A note before we begin ...
... I'm realizing that even though it's true, the "crisp clear audio" review is getting redundant for most anything post 2005 ...
... So those that have descriptions as such were reviewed prior to me coming to that conclusion. Anything here with copious amounts of description is likely because I did the tracking myself. Basically, I'm gonna start only noting down issues I catch. If there's no description, assume I found nothing wrong lol. My grades speak for themselves though. There's gotta be issues if anything past here is less than an A.
... So those that have descriptions as such were reviewed prior to me coming to that conclusion. Anything here with copious amounts of description is likely because I did the tracking myself. Basically, I'm gonna start only noting down issues I catch. If there's no description, assume I found nothing wrong lol. My grades speak for themselves though. There's gotta be issues if anything past here is less than an A.
2010's
Broadway, 2010
Paul A. Schaefer (u/s), Marni Raab (alt), Ryan Silverman, David Cryer
TRACKED. I never ever would have thought this was an audio from 2010. Sounds like analog hiss over the entire thing - but it could be recorded with an older mp3 player. And it just has this sound of a much older audio. I tracked this audio using Audacity - there are parts of it when viewed in the program that look like they were originally louder than they now are, but the volume was cut down (the Overture, specifically.) The volume is all over the place. All of the quiet parts are ... well ... QUIET. I mean QUIET. I mean I jacked the volume all the way up to be able to hear. And then had to drop it for the loud bits because they're overloaded. I also realized partway through tracking ... that this was recorded in a Mono Wav format, which lends more to the theory of the taper being hampered by older equipment.
Either the taper or someone very close by giggles most of the way through the Il Muto Ballet. To be honest, there's quite a bit of talking (two girls) in numerous places through the audio, close to the taper - if it's not the taper. Missing the beginning of the Entr'acte (heard it once, etc ...). A LOT of mic contact noise in the beginning of Act two (settles down about the time the singing starts.)
I said this after listening to another Schaefer audio ... why wasn't he a principal? Because DAMN he blows quite a few out of the water.
B-
London, January 12, 2010
David Shannon, Tabitha Webb, Simon Bailey, Barry James, Gareth Snook, Rebecca Lock, Rohan Tickell, Nicky Adams, Emma Harris
A
Broadway, March 3, 2010
John Cudia, Jennifer Hope Wills, Ryan Silverman, Patricia Phillips, George Lee Andrews, David Cryer, Cristin J. Hubbard, Evan Harrington, Kara Klein (us)
(Full ensemble cast list available in downloadable file)
... my first thoughts - who in the HECK put this on cassette and then transferred back? Because there is NO REASON I should be hearing analog hiss (and oh is it there!) in an audio from 2010. There is a nice clear audio under the hiss, but in this day of all sorts of digital transfers that hiss just ... I can't give this the A it would have gotten if it were from, say, the 1990's.
B-
US Tour, March 14, 2010 (Dallas, TX)
Thomas Schumacher (u/s), Trista Moldovan, Sean MacLaughlin, D. C. Anderson, Bruce Winant, Kim Stengel, Nancy Hess, David Gaschen, Paloma Garcia-Lee
A
London, May 6, 2010
Stephen John Davis (u/s), Tabitha Webb, Simon Bailey, Rebecca Lock, Gareth Snook, Barry James, Nicky Adams, Rohan Tickell, Emma Harris
A
London, May 20, 2010
Scott Davies, Gina Beck, Simon Bailey
A
US Tour, August 17, 2010 (Cleveland, OH)
Tim Martin Gleason, Trista Moldovan, Sean MacLaughlin, D. C. Anderson, Michael McCoy, Kim Stengel, Nancy Hess, Luke Grooms, Paloma Garcia-Lee
Artistkae's Master
Highlights. Includes Think of Me, Angel of Music, Little Lotte, The Mirror, Music of the Night, AIAOY, AIAOY Reprise, Twisted Every Way, Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again, Wandering Child, Don Juan, Point of No Return, Final Lair.
Recorded on a photo camera, so the sound quality suffers quite a bit ... to the point where there were moments I was unsure as to TMG's identity - and he's one of the voices that I usually do NOT mistake. I knew about the quality issues when I got it though ... but fair's fair.
B-
Seoul, Korea, August 15, 2010
Yoon Young-seok, Choi Hyun-Ju, Jeong Sang Yoon
TRACKED. Some very mild hiss - not something I expected to hear in a 2010 audio. (But it seems to be common on Korea audios? I just glanced at the review I wrote for an audio taken a few days after this one, that mentions hiss that was aparantly bad enough for me to drop the grade.) I don't know if I'm only hearing the hiss due to having jacked the volume up to 100% for the "quieter" parts or not. Basically it's quiet compared to my most recent tracking jobs, but it's not so quiet that I can't make things out when we're at full volume. And the loud bits are ... well ... LOUD. Still, nothing bad enough for me to drop the full grade down.
Odd note. Joseph Bouquet is downright SCARY. I almost jumped out of my skin when he screamed at the chorus girls, which NEVER has happened to me before.
A-
Seoul, Korea, August 20, 2010
Hong Kwang-ho, Choi Hyun Ju, Son Joon ho
One track per act. Some hiss overlaying the quiet parts. Not enough to make it unlistenable but it's there.
B
US Tour, September 4, 2010 (Pittsburgh, PA)
Tim Martin Gleason, Kelly Jeanne Grant (alt), Sean MacLaughlin, D. C. Anderson, Michael McCoy, Kim Stengel, Nancy Hess, Luke Grooms, Paloma Garcia-Lee
Artistkae's Master
Highlights. Includes Hannibal, Think of Me, Angel of Music, Little Lotte, The Mirror, Phantom of the Opera, Music of the Night, Prima Donna, Il Muto, Why Have You Brought Me Here, AIAOY, AIAOY Reprise, Masquerade, Notes II/Twisted Every Way, Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again, Wandering Child, Don Juan, Point of No Return, Final Lair. According to the Master, the battery died at "Go now and leave me!!!" so the very last few lines of Final Lair aren't there.
Recorded using a digital photo camera. The quality obviously suffers for this. However, it's better quality than the August recording by this master - I didn't have any difficulty recognizing TMG this time.
B
London, September 4, 2010
David Shannon, Gina Beck, Will Barratt, Gareth Snook, Rebecca Lock, Nicky Adams, Rohan Tickell, Emma Harris
Final matinee for David Shannon, Gina Beck, Rebecca Lock, Nicky Adams, and Emma Harris.
A
US Tour, October 16, 2010 (Los Angeles)
Tim Martin Gleason, (Trista Moldovan? Kelly Jeanne Grant?), Sean MacLaughlin, Kim Stengel, DC Anderson, Michael McCoy, Nancy Hess, Luke Grooms, Paloma Garcia
Some overload on the bass and some mic adjustment noises intermittently throughout. Cast list in the files lists Trista, but another trader has informed me that it might be Kelly Jeanne Grant based on comparisons. I'm not 100% sure so I'm putting it out there.
A
Seoul, South Korea, October 24, 2010
Yang Jun-mo, Kim So Hyun, Son Jun ho
TRACKED. Crystal clear audio, almost soundboard quality.
A
Las Vegas, December 10, 2010
Anthony Crivello, Kristi Holden, Andrew Ragone
Some hiss and a scratching sound over the whole thing - the latter likely due to a bad transfer from whatever original medium was used to record this. Also *very* echo-y throughout. It's a damn shame about the scratchy sound because there's a bloody A quality audio underneath it. And I can't even say it's something about the volume being turned up because for once, here's an audio that I've got well below 50% volume and it's still LOUD. Seriously the main reason I don't play audios in my car while driving has a lot to do with all of them being too quiet ... I don't think this one would have that problem!
If there's a copy out there somewhere without that scratchy overlay - I would be VERY interested in upgrading my copy.
B-
London, December 23, 2010
John Owen-Jones, Gina Beck (emergency cover), Will Barratt
Not sure if this is the Matinee or Evening as I understand both performances were taped. Incredibly clear audio and stunning performances all around. I'd nearly forgotten how nicely psycopathic JOJ could get.
A
Seoul, South Korea, January 2, 2011
Yoon Young-seok, Kim So hyun, Son Joon ho
Last evening performance of the Korean Tour.
One track per act.
A
Broadway, February 21, 2011
Hugh Panaro, Sara Jean Ford, Sean MacLaughlin, Michele McConnell (u/s Carlotta), George Lee Andrews, David Cryer, Nancy Hess, Evan Harrington, Heather McFadden
Some overload on the louder bits, but otherwise solid. Sometimes mislabeled as Marni Raab, but it's not Marni.
A
Broadway, March 9, 2011
Hugh Panaro, Sara Jean Ford, Sean MacLaughlin, Liz McCartney, George Lee Andrews, David Cryer, Nancy Hess, Evan Harrington, Heather McFadden
Has a bit of a tin can sound to it, a little quieter, but without the overload at the loud bits. Not enough to drop the grade.
A
Budapest, May 9, 2011
Sandor Sasvari, Andrea Maho, Gabor Bot
I don't know if it's typical of Budapest, but the tempo seemed faster in quite a few places than I'm used to ... ah well. Audio runs just under two hours, which would usually make me think things were missing but they're not. Crystal clear audio.
A
Las Vegas, June 27, 2011
Anthony Crivello, Sarah Elizabeth Combs (u/s), Andrew Ragone
OMG I've finally found it. A gorgeously clear, not-to-heavy-on-the-overload, audio out of Vegas with Crivello!
In other words, very little overload, not too noticible unless you've got a reason to jack the volume all the way up.
A
Las Vegas, June 28, 2011
Anthony Crivello, Kristen Hertzenberg, Andrew Ragone
Has this odd sound to it ... somewhere between tin can and underwater, but it *might* just be the hall accoustics, because it doesn't sound like a mechanical issue. I'm torn on the grade though, it's not bad enough to say solid B but not really good enough for solid A.
A-/B+
London, October 26, 2011
Simon Shorten, Sofia Escobar, Killian Donnelly
One track per act. Gorgeously clear.
