Phantom is back in Vienna - in Concert

I am so happy, I´ve Phantom back here in Vienna for a short time:
http://www.musicalvienna.at/index.php/de/spielplan/production/110826

Oh wow, I did not see THAT coming.

Any idea if it'll be a semi staged event or a concert?

It will be in Concert. At the moment they search for the cast. I hope some good ones! Really!
I´ll give you more information if I know more..

This was unexpected! But nice news. Had it been a full-scale production I'd have gone to Vienna in a shot. I wonder who the cast will be...Please not Uwe Kröger...

I must start booking tickets! I hope that there's some people from the original Vienna cast. (I'm still lacking autographs from Goebel and Priti Coles.. )

EDIT: It seems that they're celebrating the Viennese production, not just POTO in general, which exites even more. From the site:

"Andrew Lloyd Webber: “It was a great joy to me that the German language premiere of THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA enjoyed such success in 1988 and I am delighted that Vereinigte Bühnen Wien has chosen to perform a concert version of the show as part of its 25th anniversary celebrations this year. Congratulations Vereinigte Bühnen Wien on twenty five years of music making – here’s to twenty five more!”

Scorp wrote:This was unexpected! But nice news. Had it been a full-scale production I'd have gone to Vienna in a shot. I wonder who the cast will be...Please not Uwe Kröger...

I see your small text... it can't hide from me.

*flails* Vienna Phantom was so prettttty.

I booked tickets for 6 shows. It´s a must.
So much Phantom for me this year!

I hope this is successful enough to demand a restaging of the Wien produciton. Granted, it wouldn't be exactly what existed in the early 90s, but it would be big and grand like it had been... I think the Wien recording has one of the most eery executions of the score I have ever heard. Would anyone agree that the score was played with a rather disturbing whispering quality? Everything was so sharp and precise- a new sound coming into a song slices into the consciousness.

I think one of *favorite* things about the Wien production was how they handled Raoul's "Christine, I love you," (Ich liebe dich) on the Rooftop. The production understood that that moment is HUGE, dramatically/thematically, and slowed it down to the same tempo/pace as the Phantom's delivery of it at the end of the show. It created a parallel of how a the end of both acts, Christine is faced with the same words by two men, and NEITHER time responds with a reciprocation. That is a BIG deal, and I wish the highlight of her choices/responses were given more measure in all productions...not just for the last scene.

SweetChristine wrote:I booked tickets for 6 shows. It´s a must.
So much Phantom for me this year!

6 times! I couldn't cope with so much Phantom in one go...haha. You'll have to report back on what it's like. I wonder if they'll bother recording it?

MajesticPhantom wrote:I hope this is successful enough to demand a restaging of the Wien produciton. Granted, it wouldn't be exactly what existed in the early 90s, but it would be big and grand like it had been... I think the Wien recording has one of the most eery executions of the score I have ever heard. Would anyone agree that the score was played with a rather disturbing whispering quality? Everything was so sharp and precise- a new sound coming into a song slices into the consciousness.

I think one of *favorite* things about the Wien production was how they handled Raoul's "Christine, I love you," (Ich liebe dich) on the Rooftop. The production understood that that moment is HUGE, dramatically/thematically, and slowed it down to the same tempo/pace as the Phantom's delivery of it at the end of the show. It created a parallel of how a the end of both acts, Christine is faced with the same words by two men, and NEITHER time responds with a reciprocation. That is a BIG deal, and I wish the highlight of her choices/responses were given more measure in all productions...not just for the last scene.

I love the Vienna recording (I am not keen on Nistler or Pfeiffer but Goebel and the orchestra compensate). I wish Goebel sang the title song on the recording in the original octave though. It's weird because I know that, at least in certain performances, he did sing it the way it was written. The title song live also had an extra keyboard line in the second verse that isn't there on the recording.

Both the Theater an der Wien and the Raimund were such great homes for the show too; really atmospheric venues which have the right kind of period feel and opulence that all the German venues in Hamburg, Stuttgart and Essen seem to lack.

Really sad I never got to see the Vienna production in person.

@Scorp: Yes 6 times, more is to much, I think. But maybe one time with someone is possible.
I´ll report, really! I hope they have a great cast and make a live recording.

For me the Vienna Cast and recording has a special place in my heart. It was the beginning of all!
And Alexander Goebel will always be one of the best Phantoms ever.

MajesticPhantom wrote:I think the Wien recording has one of the most eery executions of the score I have ever heard. Would anyone agree that the score was played with a rather disturbing whispering quality? Everything was so sharp and precise- a new sound coming into a song slices into the consciousness.

I agree, the orchestra in Vienna is one of the best Phantom has had. Not just for precise rhythm and fullness, but also because some moments and instruments were highlighted more - the flute in the Il Muto ballet and the drums in Masquerade comes to mind. The harmony in Wandering Child is also wonderfully highlighted. A more dynamic Christine on that recording would have made it sensational.

regarding the title song, I could be wrong but ALL of the sheet music ive seen, even the official rehearsal score has that first phantom verse in the octave Gobel sings it in. But I do prefer it the higher standard octave we are accustomed to.

another stupid sounding thing is one of my favourite parts in the VIenna recording is how they hold the note at the end of Prima Donna. I love it.

