You/Joke de Kruijf & Peter de Smet – Meer Vrag Ik Van Jou (CD Single Polydor BV 85156-8 1995)
23) Het Spook Van De Opera/Entr’Acte (Dutch Cast CD Single Polydor 855-356-2 1993)
24) Melodieen Van De Nacht/Prima Donna (Dutch cast CD Single Polydor 853-690-2 1993)
25) Denk An Mij/Bal Masque (Dutch cast CD Single Polydor 835-030-2 1993)
26) Henk Poort/Els Bongers (Alternate Christine) – Het Spook Van De Opera/Kon Ik Nog Maar Even Bij Je Zijn (Dutch Cast CD single Polydor 851-196-2 1993)
27) Original Swiss Cast 4-track CD Single - Florian Schneider (The Phantom), Ute Baum (Christine), Bjorn Olsson (Raoul) - (Polydor 573225-2 1996)
28) Original Belgian Cast Promo 2-track CD Single: Hans Peter Janssens - De Donkere Melodieen Van De Nacht/Ineka Van Klinken (Alternate Christine) – Kon Ik Nog Maar Even Bij Je Zijn (Polydor 2000)
29) Original Japanese Cast (2CD Pony Canyon D50H009 1988)
30) 1992 Japanese Cast (2CD Polydor POCP 1213/4)
31) 10th Anniversary Japanese Cast (Polydor POCP 7386/7 1999)
32) Original Mexican Cast (Highlights CD, Sony 89864 2002)
33) Original Korean Cast (Highlights CD, Universal DD5970 2002)
34) 2009 Korean Cast (Highlights CD with bonus tracks, Universal 2009)
35) Original Hungarian Cast (RUG LTD, 2003)
36) Original Polish Cast (Univeral Music Poland 2008)

Haven't you forgotten the Swedish cast CD in that list? I couldn't find it when browsing through, but maybe I missed it.

Thanks for that list!

Oops yeah how could I forget that? One of the best.

Yes, it's too not not to list!

1989: Swedish cast album (2 CD, MC, LP), Mikael Samuelson and Elisabeth Berg, Polydor
http://www.castalbumdb.com/rec.cfm?RNumber=922

Mikael Samuelson seems to be one of few Phantoms online people adore although few saw him in the role. I'm so enchanted by his portrayal and voice in the CD, and can only imagine how he appeared on stage. The very few clips I've seen was mesmerizing!

Loved and absolutely have been enthralled and loved OLC, Michael I absolutely adore beyond words, Sarah lovely little nightingale voice and Steve Barton the one absolutely gorgeous Raoul inside and out. I remembered the first time I heard MON, I cried, and all I ask of you, I cried as well, and the Final Lair, more tears. and still cry nearly every time

Orignal Canadian Cast awsome as well, has Rebecca Caine, and her awe inspireing Cadenza, Colm with his powerfully over the top performance, and Byron Neese, Loved his voice.

Swedish cast absolutely adore, Mikeal Samuelson, his phantom moving, tender, emotional, tear my heart out. Elisabeth Berg (not sure of spelling as well) wonderful Christine moving, tender, and powerful, she has an absolutely magnificent voice, and her think of me or tank pa meg was wonderful, and her wishing moving, emotional and beautiful, absolutely loved her, and I cannot think of Raoul, he had a powerful and strong voice.

Loved the Vienna Cast, loved Nistler, Goebel loved it

Loved the Hamburg cast too loved Hoffmann, not so much Anna maria Kauffman, Although I liked her voice on the 2000 dutch version of Evita.

this may be cause I am probly much older than most people here, I do have most of the cast albums on vinyl albums, any one else have the albums too, and yes I do have them on CD as well, and yes CDs are better sound etc. just pondering

I've listened to elder POTO CDs today, for the first time in ages. I'm still surprised by how atmospheric the original Japan CD is. Although I might like some performers better in the other Japanese CDs, I think the original cast is wonderful, and I love how they pace rather than rush in certain scenes. One of my favourites, in fact.

Still want the new Korean CD, I've read several positive reviews.