A
London, November 12, 2011
John Owen-Jones, Sofia Escobar, Killian Donnelly, Wendy Ferguson, Duncan Smith, Tim Laurenti, Cheryl McAvoy, Jeremy Secomb, Anna Forbes
On the quiet side. Someone near the taper either has a cold (mild coughing) or was seriously touched (sniffling ... yes, I could hear sniffling, so this recorder had some GOOD eqiupment!).
It has been quiet a while since I listened to JOJ ... and I know I made a point not to comment too much on my thoughts on the acting, but he calls out to Christine as she and Raoul are leaving at the end of the Graveyard scene ... it's something I never heard any other Phantom do, and it just seemed like a very nice touch. Now I'm going to have to relisten to his earlier audios and see if it's a new thing or not lol!
A
London, December 12, 2011
Earl Carpenter, Katie Hall, Killian Donnelly
Earl’s first show back.
A
World Tour, 2012 (Johannesburg, South Africa)
Jonathan Roxmouth, Robin Botha, Anthony Downing
While the sound quality is good, it's got this odd effect to it ... whatever it is, it's DEFINITELY something to do with the theatre accoustics.
This was originally traded to me as "South Africa" but my research tells me that the "South African" production had closed before this, and that this would have been part of the World Tour. Which means my hunt for an audio out of the South African Production hasn't ended yet ...
A
Las Vegas, January 4, 2012
Anthony Crivello, Kristen Hertzenberg, Andrew Ragone, Joan Sobel, John Leslie Wolfe, Lawson Skala, Tina Walsh, Larry Wayne Morbitt, Brianne Kelly Morgan
Some overload and scratching sound on the loud bits, but overall a good quality audio. Full show, includes curtain calls and Outro music. Croisade Fantome's master
A-
Broadway, January 15, 2012
Jeremy Stolle (u/s), Trista Moldovan, Sean MacLaughlin
TRACKED. Sean MacLaughlin's last performance as a cover during Kyle Barisich's vacation. Very loud, nice and clear. Some coughing near the taper. Includes pre-show announcements and a full three minutes or so of applause, as well as exit music. Also includes what I assume are the taper's opinion on Stolle (undecided) at the end of act 1 (I left it in for identification purposes down the road.) Not sure on the date, I've seen it listed as January 14. Oddity about tracking - there is no track 8 due to a little mishap I had with Audacity when I clicked something twice. Nothing is missing ... it just misnumbered the tracks.
A
Broadway, January 18, 2012
James Romick (US), Trista Moldovan, Kyle Barisich, Michelle McConnell, Christian Sebek, Aaron Galligan-Stierle, Kevin Ligon, Crisitn J. Hubbard, Heather McFadden
Sounds as though it was recorded in a tin can inside another tin can ... yes, it's that tinny. I'm splitting the grade. But it's clear. But ... it's TINNY. Still love Romick's Wandering Child.
A/B
London, February 7, 2012
Scott Davies (s/b), Sofia Escobar, Killian Donnelly, Wendy Ferguson, Jeremy Secomb, Michael Kerry (u/s), Gareth Snook, Cheryl McAvoy, Anna Forbes
Lots of noise overlaying the tracks in various places - sounds like mic adjustment? And some odd scratching in places. Strangely even when there are the mic adjustment type noises overlaying, the voices underneath are crystal clear - perhaps taper was very close to either stage or a speaker? I'm giving this one a split grade, because there are some really good clear parts of this audio, it's just those ... noises, I can't give those parts an A.
A/C
Broadway, February 11, 2012
Hugh Panaro, Trista Moldovan, Kyle Barisich, Michele McConnell (Carlotta), Christian Sebek (Piangi), Aaron Galligan-Stierle (Andre), Kevin Ligon (Firmin), Cristin J. Hubbard (Mme Giry), Heather McFadden (Meg), Jeremy Stolle (Passarino)
The landmark 10,000th performance on Broadway. Includes speeches. Incredible quality. Speeches from Gillian Lynne and Hugh. Hugh reads a letter from Hal Prince and shows a pretaped tribute with messages from ALW and the London cast. My only complaint - while the tracks are named, and the track numbers are in the metadata, the track numbers are NOT part of the file names. But that's a petty complaint lol.
*Note on date. Have now seen this labeled as February 24. Debating about trading for that and double checking to see that it is indeed the same audio, but throwing it out there. I'm pretty sure on my date though, it was highly publiscised and what not.
A
Broadway, February 20, 2012
Hugh Panaro, Susan Owen (u/s), Kyle Barisich
TRACKED. This one's LOUD. I mean LOUD. I mean I've got the volume to about 25% on the soft bits tracking it and have to lower to about 10% during the loud bits or risk making my hearing loss worse LOUD. Some of the loud bits are seriously overloaded (the Overture especially. Title song is better but not perfect.) The good just barely keeps me from dropping the grade for the overload though - because there's more good than bad.
There's an odd organ chord just before Hugh sings "I Gave You My Music". Missing the beginning of the Entr'acte (heard it once, etc ...).
A-
London, February 28, 2012
Earl Carpenter, Sofia Escobar, Nadim Naaman (us?), Wendy Ferguson, Cheryl McAvoy, Anna Forbes, Barry James, Gareth Snook, Jeremy Secomb
Not sure about whether Nadim Naaman was an understudy, there was an asterisk by his name in the original 'info' file that came with this audio and there wasn't one by any other performer. Since I don't remember where I got this one I can't even ask (this is a common problem when you get as many audios as I currently have *sigh* and don't always get to review them all right away!) So just throwing that out there, anyone who knows for sure feel free to clue me in and I'll update this!
A
London, March 17, 2012
Earl Carpenter, Sofia Escobar, Killian Donnelly, Wendy Ferguson, Jeremy Secomb, Duncan Smith (u/s), Gareth Snook, Anna Forbes, Cheryl McAvoy
A
London, March 19, 2012
Peter Joback, Sofia Escobar, Killian Donnelly
Slight overload on the loud bits, but otherwise solid. Just a guess based on a London audio from two days prior, but possibly Joback's first performance?
A
Tokyo, March 28, 2012
Osamu Takai, Haru Kasamatsu, Tatsurou Iida
Slightly quiet, but otherwise a solid recording. Some odd choices in track cuts, but it's nice to have a Japan recording I didn't have to track myself!
Also, if I have the names backwards, I apologise. The original info file in the audio had it the way I have above, but it's the other way around for the Phantom/Christine in the name of the jpeg that stood as the album art in this one.
A
London, April 2, 2012
Peter Jöback, Katy Treharne (alt), Nadim Naaman (us), Wendy Ferguson, Joanna Loxton (us), Barry James, Gareth Snook, Jeremy Secomb, Anna Forbes
Some intermittent mic contact noise.
A
UK Tour, April 6, 2012 (Manchester)
John Owen-Jones, Katie Hall, Simon Bailey, Angela M. Caesar, Andy Hockley, Simon Green, Elizabeth Marsh, Vincent Pirillo, Hannah Cadec
Nice and crystal clear, just what one expects from this time frame.
Note: JOJ sings "Fathering gaze" during the trio ... did he always sing it thus?
A
Las Vegas, May 26, 2012
Ian Jon Bourg (u/s), Sarah Elizabeth Combs (u/s), Andrew Ragone
Sounds like it was recorded from inside several tin cans. The vocals and dialog are clear enough, but the sound quality is no where near where it should be. It's probably equivalent to an early 1990's B.
... I need to rant. Given the technological advances over the past decade, there's no reason an audio from 2012 should sound like this.
It's a damn shame this isn't a clearer audio, because Bourg is freaking AWESOME here. Nicely psycopathic in all the right places. It's a damn shame they have never made him a principal in an English language production of Phantom.
C
Las Vegas, May 29, 2012 (9:30 PM)
Anthony Crivello, Kristi Holden, Benjamin Hale (vacation cover), Joan Sobel, Lawson Skala, John Leslie Wolfe, Tina Walsh, Larry Wayne Morbitt, Brianne Kelly Morgan, Michael Lackey
MaskedLion's Master. Either they changed a word in Wandering Child, or they flubbed, because it sounds as both Anthony and Kristi sings, "Just your soul obeys" instead of "but the soul obeys". Absolutely beautiful, crystal clear audio.
A+
Las Vegas, May 30, 2012
Anthony Crivello, Kristen Hertzenberg (alt), Patrick Leveque (u/s), Danielle White* (u/s), Lawson Skala, John Leslie Wolfe, Tina Walsh, Larry Wayne Morbitt, Brianne Kelly Morgan, Michael Lackey
MaskedLion's Master. Glitch with the chandelier caused about a six-minute delay between the Overture and "Hannibal" rehearsal scene ("technical difficulties" track includes announcement, and comments from what I assume is the taper, with a very tounge-in-cheek "These things do happen!" that if it had been me I'd have gone on with Carlotta's whole rant just to be funny. Very interesting to listen to however, as MaskedLion shares some trivia with other audience members about other flubs). Another gorgeous quality audio, making me wish whoever this MaskedLion is had gone a few days prior to capture Ian Jon Bourg!
A+
Las Vegas, May 31, 2012
Anthony Crivello, Kristen Hertzenberg (alt), Patrick Leveque (u/s), Joan Sobel, Lawson Skala, John Leslie Wolfe, Tina Walsh, Larry Wayne Morbitt, Brianne Kelly Morgan, Michael Lackey
MaskedLion's Master. Glitch with the portcullis caused a delay during the final lair scene. Another gorgeous audio from MaskedLion, just what one expects from this time frame.
It's just occurred to me that Crivello in the Final Lair reminds me of Thomas Cunningham in the way his voice goes way up during the line, "This face which earns a mother's fear and loathing". I really paid attention to the lair in this audio though because I was listening for the glitch.
A+
Broadway, August 13?, 2012
Hugh Panaro, Trista Moldovan, Kyle Barisich, Michele McConnell, Andrew Drost (u/s), Jeremy Stolle
TRACKED. Missing the Entr'acte (not a big deal IMHO.) Some mild skipping - not a lot, but there was a brief one in Think Of Me and another in the Title Song, and possibly others I missed.