According to a German forum the cast for the concert is Christian Müller as the Phantom, Lisa Antoni as Christine and Oliver Arno as Raoul. I don't know if this is actual news from German languaged newspapers, or just hearsay. Whatever the case, Christian Müller played the Phantom in Essen and was very good. The two latter are well known from the musicals Elisabeth and Rebecca.

operafantomet wrote:According to a German forum the cast for the concert is Christian Müller as the Phantom, Lisa Antoni as Christine and Oliver Arno as Raoul. I don't know if this is actual news from German languaged newspapers, or just hearsay. Whatever the case, Christian Müller played the Phantom in Essen and was very good. The two latter are well known from the musicals Elisabeth and Rebecca.

This better be true. Müller is freaking awesome, and I adore Arno's der Tod. Let it be true.

Tomorrow we know more....the VBW will say it official...

Lisa Antoni and Oliver Arno?! *is rubbing her hands gleefully* Oliver's Der Tod was WONDERFUL. Oh, oh he's going to be a perfect Raoul. I can't wait to hear Lisa's voice, I believe she just finished up doing the Rebecca thing with Thomas Borchert in St. Galin. I'd love to see Carin Filipčić as Carlotta. (Please, oh please, don't choose Marika Lichter.)

I'd love to hear Ethan Freeman as Firmin. As for Andre, mmm, I'm hoping for Jens Janke!

Carin would be great. Does she have the voice? Not saying she doesn't, I just haven't come across it.

I think Pia Douwes would be an out of this world Carlotta Guidicelli. I've also thought Maya Hakvoort would make a compelling Madame Giry!

The full cast:
http://www.thatsmusical.de/magazin/hauptdarsteller-fuer-wiener-phantom-konzert-vorgestellt-a101233.html

SweetChristine wrote:The full cast:
http://www.thatsmusical.de/magazin/hauptdarsteller-fuer-wiener-phantom-konzert-vorgestellt-a101233.html

Thank you for that link! Posting the cast here:

PHANTOM: Christian Alexander Müller
CHRISTINE: Lisa Antoni
RAOUL: Oliver Arno
FIRMIN: Reinhard Brussmann
ANDRÉ: Ramin Dustar
CARLOTTA: Siphiwe McKenzie
MADAME GIRY: Michaela Christl
MEG GIRY: Ana Carina Buchegger
PIANGI: Enrique Corona
CONFIDANTE: Patricia Nessy

I only recognize Christian Müller as a Phantom alumni. A bit surprised no-one from the original Viennese or Hamburg cast was stunt cast in one of the supporting roles, for history's sake. But I would think they might be present in other ways.

Any news so far on whether it's a concert-concert or RAH staged concert?

You are welcome .
It seemed it will be a concert-concert but I don´t know more at the moment.
I know most of the cast. I´ll see and hope it will be good and there are some surprises.

Based on the past VBW concerts of MOZART, JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, and TANZ DER VAMPIRE, it will likely be semi-staged, ala Royal Albert Hall. This pleases me!

Here are some photos:
http://www.musicalszene.de/das-phantom-der-oper-konzertant-in-wien-2012-besetzung-bekannt-gegeben.htm

This sounds so much better than the RAH version. I can only hope for a legitimate recording done of this.

First impression of the POTO concert Vienna: http://tvthek.orf.at/programs/70018-Wien-heute/episodes/4743757-Wien-heute
(scroll down to Das Phantom der Oper 02:39 minutes)

Oh my god, their voices. They sound *amazing*. I need this in my life, right now.

And much more with All I ask of you, Music of the Night and Wishing you were somehow here again

http://www.puls4.com/video/pink/play/1814051

SweetChristine wrote:And much more with All I ask of you, Music of the Night and Wishing you were somehow here again

http://www.puls4.com/video/pink/play/1814051

Thanks for finding these!

SweetChristine wrote:First impression of the POTO concert Vienna: http://tvthek.orf.at/programs/70018-Wien-heute/episodes/4743757-Wien-heute
(scroll down to Das Phantom der Oper 02:39 minutes)

"Eric, Das Phantom der Oper". Aaaaagh!!!

But I love Christian Müller as the Phantom, and the others sounds great too. My only concert about Lisa Antoni as Christine is that her voice doesn't really stand out. It's a lovely, typical soprano, with no edge or unique sound to it. ALW's Christine is supposed to have this certain quality which makes her stand out. But I've only seen a handful of clips, and won't judge until I see the actual concert.

So do you think they'll borrow the German costumes (as I think the original Viennese ones are long gone)? Really curious to see how close they stick to the RAH concert. And how many more of these concerts we'll see in the future.

operafantomet wrote:

SweetChristine wrote:First impression of the POTO concert Vienna: http://tvthek.orf.at/programs/70018-Wien-heute/episodes/4743757-Wien-heute
(scroll down to Das Phantom der Oper 02:39 minutes)

"Eric, Das Phantom der Oper". Aaaaagh!!!

But I love Christian Müller as the Phantom, and the others sounds great too. My only concert about Lisa Antoni as Christine is that her voice doesn't really stand out. It's a lovely, typical soprano, with no edge or unique sound to it. ALW's Christine is supposed to have this certain quality which makes her stand out. But I've only seen a handful of clips, and won't judge until I see the actual concert.

So do you think they'll borrow the German costumes (as I think the original Viennese ones are long gone)? Really curious to see how close they stick to the RAH concert. And how many more of these concerts we'll see in the future.

Yes Erik is not well written!!

Yes Christian Müller sounds good. Over the last years I think so there are not many Christine´s performers who are unique in there voices. Sadly. Christine is special but I miss it often.
I can tell you more after seeing it. Not long now...

I don´t think so..but maybe I know more about the rehearsals...