This audio is loud, and I do mean LOUD. To point - I generally wear headphones to review or in this case, while looking for track cuts during the tracking of it. I had it playing through the Title song over the headphones, set them down for a minute to cross my admittedly small apartment to where my washing machine was running water, and I could hear this audio over the running machinery and water running ... and my volume was down below the half way point. Any audio playing on headphones I can hear across that distance in those conditions has to be loud. But it's also very clear other than those few skipping places, so I'm splitting the grade.
About the date. I have questions. The original file (the whole show was originally one track before I tracked it) was labeled as being August 13. However, the Metadata claimed it as August 30. I don't remember who I got it off of as it langished in my "to edit" folder for way too long, so I don't know who to ask now. I did do a bit of research, and I haven't found a site where there's an audio with matching location and cast for August 30. There are at least three other traders who have one from the 13th. The zip file will reflect the August 13 date, but I can't, in good conscience, not inform.
Regarding the metadata in the files you'll recieve. All the cast info above is taken directly from the original metadata on the file, and is still reflected there. I did edit the album title to reflect the date as August 2012 (the date was originally showing up in the track name in Audacity, not the album name.)
One other note. When I tracked it, I tossed a track out that was less than 15 seconds - containing the shuffling between acts. So the track numbers will show a missing track, but that's what it was.
(Are Broadway audiences so jaded that they miss the cues to applaud? Because this one did!)
A+/A-
UK Tour, August 23, 2012 (Leeds)
Evening Performance
Richard Woodford (u/s), Katie Hall, Simon Bailey, Elizabeth Marsh, Hannah Cadec, David Phipps-Davis (u/s), Simon Green, Angela M. Caesar, Vincent Pirillo
David Phipps-Davis's first performance as Firmin. Matinee and evening performances available.
Gloriously clear audio.
Not familiar with the new UK tour yet. Did they change a bit of the dialogue, or am I hearing flubs?
A
UK Tour, Edinburgh, September 29, 2012
John Owen-Jones, Katie Hall, Simon Bailey
John Owen-Jones's last. Apparantly there are two different versions going around, one tracked, one not ... this is the tracked version.
A
Vienna, Austria, December 3, 2012
Christian Müller, Lisa Antoni, Oliver Arno, Reinhard Brussmann, Ramin Dustdar, Emilio Ruggerio
Not quite as clear as the audio from December 6, there's some scratchy sounds in places in this one. Not awful by any means, not even bad enough to drop a full grade, just not quite as good as the other Vienna audio from this time.
A
Vienna, Austria, December 6, 2012
Christian Muller, Lisa Antoni, Oliver Arno
Concert celebrating the Vienna production.
Gorgeously clear audio. One difference I noted from the original Vienna production - this audio features the Trio in Perros. Very interesting to hear it in a language other than English.
A+
Broadway, January 21, 2013
Hugh Panaro, Sierra Boggess, Kyle Barisich, Michele McConnell, Jim Weitzer, Tim Jerome, Ellen Harvey, Christian Sebek
TRACKED. Sierra Boggess's first performance as Christine on Broadway. The first five minutes or so is audience chatter prior to the announcements (I've tracked that separate from the announcements but left them because they can be a good identifier of the audio down the road.) Also talking through the Entr'acte. Good sound quality. No overload, which is odd for an audio that has such a high volume.
(When did the Broadway production stop using the "bang" at the beginning of the Overture? This is the second Bway audio I've tracked recently where I noticed it missing.)
A
Broadway, January 26, 2013
Hugh Panaro, Sierra Boggess, Kyle Barisich, Michele McConnell, Christian Sebek, Jim Weitzer, Tim Jerome, Ellen Harvey, Kara Klein
Additional Finale Performances by John Owen Jones, Peter Joback, and Ramin Karimloo.
Phantom on Broadway turns 25! Not only is this a fantastic audio, but includes tons of bonus tracks - the audio of the video that played prior to the show, plus the 40 minutes aftershow "Finale" speeches, and the "Four Phantoms" performing the Title Song with Sierra, and the full company and former cast members coming together for MOTN. inallyourfantasies's master.
A+
Broadway, February 6, 2013
Hugh Panaro, Samantha Hill, Kyle Barisich, Michele McConnell, Jim Weitzer, Tim Jerome, Ellen Harvey, Christian Sebek, Carly Blake Sebouhian (u/s)
A
Budapest, February 23, 2013
Csengeri Attila, Mahó Andrea, Bot Gábor, Pándi Piroska, Pankotay Péter, Szerednyey Béla, Galbenisz Tomasz, Bencze Ilona, Kuthy Patrícia
A
Broadway, March 8, 2013
Paul Schaefer (u/s), Samantha Hill, Jeremy Stolle (u/s), Michele McConnell, Richard Poole (u/s), Tim Jerome, Ellen Harvey, Christian Sebek, Kara Klein, Scott Mikita (u/s), Greg Mills (u/s)
wanderingchild's master. VERY slight hiss, not enough to drag the grade down.
Why isn't Schaefer a principal? Because ... wow.
Initially traded to me as April 8, but the metadata proclaims it as March. Since I'm not finding mention of an April audio with that cast ... I'm going with the Metadata on this one. Thankfully I didn't already have it either way!
A-
Broadway, March 9, 2013 (Matinee)
Jeremy Stolle (u/s), Samantha Hill, Greg Mills (u/s), Michele McConnell, Richard Poole (u/s), Tim Jerome, Ellen Harvey, Christian Sebek, Kara Klein, Scott Mikita (u/s)
Slightly echo-y, and some mild overload on loud bits. Nothing too far out there though.
A-
Broadway, March 9, 2013 (Evening)
Paul A. Schaefer (u/s), Samantha Hill, Greg Mills (u/s), Michele McConnell, Richard Poole (u/s), Tim Jerome, Ellen Harvey, Christian Sebek, Kara Klein, Scott Mikita (u/s)
Some intermittent mic contact noise, but otherwise a beautiful clear audio.
A
Broadway, March 11, 2013
Hugh Panaro, Marni Raab, Jeremy Stolle (u/s), Michele McConnell, Nathan Patrick Morgan (u/s), Richard Poole (u/s), Tim Jerome
Somewhat on the quiet side, but otherwise gorgeous quality.
A-
Broadway, April 6, 2013 (matinee)
Hugh Panaro, Samantha Hill, Kyle Barisich, Michele McConnell, Greg Mills (u/s Andre), Tim Jerome, Ellen Harvey, Nathan Patrick Morgan (u/s Piangi), Carly Blake Sebouhian (u/s Meg)
Wanderingchild's master. Master's notes: Last row of Orchestra next to a fidgety baby (yes, a baby) for Act 1, right side Front Row for Act 2. As a result, the brass and drums tend to be louder and clip a lot. Includes Hugh's BC/EFA speech and Outro music.
The tracking though ... no numbered tracks so it sorts in alphabetical order by default. Not a problem if you're me and you know the show backwards and forwards, just throwing it out there.
A-
Broadway, April 27, 2013
Hugh Panaro, Samantha Hill, Kyle Barisich, Michele McConnell, Richard Poole (u/s), Tim Jerome, Ellen Harvey, Christian Sebek, Kara Klein
Yet another "Hugh Panaro's last performance" audio (He would return yet again in August). Maybe we should change all of those to be listed as "End of Hugh's XXXX year run"? I'm being a bit of a smart alec, but in truth I *LOVE* hearing any of Hugh's "Final" performances because the man is brilliantly awesome on a normal night and always pulls out even more extra stops for these finals. Gorgeous sound quality.
A
Broadway, April 29, 2013
Peter Jöback, Samantha Hill, Kyle Barisich, Michele McConnell, Greg Mills (u/s), Tim Jerome, Ellen Harvey, Christian Sebek, Kara Klein
Peter Joback's first performance as Phantom. Sounds like possibly the same taper as Hugh's "final" performance two days before.
A
London, July 13, 2013
Marcus Lovett, Sofia Escobar, Simon Thomas, Janet Fischer (u/s), Jeremy Secomb, Tim Laurenti (u/s), Barry James, Anna Forbes, Cheryl McAvoy
One track per act.
A
London, July 20, 2013
Marcus Lovett, Sofia Escobar, Simon Thomas, Gareth Snook, Ducan Smith (u/s) Lara Martins, Louise Lydell (u/s), Jeremy Secomb, Layla Harrison (u/s)
One track per act. Someone in London has a superb audio recording device because these have been beautiful as well as plentiful.
A
London, July 27, 2013 (Matinee)
Marcus Lovett, Sofia Escobar, Simon Thomas, Nicola Rutherford (u/s), Marc Vastenavondt (u/s), Gareth , Duncan Smith (u/s), Anna Forbes, Cheryl McAvoy
One track per act. However, it's a gorgeous audio and an awesome cast.
A
London, August 1, 2013
Marcus Lovett, Sofia Escobar, Simon Thomas, Lara Martins, Cherly McAvoy, Anna Forbes, Barry James, Gareth Snook, Jeremy Secomb
One track per act.
A
Broadway, August 26, 2013
Hugh Panaro, Mary Michael Patterson, Jeremy Hays, Michele McConnell, Laird Mackintosh, Tim Jerome, Ellen Harvey, Christian Sebek, Kara Klein
TRACKED. First performance for Jeremy Hays and Laird Mackintosh. Hugh's first back from his extended "Vacation". Some minor clicking here and there and very mild overload on the loud bits. Also, this is another nicely LOUD audio ... my sound is only at 35 percent and I'm thinking of turning it down which is odd for me with boots.
From the sounds of some of the applause the audience was full of Hugh fans - they go a little crazy, but not too over the top.
Hugh's MOTN ... WOW.
A
Broadway, August 27, 2013
Hugh Panaro, Mary Michael Patterson, Jeremy Hays, Michele McConnell, Laird Mackintosh, Tim Jerome, Ellen Harvey, Christian Sebek, Kara Klein
TRACKED. Audience chatter for the first track, funnily enough they are recounting some taper getting busted a few weeks prior.
Whoever taped these audios around this time period has some SERIOUSLY superior equipment as far as the volume is concerned ... I reviewed another audio from circa early 90's in between two tracking projects of this time period and ... this audio is INSANELY loud at 100% let me tell you!
Some minor occaisonal distortion - nothing that lasts more than a second or two. And not bad enough for me to drop the grade.
Firmin flubs in Notes 2 - he misses "It's the final straw."
Hugh Panaro's second show after a 4 month hiatus.
A
London, October 10, 2013
Geronimo Rauch, Olivia Brereton, Sean Palmer, Fiona Finsbury (u/s), Jeremy Secomb, Martin Ball, Andy Hockley, Layla Harrison (u/s), Jacinta Mulcahy
Gorgeous clear audio. One track per act.
A
London, October 26, 2013
Scott Davies (s/b), Sofia Escobar, Antony Hansen (u/s), Lara Martins, Jeremy Secomb, Martin Ball, Andy Hockley, Cat Lane, Jacinta Mulcahy
Sofia Escobar's last matinee performance as Christine. Phanofmusical's master.
One track per act. Good sound quality.
A
US Tour, December 3, 2013 (Providence, RI)
Mark Campbell, Julia Udine, Ben Jacoby, Jacquelynne Fontaine, Craig Bennett, Edward Staudenmayer, Linda Balgord, Frank Viveros, Hannah Florence
One track per act. Nice crystal clear audio. First audio I've gotten my hands on where I've been able to hear the new Phantom tour in full ... OMG they added the Trio! With some minor dialogue changes but ... it's there.
A
US Tour, December 26, 2013 (Minneapolis)
Mark Campbell, Grace Morgan, Ben Jacoby, Jacquelynne Fontaine, Frank Viveros, Hannah Florence, Linda Balgord
Not quite the quality I'd expect out of anything after 2010. Some hiss, and slightly muffled. Mic contact noise. And some mild mechanical distortion. Typically however any specific problem comes on it's own, not all of the above over the entire audio, which would have made me drop the grade a lot further, still, I can't give this an A.
Lots of flubs, including Jacquelynne Fontaine's mic going out in 'Prima Donna'.
Ginabeckonstrading's master.
B+
Hamburg January 5, 2014
Rob Pitcher (u/s), Valerie Link, Nicky Wuchinger, Rachel Anne Moore, Anton Rattinger, Guido Gottenbos, Mona Graw, Raymond Sepe, Theano Makariou
Gorgeously clear audio.
A
Broadway, January 18, 2014
Laird Mackintosh (u/s), Mary Michael Patterson, Jeremy Hays
TRACKED. Laird Mackintosh's debut as the Phantom on Broadway. I'm not sure if it's audience noise or on stage, but there's an odd muffled talking and what sounds like someone lugging something large, which doesn't make sense, at the beginning of Hanibal. It's still there during Carlotta's Think Of Me as well. There's also a siren (emergency vehicle) going off during Carlotta's TOM as well. Are the walls of the Majestic THAT thin? Other audience talking at different points throughout - seriously enough that someone actually shushes them at one point at the beginning of act 2! (I want to say BRAVI to whoever did the shushing!)
Okay ... Mary Michael Patterson showed some SERIOUS fear of the Phantom during the Notes 2 scene ... she didn't even sing the portion from "Raoul I'm frightened don't make me do this ..." and it worked for me! Bravi for a Christine who did something different than the norm!
A
Broadway, January 25, 2014
Hugh Panaro, Mary Michael Patterson, Jeremy Hays, Michele McConnell, Christian Sebek, Laird Mackintosh, Tim Jerome, Ellen Harvey
I've seen this labeled as the 26th anniversary performance - but either it's NOT or the date's off ... because Phantom on Broadway's birthday is January 26. Ah well, it's still a lovely audio with the amazing Hugh Panaro.
A
Poland, March 2, 2014
£ukasz Dziedzic (2nd), Paulina Janczak (2nd), £ukasz Talik (2nd)
Beautiful quality recording. No overload, very little audience noise. That swordfight in Bravo Monsier still gets to me though.
A
Broadway, May 12, 2014
Norm Lewis, Sierra Boggess, Jeremy Hays, Michele McConnell, Christian Sebek, Laird Mackintosh, Tim Jerome, Ellen Harvey
Beautiful quality - almost soundboard audio quality. If there weren't a small handful of tells to tell me it isn't, I'd wonder. It was also nice to hear such a receptive audience - I daresay Broadway audiences haven't clapped at the beginning of the title song for a long time, but they do in this audio, right at about the point the body doubles should appear on the travelator.
A
Broadway, May 22, 2014
Norm Lewis, Sierra Boggess, Jeremy Hays, Laird Mackintosh, Tim Jerome, Michele McConnell, Ellen Harvey, Deanna Doyle, Christian Sebek
electricportcullis's master.
Whoever tracked this had a sense of humor ... track 27 is "Piangi's Dead and Other Crazy Shit Happens".
A
Broadway, June 2, 2014
Norm Lewis, Sara Jean Ford, Greg Mills (u/s), Michele McConnell, Laird Mackintosh, Tim Jerome, Ellen Harvey, Christian Šebek, Polly Baird
TRACKED. I have now tracked this audio. Most copies floating around are likely untracked.
When did they start doing the full Graveyard Trio in Wandering Child on Broadway??
A
Broadway, June 10, 2014
Laird Mackintosh (u/s), Sierra Boggess, Jeremy Hays
Beautiful quality. Some audience/taper noise, but nothing detracting. Mild echo. No overload!
A
Broadway, July 31, 2014 (Matinee)
Norm Lewis, Sierra Boggess, Jeremy Hays, Lynne Abeles, Laird Mackintosh, Tim Jerome, Cristin J. Hubbard, Christian Sebek, Polly Baird
A
London, August 25, 2014
Geronimo Rauch, Olivia Brereton, Antony Hansen (u/s)
Olivia Brereton's third-to-last performance.
TRACKED. Nice quality, although either Olivia does not have a penetrating voice at ALL or her mic is turned way down during act 1 - the orchestra nearly overpowers her at times. (Example, if I did not know the show as well as I do, I'd wonder what she was singing during the Angel Of Music reprise during The Mirror, and the last note she sings during the Title Song sounds like a woman being murdered - whether that's what is supposed to be or was I don't know, but there it is.) She's a bit louder in act 2.
A
London, August 27, 2014
Geronimo Rauch, Harriet Jones, Antony Hansen (u/s)
xxsparksxx's Master. Somewhat echo-y, and some occaisonal distortion. Nothing bad enough to make me drop the grade. When it's not either of the above, it's near perfect quality.
A/A-
London, August 30, 2014
Geronimo Rauch, Olivia Brereton, Antony Hansen (u/s), Andy Hockley, Martin Ball, Lara Martins, Jacinta Mulcahy, Jeremy Secomb, Cat Lane
Act 2 only. Not as clear as other recent London audios. One track for the act.
B
Broadway, September 13, 2014 (matinee)
Norm Lewis, Kaley Ann Voorhees (alt, third ever), Jeremy Hays, Tim Jerome, Laird Mackintosh, Michele McConnell, Ellen Harvey, Chritsian Sebek, Deanna Doyle
Jennyfair's master. I know for a fact this is a digital audio, but there's a slightly hissy sound in quiet moments that I typically associate with analog audios - it disappears during the louder moments. Not bad enough to make me lower the full grade though.
A-
Broadway, September 22, 2014
Norm Lewis, Kaley Ann Vorhees (alt.), Jeremy Hays, Laird Mackintosh, Tim Jerome, Nathan Patrick Morgan, Satomi Hoffman, Kara Klein, Ellen Harvey
A
Broadway, September 27, 2014
Norm Lewis, Mary Michael Patterson, Jeremy Hays, Kara Klein, Satomi Hofmann (U/S), Laird Mackintosh, Tim Jerome
One track per act. In .wav format (odd choice?) Sound quality is not quite up to the standards I've come to expect from post 2005 audios ... it's not BAD, but not as clear as most other audios from this time period. Makes me wonder about the recording equipment used nowadays ...
B
Russia, October 2, 2014
Ivan Ozhogin, Tamara Kotova, Evgeny Zaycev, Yuri Mazihin, Alexei Bobrov, Irina Samoylova, Elena Charkviany, Oganes Georgian, Valeria Migalina
8th preview in Moscow. Luinaluna's master.
A
Russia, November 4, 2014
Dmitry Ermak, Elena Bahtiyarova, Evgeny Zaycev, Yuri Mazihin, Alexei Bobrov, Irina Samoylova, Elena Charkviany, Oganes Georgian, Valeria Migalina
A
Estonia, November 11, 2014 (Tallinn)
Stephen Hansen, Maria Listra, Koit Toome, Kristina Vähi, Priit Strandberg, Lauri Liiv, Janika Sillamaa, Reigo Tamm, Linda Kolde, Simo Breede, Rasmus Kull, Märt Jakobson
The first thing I noticed about this audio is the echo - it's ... VERY echo-y. The orchestra is slightly overpowering - I'm having trouble making out words (of course the fact it's in a language I don't know doesn't help me much.) Now, the quality isn't BAD. It's actually good ... I can at least make out the emotions put into this performance if nothing else.
Not many audios out there from Estonia ...
A
London, November 28, 2014
Simon Shorten (emergency cover), Lisa-Anne Wood (u/s), Oliver Savile (u/s)
There are apparantly two versions of this floating around with different qualities. Given the sound quality on this I think this is the better of the two. Nice and clear, very little flawed about it. Only the "London Echo" which I expect and know is a hall limitation and not an equipment issue because lord knows it's been there forever!
A
Hamburg, December 21, 2014
Mathias Edenborn, Lauri Brons, Nicky Wuchinger, Guido Gottenbos, Anton Rattinger, Debra Fernandes, Raymond Sepe, Michaela Christl, Vanessa Spiteri
Tracked with the songs labeled in German ... but now I have to ask. Don't people know that Wandering Child was renamed after Vienna for every other German production? I know that's not related to the quality, it's just a quibble. The audio is excellent but I don't expect less from anything this new.
A
World Tour, December 28, 2014 (Hong Kong)
Brad Little, Claire Lyon, Anthony Downing, Tina Walsh, Eleanor Waite, Andrea Creighton, John O'May, Jason Ralph, Thabiso Masemene
Tracks are named, not numbered (so they come up in alphabetical order in the folder instead of order in the musical.)
There was a moment listening to Wandering Child (the first track I sampled) where I wasn't sure it was Brad. Because he seriously doesn't sound right in that track. But the others I sampled ... yep, there's Brad. I'm now convinced it's something with whatever they did to make Wandering Child echo the way it does, because relistening to that track after MOTN and PONR ... it STILL doesn't sound like Brad in WC until he starts saying "I am your angel of music, come to me angel of music!"
Other than that ... beautiful quality audio. Just what one expects off of newer audios.
A+
Broadway, January 1, 2015
Norm Lewis, Julia Udine, Jeremy Hays,Lynne Abeles (alt), Laird Mackintosh, Carrington Vilmont (us), Linda Balgord, Christian Sebek, Kara Klein
Nice quality, slightly quiet.
A
Russia, January 28, 2015
Dmitry Ermak, Tamara Kotova, Eugeny Zayсev, Irina Samoylova, Oganes Georgiyan, Yuri Mazihin, Sergey Sorokin (u/s), Elena Charkviani, Valeria Migalina
Some mild crackling (I can't tell if it's a mic noise or a bad connection somewhere, perhaps even during transfer?) Not bad enough for a full grade drop though.
A-
Broadway, February 9, 2015
James Barbour, Julia Udine, Jeremy Hays
James Barbour's first performance as Phantom.
A
Broadway, February 26, 2015
James Barbour, Kaley Ann Voorhees (alt), Jeremy Hays
TRACKED. Missing the Entr'acte, everything else is there. Annoying people who talk through parts of the show (Seriously, I can appreciate laughter and audience reaction, but to be carrying a conversation at a show like this ... /endrant), but otherwise awesome sound quality - whoever taped this had a great seat, because there's no overload.
Something happens during Bravo Monsieur - After Raoul's line "Can't you see she'll never be yours?" he stutters on the second "Christine". Then he starts the line "More tricks Monsier?" Except he only says "More trrrrrrr". Barbour replies "What?" and then modifies the next line slightly and the show continues.
A
US Tour, March 1, 2015 (Pittsburg, PA, Matinee)
Allan Snyder (u/s), Krista Buccellato (u/s), Storm Lineberger, Jacquelynne Fontaine, David Benoit, Edward Staudenmayer, Anne Kanengeiser, Frank Viveras, Morgan Cowling, Adam Bashian (u/s Buquet)
Jennyfair's master. Has an odd echo-y quality to it, and a slight mechanical noise. Not badly enough to detract from the audio - certainly not as bad as soooooo many of our older analog audios, and not even enough for me to down the full grade, but it's there.
I'm still trying to decide my feelings on some of the changes to the tour ... although I still get a little shiver of happiness to hear the Trio.
A-
Romania (Bucharest), March 7,2015
Adrian Nour, Irina Baiant, Florin Ristei
TRACKED. The only audio I've seen surface out of the Romanian production. Slightly heavy on the bass and some overload on the louder bits. Has an odd sound quality that I attribute to theatre accoustics. Very appreciative audience - I don't know of another audio where I've heard applause at the end of the title song! There's a delay between the end of Prima Donna and the beginning of Il Muto (with only one audio to judge off of, not sure if that is something peculiar to the production or a one-off issue?) I've also noticed some different instrumentations in the in-between scene areas (between the Ballet and the Rooftop for example) than what I'm used to. Given that this was a non-replica could explain that I suppose?
A-
US Tour, March 10, 2015 (St. Louis, MO)
Chris Mann, Katie Travis, Storm Lineberger, Kathryn McCreary (u/s), David Benoit, Edward Staudenmayer, Anne Kanengeiser, Frank Viveros, Alexandra Pernice (u/s)
Thanks to a wonderful fellow trader, I now have a complete and TRACKED copy of this!
A
Prague, Czech Republic, April 11, 2015
Marian Vojtko, Monika Sommerova, Tomas Vanek, Tereza Matlova, Nikolaj Visnajkov, Andrea Gabrisova, Miroslava Casarova, Josef Stagr, Petr Matuszek
A ton of overload, even on the not-so-loud bits. Not sure if this is typical of the Prague production as this is the first audio I've listened to so far, but the tempo seems VERY rushed - MOTN, for example, only runs 4:20, and nothing's missing. If we were still in the days of audio cassettes I'd wonder if someone messed up on high-speed dubbing.
B+
Russia, April 14, 2015
Dmitry Ermak, Elena Bahtiarva, Eugeny Zaycev
A
Russia, April 15, 2015
Andrey Schkoldychenko (u/s), Tamara Kotova, Eugeny Zaycev, Yuri Mazihin, Sergey Sorokin (u/s Andre), Ekaterina Lehina, Oganes Georgiyan, Elena Charkviany, Valeria Migalina
Luinaluna's master. Very nice and clear.
A+
Broadway, April 15, 2015
James Barbour, Julia Udine, Jeremy Hays, Laird Mackintosh, time Jerome, Michelle McConnell, Linda Balgord, Christian Sebek, Kara Klein
TRACKED.
Some random mic contact noises here and there, nothing major.
Barbour flubs a word in "I Gave You My Music" - he says "She was bound to love you when he heard you sing" instead of "He was bound ..."
Audio includes BCEFA Speech at the end.
A
London, May 19, 2015
Geronimo Rauch, Harriet Jones, Liam Tamne, Lara Martins, Andy Hockley, Martin Ball, Jacinta Mulcahy, John Ellis, Alicia Beck
Definitely has that "London" sound. On the quieter side as far as audios go, but other than that it's solid.
A
Russia, May 27, 2015
Dmitry Ermak, Elena Bahtiyarova, Eugeny Zaycev, Ekaterina Lehina, Petr Markin (u/s), Alexei Bobrov, Elena Charkviany, Oganes Georgiyan, Regina Shukina (u/s)
TRACKED. (Track names are in English. Sorry, my Russian isn't up to snuff. Other than about ten to twenty words, I can't speak a lick of it!) A fair bit of noise - it's either mic contact or a VERY squeaky chair, I can't be sure. Not knowing where the mic was ... both are possible. It's slightly distracting. Also some whispering during songs here and there, possibly from the taper. Couldn't tell you what's being said though.
Carlotta's "croak" ... sounds ... more like a lamb bleating.
I'm giving this a split grade - the lower grade reflects the areas where the added noise distracts too much.
A/B
Prague, Czech Republic, June 20, 2015
Radim Schwab, Michaela Gemrotová, Tomas Vanek
Clear, but very echo-y. Heavy on the track cuts (10 tracks from Down Once More to the end of the Final Lair.) This is the second audio from Prague I've listened to, and again I'm noting how fast the tempo of this production is (MOTN runs 4:23 with nothing missing, for example.) It's a minor quibble though. I do, however, LOVE that they brought the Trio in Perros to this production - Radim, Michaela, and Tomas brought it to life WONDERFULLY!
A
Prague, Czech Republic, June 21, 2015
Marian Vojtko, Michaela Gemrotova, Bohus Matus, Petr Matuszek, Jan Urban, Tereza Matlova, Nikolaj Visnja
So far the best quality audio out of Prague I have (of the three I've reviewed so far.) Since I've made notes of this in the other two - the tempo thing. It's a little better here (MOTN runs 4:44). However the quirk of splitting the lair into 10 tracks continues (a minor complaint.) Came labeled as the "Last performance of the season" (I'm assuming that Phantom took a break for the summer because there are shows again starting in September according to a fellow traders site. But I've been a bad phan and have been concentrating elsewhere.)
I have to say it: Marian's MOTN is GORGEOUS here. I much prefer the slower tempo they used here, and the way he switches between singing and whispering reminds me a little of Anthony Warlow (though not *quite* as pronounced as Warlow does it.)
A
Broadway, June 27, 2015 matinee
James Barbour, Kaley Ann Voorhees, Kyle Barisich, Michele Mcconnell, Tim Jerome, Linda Balgord, Kara Klein, Christian Sebek
TRACKED
Some mic contact noise in various places. Otherwise solid.
A
London, July 10, 2015
Geronimo Rauch, Lisa-Anne Wood (u/s), Liam Tamne, Lara Martins, Andy Hockley, Martin Ball, Alicia Beck, Jacinta Mulcahy
bestofallpossibletrade's master. Not related to the quality, but it's nice to have a London master who tracks their audios!
Slightly echo-y quality (reminds me of the sound of the audios comming from Her Majesty's in the early 2000's - while crystal clear they all had that sound, so I'm going with theatre accoustics on this one and not a recorder issue.)
A
Broadway, July 18, 2015
James Barbour, Julia Udine (act 1)/ Susan Owen (us Act 2), Jeremy Hays
Includes the announcement at the beginning of Act 2 regarding the change of Christine (I can only assume that the change was due to some emergency on Julia's part.) Beautiful quality.
A
Austria, August 1, 2015 (Bad Leonfelden)
Claus Durstewitz, Ilia Vierlinger
Non-replica production with some toned down orchestrations. Oddly, they used the original Vienna Lyrics for both the Title Song and Music Of The Night, but "Hamburg and every other German Language Production after" lyrics in Wandering Child (not that it's a BIG difference, it's just two words changing places.) Very echo-y, but otherwise a beautiful audio.
A-
London, August 29, 2015
Geronimo Rauch, Harriet Jones, Liam Tamne, Martin Ball, Tim Morgan, John Ellis, Alicia Beck, Lara Martins, Shena Sanders
A
Broadway, September 26, 2015
James Barbour, Rachel Zatcoff, Jeremy Hays
TRACKED. Possibly the first audio of Zatcoff as Christine (she's been in the role only three weeks or so by this point.)
A
Finland, September 26, 2015 (Helsinki)
Ilkka Hämäläinen, Hanna-Liina Võsa, Olli Tuovinen
MOST of the show, the master cut out any bits completely ruined by mic rub, runs 1 hour 51 minutes, so not enough missing for me to consider calling this highlights. Possibly the only audio out of Finland that's been 'released'.
Not the best recording in terms of quality, given the age. As the master put it: "Fourth row, iPotato's mic and 50 piece orchestra don't mix." Still, it's certainly not the worst either. When it's clear, it's clear, but sometimes there's bits that are hard to make out. Notable: in the Graveyard, the orchestra starts to overpower the actors. Don't know if that was a bad mic issue or not. I can't decide if it's a very low A or a very high B, so I'm splitting the grade.
I'm surprised they didn't perform in Finnish or Swedish (Finland's two offical languages.) They opted for English instead.
If I'm not mistaken, this production isn't a replica? That sounds like a sword fight during Bravo Monsier.
A-/B+
Oberhausen, Germany, November 11, 2015
David Arnsperger, Elizabeth Welch, Max Niemeyer, Susan Gouthro, Michaela Christl, Ilenia Azzato, Guido Gottenbos, Anton Rattinger, Raymond Sepe
Final preview. Someone went a little track-heavy - 8 tracks for the Final Lair? Other than that quibble, wonderful quality.
A
World Tour, November 22, 2015 (Bejing, China)
Ian Jon Bourg (u/s), Sara Sarres, Anthony Downing, Ernst Van Looy, Jason Ralph, Andrea Creighton, Tina Walsh, Eleanor Waite, Thabiso Masemene
TRACKED. amaaazingrace's master. Sound quality is not what one would expect from an audio made in 2015, given today's technological advances. For some reason, it's recorded in Mono. There's some noise distortion. The plus is it's loud - I don't have to jack the volume all the way up to hear the quiet bits, halfway is about fine for those and 25% is nearly too loud for the loud bits (have I mentioned my hearing issues before?) Still, it's in a lot better shape than the 2012 English language audio of Bourg from Vegas.
During Little Lotte there's some odd background music (possibly a cell phone ring tone?). Overload on the loud bits (not unexpected all things considered). A chunk missing from Act two, everything from the end of Masquerade where the Phantom should enter (no "Why So Silent") through the line in Notes 2, "You have secured the largest role in this Don Juan." (Maybe someone accidentally hit the stop button? IDK how sensitive they are these days on digital recorders?)
On the rare side - The only known recording of Bourg from the World tour. And I *still* want to know why they've never made the man a principal in an English Language production. Still nicely psycopathic in all the right places.
B
US Tour, November 25, 2015 (Houston, TX)
Victor Wallace (u/s), Katie Travis, Storm Lineberger, Morgan Cowling, Anne Kanengeiser, Jacquelynne Fontaine, Phumzile Sojola, David Benoit, Edward Staudenmayer
TRACKED. Beautiful sound for the most part. Slightly echo-y. Some brief buzzing in the right channel in the following places I've noticed: the Entr'acte, Why So Silent, the Graveyard scene, Point Of No Return, and Down Once More. In the Graveyard, there's some overload (around the 'booms' during the faceoff between Raoul and the Phantom.)
Victor flubs a line in the AIAOY reprise - "And now, how you've betrayed me. Denied me and betrayed me!" He also flubs most of Why So Silent (given how few new tour audios I've REALLY listened to, and knowing they've changed some lines, I double checked against multiple other tour audios to be sure.) Still, there's something about his performance that I definitely like (regardless of flubs!) It's very well possible that this was an early performance of his behind the mask.
Sounds like the taper is crying at the end of the Final Lair (as Christine hands back the ring.) Second performance for Sojola as Pianji. Includes Victor's BCEFA speech after the show.
A
Oberhausen, Germany, December 12, 2015
Nicky Wuchinger (alt.), Elizabeth Welch, Max Niemeyer, Susan Gouthro, Michaela Christi, Ilenia Azzato, Guido Gottenbos, Anton Rattinger, Raymond Sepe
Overall beautiful quality. Some slight tin-can sound in places, but nothing too distracting. Far better than overload in my opinion. Interesting note: Most of the track names are in German, and this is probably the FIRST audio I've seen of a Non-Vienna production that got the German name for Wandering Child right (they changed it for all productions after Vienna.) So thank you, kind sir/madam for that, because even though I've heard that word for years I've wondered how to spell it!
A
US Tour, January 28, 2016 (Evening)
Victor Wallace (u/s), Celia Hottenstein (alt), Nick Cartell (u/s), David Benoit, Edward Staudenmayer, Jacquelynne Fontaine, Edward Juvier (u/s Piangi), Anne Kanengeiser, Alexandra Pernice (u/s Meg), Dan Debenport (u/s Buquet), Mark Emerson (The Auctioneer)
Oydtrades' master. Absolutely GORGEOUS audio ... this is what a recent audio SHOULD sound like. Audience is very receptive. Flub after PONR: Victor sings "say you want me" twice instead of "say you'll share".
This is probably the first audio of the restaged US Tour that I've actually listened to more than just "a little to get an idea of quality." There is just something about Victor's performance ... and I say that in a good way.
A+
Broadway, March 17, 2016 (Matinee)
James Barbour, Rachel Eskenazi-Gold (us), Paul A. Schaefer (us), Laird Mackintosh, Scott Mikita (us), Michele McConnell, Linda Balgord, Christian Sebek, Kara Klein
Nice crystal clear sound.
A+
London, April 4, 2016
Ben Forster, Lisa-Anne Wood (us), Nadim Naaman, Charlotte Vaughan (us), Tim Morgan (us), Christopher Dickens, Jacinta Mulcahy, John Ellis, Alicia Beck
Additional swings covered in the ensemble due to all the understudies on.
Typical London echo, some mild overload on the loud bits. Nothing bad enough to warrant dropping a grade. I suspect a problem with Ben's mic - there are times during MOTN that he's nearly inaudible over the orchestra. That said - you can REALLY hear the orchestration during MOTN. I mean I can pick out the flutter of the violins, just as an example. And I don't have the volume all the way up.
A
Estonia, April 16, 2016 (Tallinn)
Koit Toome, Maria Listra, Kalle Sepp, Kristina Vähi, Simo Breede, Lauri Liiv, Merle Jalakas, Valter Soosalu, Hedi Maaroos, Rasmus Kull
HIGHLIGHTS, runs about 70 minutes. Trio-oriented. Quality on this one is far and away better than the other Estonia recording I have. I could be wrong, but Toome might be an understudy or was a temporary replacement? The master noted that it was the second of Toome's three performances as Phantom, and the older audio I have out of Estonia he was Raoul.
A
US Tour, June 26, 2016 (Cleveland) (matinee)
Eric Ruiz (u/s), Krista Buccellato (u/s), Storm Lineberger, David Benoit, Price Waldman, Jaquelynne Fontaine, Marguerite Wilbanks (u/s Mme Giry), Phumzile Sojola, Morgan Cowling, Victor Wallace (Buquet)
Jennyfair's master. Beautiful quality recording, but a bit on the echo-y side. A small bit of taper noise during Hannibal when the taper almost dropped the recorder. Missing the first bit of the Entr'acte (heard it once, etc ...) but otherwise complete. Oh, and FULLY TRACKED YAY!
Quirks: Either I'm mishearing, or Eric made a slight flub in Wandering Child. I could swear I hear him sing, "Yet her soul obeys!" (Isn't it supposed to be "yet the soul obeys"?) Also, a flub in MOTN where Eric sings "floating, falling" twice (he misses "softly, deftly" and picks up the correct lyrics at "open up"). An audience member in front of the taper says "Bombs away" during the Chandelier Crash. (Hilarious!)
A
Oberhausen, Germany, July 28, 2016
Max Niemeyer, Annemarijn Maandag, Marco Fahrland-Jadue, Susan Gouthro, Michaela Christi, Ilenia Azzato, Guido Gottenbos, Anton Rattinger, Raymond Sepe
The quality on this is beyond excellent - near to cast recording quality. No overload. While I haven't listened to every moment, I've yet to catch a mutter, chair squeak, cough or sneeze or other give away to mark this as an audience recording. Either the audience is very restrained in their applause or the applause has been edited down (because I know German audiences can be pretty wild in their applause.) In other words, I have suspicions of it being a soundboard, but can't confirm. At any rate ...
A+
Stockholm, Sweeden, March 29, 2017
Peter Jöback, Emmi Christensson, Anton Zetterholm
Nice and crystal clear, everything you'd expect of a recent audio in terms of quality. Track names are in Sweedish.
I find it interesting, the original Sweedish production did not use the Trio in the Graveyard scene, but this production does.
A+
Harpa Reykjavík, Iceland, February 17, 2018
Þór Breiðfjörð, Valgerður Guðnadóttir, Elmar Gilbertsson,
Sigrún Hjálmtýsdóttir, Hlöðver Sigurðsson, Bergþór Pálsson, Gísli Magna, Margrét Eir, Greta Salóme
In English. Some mild coughing on occasions near the taper. Something about the sound quality reminds me of what I called the "London Echo". It's clear enough, but it's got that odd quality to it that reminds me of London audios circa 2005. Also on the quiet side, the pro to that is little to no overload on the loud bits, but I did have to jack the volume all the way up.
The Bride In The Mirror's Master.
A
US Tour, March 23, 2018 (New Orleans)
Quentin Oliver Lee, Jordan Ensign, Jordan Craig, Trista Moldovan, David Benoit, Edward Staudenmayer, Kristie Dale Sanders, Phumzile Sojola, Emily Ramirez
TRACKED. Alonzo A Warlow's Master. Taper originally released as untracked.
I don't typically pay much attention to Hanibal in audios any more, but had left it playing while editing the info file. Phumzile Sojola as Piangi sounded hilarious during the whole "Rome, Roma" exaggeration sequence, a very nice touch. Also noted some differences from the old replica productions just before Carlotta's Think Of Me (is this a regular thing, or an ad-lib? She stops the pianist and makes them start again.) Judging from the taper's laughter during this part of the scene and her Think Of Me, her physical performance must have been well done, now I kinda want to see it.
Quirks: In act one, there is no track 12. NOTHING is missing. I just accidentally created a zero-length track thanks to my stupid laptop's touchpad going back while typing in another window, so I deleted the zero-length track.
I'm normally not a huge fan of the restaged tour overall, but I'm glad I picked this one up because once these principals grow into their roles ... HOLY MOLY do I see some potential here. (And yes, I know I'm breaking my own rule about keeping these comments to myself lol.)
Quality of the audio overall is excellent. Some audience chatter near the taper at times, and some seat squeeking. Includes a hilarious BCEFA speech from Edward Staudemeyer.
A+
Paul A. Schaefer (u/s), Marni Raab (alt), Ryan Silverman, David Cryer
TRACKED. I never ever would have thought this was an audio from 2010. Sounds like analog hiss over the entire thing - but it could be recorded with an older mp3 player. And it just has this sound of a much older audio. I tracked this audio using Audacity - there are parts of it when viewed in the program that look like they were originally louder than they now are, but the volume was cut down (the Overture, specifically.) The volume is all over the place. All of the quiet parts are ... well ... QUIET. I mean QUIET. I mean I jacked the volume all the way up to be able to hear. And then had to drop it for the loud bits because they're overloaded. I also realized partway through tracking ... that this was recorded in a Mono Wav format, which lends more to the theory of the taper being hampered by older equipment.
Either the taper or someone very close by giggles most of the way through the Il Muto Ballet. To be honest, there's quite a bit of talking (two girls) in numerous places through the audio, close to the taper - if it's not the taper. Missing the beginning of the Entr'acte (heard it once, etc ...). A LOT of mic contact noise in the beginning of Act two (settles down about the time the singing starts.)
I said this after listening to another Schaefer audio ... why wasn't he a principal? Because DAMN he blows quite a few out of the water.
B-
London, January 12, 2010
David Shannon, Tabitha Webb, Simon Bailey, Barry James, Gareth Snook, Rebecca Lock, Rohan Tickell, Nicky Adams, Emma Harris
A
Broadway, March 3, 2010
John Cudia, Jennifer Hope Wills, Ryan Silverman, Patricia Phillips, George Lee Andrews, David Cryer, Cristin J. Hubbard, Evan Harrington, Kara Klein (us)
(Full ensemble cast list available in downloadable file)
... my first thoughts - who in the HECK put this on cassette and then transferred back? Because there is NO REASON I should be hearing analog hiss (and oh is it there!) in an audio from 2010. There is a nice clear audio under the hiss, but in this day of all sorts of digital transfers that hiss just ... I can't give this the A it would have gotten if it were from, say, the 1990's.
B-
US Tour, March 14, 2010 (Dallas, TX)
Thomas Schumacher (u/s), Trista Moldovan, Sean MacLaughlin, D. C. Anderson, Bruce Winant, Kim Stengel, Nancy Hess, David Gaschen, Paloma Garcia-Lee
A
London, May 6, 2010
Stephen John Davis (u/s), Tabitha Webb, Simon Bailey, Rebecca Lock, Gareth Snook, Barry James, Nicky Adams, Rohan Tickell, Emma Harris
A
London, May 20, 2010
Scott Davies, Gina Beck, Simon Bailey
A
US Tour, August 17, 2010 (Cleveland, OH)
Tim Martin Gleason, Trista Moldovan, Sean MacLaughlin, D. C. Anderson, Michael McCoy, Kim Stengel, Nancy Hess, Luke Grooms, Paloma Garcia-Lee
Artistkae's Master
Highlights. Includes Think of Me, Angel of Music, Little Lotte, The Mirror, Music of the Night, AIAOY, AIAOY Reprise, Twisted Every Way, Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again, Wandering Child, Don Juan, Point of No Return, Final Lair.
Recorded on a photo camera, so the sound quality suffers quite a bit ... to the point where there were moments I was unsure as to TMG's identity - and he's one of the voices that I usually do NOT mistake. I knew about the quality issues when I got it though ... but fair's fair.
B-
Seoul, Korea, August 15, 2010
Yoon Young-seok, Choi Hyun-Ju, Jeong Sang Yoon
TRACKED. Some very mild hiss - not something I expected to hear in a 2010 audio. (But it seems to be common on Korea audios? I just glanced at the review I wrote for an audio taken a few days after this one, that mentions hiss that was aparantly bad enough for me to drop the grade.) I don't know if I'm only hearing the hiss due to having jacked the volume up to 100% for the "quieter" parts or not. Basically it's quiet compared to my most recent tracking jobs, but it's not so quiet that I can't make things out when we're at full volume. And the loud bits are ... well ... LOUD. Still, nothing bad enough for me to drop the full grade down.
Odd note. Joseph Bouquet is downright SCARY. I almost jumped out of my skin when he screamed at the chorus girls, which NEVER has happened to me before.
A-
Seoul, Korea, August 20, 2010
Hong Kwang-ho, Choi Hyun Ju, Son Joon ho
One track per act. Some hiss overlaying the quiet parts. Not enough to make it unlistenable but it's there.
B
US Tour, September 4, 2010 (Pittsburgh, PA)
Tim Martin Gleason, Kelly Jeanne Grant (alt), Sean MacLaughlin, D. C. Anderson, Michael McCoy, Kim Stengel, Nancy Hess, Luke Grooms, Paloma Garcia-Lee
Artistkae's Master
Highlights. Includes Hannibal, Think of Me, Angel of Music, Little Lotte, The Mirror, Phantom of the Opera, Music of the Night, Prima Donna, Il Muto, Why Have You Brought Me Here, AIAOY, AIAOY Reprise, Masquerade, Notes II/Twisted Every Way, Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again, Wandering Child, Don Juan, Point of No Return, Final Lair. According to the Master, the battery died at "Go now and leave me!!!" so the very last few lines of Final Lair aren't there.
Recorded using a digital photo camera. The quality obviously suffers for this. However, it's better quality than the August recording by this master - I didn't have any difficulty recognizing TMG this time.
B
London, September 4, 2010
David Shannon, Gina Beck, Will Barratt, Gareth Snook, Rebecca Lock, Nicky Adams, Rohan Tickell, Emma Harris
Final matinee for David Shannon, Gina Beck, Rebecca Lock, Nicky Adams, and Emma Harris.
A
US Tour, October 16, 2010 (Los Angeles)
Tim Martin Gleason, (Trista Moldovan? Kelly Jeanne Grant?), Sean MacLaughlin, Kim Stengel, DC Anderson, Michael McCoy, Nancy Hess, Luke Grooms, Paloma Garcia
Some overload on the bass and some mic adjustment noises intermittently throughout. Cast list in the files lists Trista, but another trader has informed me that it might be Kelly Jeanne Grant based on comparisons. I'm not 100% sure so I'm putting it out there.
A
Seoul, South Korea, October 24, 2010
Yang Jun-mo, Kim So Hyun, Son Jun ho
TRACKED. Crystal clear audio, almost soundboard quality.
A
Las Vegas, December 10, 2010
Anthony Crivello, Kristi Holden, Andrew Ragone
Some hiss and a scratching sound over the whole thing - the latter likely due to a bad transfer from whatever original medium was used to record this. Also *very* echo-y throughout. It's a damn shame about the scratchy sound because there's a bloody A quality audio underneath it. And I can't even say it's something about the volume being turned up because for once, here's an audio that I've got well below 50% volume and it's still LOUD. Seriously the main reason I don't play audios in my car while driving has a lot to do with all of them being too quiet ... I don't think this one would have that problem!
If there's a copy out there somewhere without that scratchy overlay - I would be VERY interested in upgrading my copy.
B-
London, December 23, 2010
John Owen-Jones, Gina Beck (emergency cover), Will Barratt
Not sure if this is the Matinee or Evening as I understand both performances were taped. Incredibly clear audio and stunning performances all around. I'd nearly forgotten how nicely psycopathic JOJ could get.
A
Seoul, South Korea, January 2, 2011
Yoon Young-seok, Kim So hyun, Son Joon ho
Last evening performance of the Korean Tour.
One track per act.
A
Broadway, February 21, 2011
Hugh Panaro, Sara Jean Ford, Sean MacLaughlin, Michele McConnell (u/s Carlotta), George Lee Andrews, David Cryer, Nancy Hess, Evan Harrington, Heather McFadden
Some overload on the louder bits, but otherwise solid. Sometimes mislabeled as Marni Raab, but it's not Marni.
A
Broadway, March 9, 2011
Hugh Panaro, Sara Jean Ford, Sean MacLaughlin, Liz McCartney, George Lee Andrews, David Cryer, Nancy Hess, Evan Harrington, Heather McFadden
Has a bit of a tin can sound to it, a little quieter, but without the overload at the loud bits. Not enough to drop the grade.
A
Budapest, May 9, 2011
Sandor Sasvari, Andrea Maho, Gabor Bot
I don't know if it's typical of Budapest, but the tempo seemed faster in quite a few places than I'm used to ... ah well. Audio runs just under two hours, which would usually make me think things were missing but they're not. Crystal clear audio.
A
Las Vegas, June 27, 2011
Anthony Crivello, Sarah Elizabeth Combs (u/s), Andrew Ragone
OMG I've finally found it. A gorgeously clear, not-to-heavy-on-the-overload, audio out of Vegas with Crivello!
In other words, very little overload, not too noticible unless you've got a reason to jack the volume all the way up.
A
Las Vegas, June 28, 2011
Anthony Crivello, Kristen Hertzenberg, Andrew Ragone
Has this odd sound to it ... somewhere between tin can and underwater, but it *might* just be the hall accoustics, because it doesn't sound like a mechanical issue. I'm torn on the grade though, it's not bad enough to say solid B but not really good enough for solid A.
A-/B+
London, October 26, 2011
Simon Shorten, Sofia Escobar, Killian Donnelly
One track per act. Gorgeously clear.
A
London, November 12, 2011
John Owen-Jones, Sofia Escobar, Killian Donnelly, Wendy Ferguson, Duncan Smith, Tim Laurenti, Cheryl McAvoy, Jeremy Secomb, Anna Forbes
On the quiet side. Someone near the taper either has a cold (mild coughing) or was seriously touched (sniffling ... yes, I could hear sniffling, so this recorder had some GOOD eqiupment!).
It has been quiet a while since I listened to JOJ ... and I know I made a point not to comment too much on my thoughts on the acting, but he calls out to Christine as she and Raoul are leaving at the end of the Graveyard scene ... it's something I never heard any other Phantom do, and it just seemed like a very nice touch. Now I'm going to have to relisten to his earlier audios and see if it's a new thing or not lol!
A
London, December 12, 2011
Earl Carpenter, Katie Hall, Killian Donnelly
Earl’s first show back.
A
World Tour, 2012 (Johannesburg, South Africa)
Jonathan Roxmouth, Robin Botha, Anthony Downing
While the sound quality is good, it's got this odd effect to it ... whatever it is, it's DEFINITELY something to do with the theatre accoustics.
This was originally traded to me as "South Africa" but my research tells me that the "South African" production had closed before this, and that this would have been part of the World Tour. Which means my hunt for an audio out of the South African Production hasn't ended yet ...
A
Las Vegas, January 4, 2012
Anthony Crivello, Kristen Hertzenberg, Andrew Ragone, Joan Sobel, John Leslie Wolfe, Lawson Skala, Tina Walsh, Larry Wayne Morbitt, Brianne Kelly Morgan
Some overload and scratching sound on the loud bits, but overall a good quality audio. Full show, includes curtain calls and Outro music. Croisade Fantome's master
A-
Broadway, January 15, 2012
Jeremy Stolle (u/s), Trista Moldovan, Sean MacLaughlin
TRACKED. Sean MacLaughlin's last performance as a cover during Kyle Barisich's vacation. Very loud, nice and clear. Some coughing near the taper. Includes pre-show announcements and a full three minutes or so of applause, as well as exit music. Also includes what I assume are the taper's opinion on Stolle (undecided) at the end of act 1 (I left it in for identification purposes down the road.) Not sure on the date, I've seen it listed as January 14. Oddity about tracking - there is no track 8 due to a little mishap I had with Audacity when I clicked something twice. Nothing is missing ... it just misnumbered the tracks.
A
Broadway, January 18, 2012
James Romick (US), Trista Moldovan, Kyle Barisich, Michelle McConnell, Christian Sebek, Aaron Galligan-Stierle, Kevin Ligon, Crisitn J. Hubbard, Heather McFadden
Sounds as though it was recorded in a tin can inside another tin can ... yes, it's that tinny. I'm splitting the grade. But it's clear. But ... it's TINNY. Still love Romick's Wandering Child.
A/B
London, February 7, 2012
Scott Davies (s/b), Sofia Escobar, Killian Donnelly, Wendy Ferguson, Jeremy Secomb, Michael Kerry (u/s), Gareth Snook, Cheryl McAvoy, Anna Forbes
Lots of noise overlaying the tracks in various places - sounds like mic adjustment? And some odd scratching in places. Strangely even when there are the mic adjustment type noises overlaying, the voices underneath are crystal clear - perhaps taper was very close to either stage or a speaker? I'm giving this one a split grade, because there are some really good clear parts of this audio, it's just those ... noises, I can't give those parts an A.
A/C
Broadway, February 11, 2012
Hugh Panaro, Trista Moldovan, Kyle Barisich, Michele McConnell (Carlotta), Christian Sebek (Piangi), Aaron Galligan-Stierle (Andre), Kevin Ligon (Firmin), Cristin J. Hubbard (Mme Giry), Heather McFadden (Meg), Jeremy Stolle (Passarino)
The landmark 10,000th performance on Broadway. Includes speeches. Incredible quality. Speeches from Gillian Lynne and Hugh. Hugh reads a letter from Hal Prince and shows a pretaped tribute with messages from ALW and the London cast. My only complaint - while the tracks are named, and the track numbers are in the metadata, the track numbers are NOT part of the file names. But that's a petty complaint lol.
*Note on date. Have now seen this labeled as February 24. Debating about trading for that and double checking to see that it is indeed the same audio, but throwing it out there. I'm pretty sure on my date though, it was highly publiscised and what not.
A
Broadway, February 20, 2012
Hugh Panaro, Susan Owen (u/s), Kyle Barisich
TRACKED. This one's LOUD. I mean LOUD. I mean I've got the volume to about 25% on the soft bits tracking it and have to lower to about 10% during the loud bits or risk making my hearing loss worse LOUD. Some of the loud bits are seriously overloaded (the Overture especially. Title song is better but not perfect.) The good just barely keeps me from dropping the grade for the overload though - because there's more good than bad.
There's an odd organ chord just before Hugh sings "I Gave You My Music". Missing the beginning of the Entr'acte (heard it once, etc ...).
A-
London, February 28, 2012
Earl Carpenter, Sofia Escobar, Nadim Naaman (us?), Wendy Ferguson, Cheryl McAvoy, Anna Forbes, Barry James, Gareth Snook, Jeremy Secomb
Not sure about whether Nadim Naaman was an understudy, there was an asterisk by his name in the original 'info' file that came with this audio and there wasn't one by any other performer. Since I don't remember where I got this one I can't even ask (this is a common problem when you get as many audios as I currently have *sigh* and don't always get to review them all right away!) So just throwing that out there, anyone who knows for sure feel free to clue me in and I'll update this!
A
London, March 17, 2012
Earl Carpenter, Sofia Escobar, Killian Donnelly, Wendy Ferguson, Jeremy Secomb, Duncan Smith (u/s), Gareth Snook, Anna Forbes, Cheryl McAvoy
A
London, March 19, 2012
Peter Joback, Sofia Escobar, Killian Donnelly
Slight overload on the loud bits, but otherwise solid. Just a guess based on a London audio from two days prior, but possibly Joback's first performance?
A
Tokyo, March 28, 2012
Osamu Takai, Haru Kasamatsu, Tatsurou Iida
Slightly quiet, but otherwise a solid recording. Some odd choices in track cuts, but it's nice to have a Japan recording I didn't have to track myself!
Also, if I have the names backwards, I apologise. The original info file in the audio had it the way I have above, but it's the other way around for the Phantom/Christine in the name of the jpeg that stood as the album art in this one.
A
London, April 2, 2012
Peter Jöback, Katy Treharne (alt), Nadim Naaman (us), Wendy Ferguson, Joanna Loxton (us), Barry James, Gareth Snook, Jeremy Secomb, Anna Forbes
Some intermittent mic contact noise.
A
UK Tour, April 6, 2012 (Manchester)
John Owen-Jones, Katie Hall, Simon Bailey, Angela M. Caesar, Andy Hockley, Simon Green, Elizabeth Marsh, Vincent Pirillo, Hannah Cadec
Nice and crystal clear, just what one expects from this time frame.
Note: JOJ sings "Fathering gaze" during the trio ... did he always sing it thus?
A
Las Vegas, May 26, 2012
Ian Jon Bourg (u/s), Sarah Elizabeth Combs (u/s), Andrew Ragone
Sounds like it was recorded from inside several tin cans. The vocals and dialog are clear enough, but the sound quality is no where near where it should be. It's probably equivalent to an early 1990's B.
... I need to rant. Given the technological advances over the past decade, there's no reason an audio from 2012 should sound like this.
It's a damn shame this isn't a clearer audio, because Bourg is freaking AWESOME here. Nicely psycopathic in all the right places. It's a damn shame they have never made him a principal in an English language production of Phantom.
C
Las Vegas, May 29, 2012 (9:30 PM)
Anthony Crivello, Kristi Holden, Benjamin Hale (vacation cover), Joan Sobel, Lawson Skala, John Leslie Wolfe, Tina Walsh, Larry Wayne Morbitt, Brianne Kelly Morgan, Michael Lackey
MaskedLion's Master. Either they changed a word in Wandering Child, or they flubbed, because it sounds as both Anthony and Kristi sings, "Just your soul obeys" instead of "but the soul obeys". Absolutely beautiful, crystal clear audio.
A+
Las Vegas, May 30, 2012
Anthony Crivello, Kristen Hertzenberg (alt), Patrick Leveque (u/s), Danielle White* (u/s), Lawson Skala, John Leslie Wolfe, Tina Walsh, Larry Wayne Morbitt, Brianne Kelly Morgan, Michael Lackey
MaskedLion's Master. Glitch with the chandelier caused about a six-minute delay between the Overture and "Hannibal" rehearsal scene ("technical difficulties" track includes announcement, and comments from what I assume is the taper, with a very tounge-in-cheek "These things do happen!" that if it had been me I'd have gone on with Carlotta's whole rant just to be funny. Very interesting to listen to however, as MaskedLion shares some trivia with other audience members about other flubs). Another gorgeous quality audio, making me wish whoever this MaskedLion is had gone a few days prior to capture Ian Jon Bourg!
A+
Las Vegas, May 31, 2012
Anthony Crivello, Kristen Hertzenberg (alt), Patrick Leveque (u/s), Joan Sobel, Lawson Skala, John Leslie Wolfe, Tina Walsh, Larry Wayne Morbitt, Brianne Kelly Morgan, Michael Lackey
MaskedLion's Master. Glitch with the portcullis caused a delay during the final lair scene. Another gorgeous audio from MaskedLion, just what one expects from this time frame.
It's just occurred to me that Crivello in the Final Lair reminds me of Thomas Cunningham in the way his voice goes way up during the line, "This face which earns a mother's fear and loathing". I really paid attention to the lair in this audio though because I was listening for the glitch.
A+
Broadway, August 13?, 2012
Hugh Panaro, Trista Moldovan, Kyle Barisich, Michele McConnell, Andrew Drost (u/s), Jeremy Stolle
TRACKED. Missing the Entr'acte (not a big deal IMHO.) Some mild skipping - not a lot, but there was a brief one in Think Of Me and another in the Title Song, and possibly others I missed.
This audio is loud, and I do mean LOUD. To point - I generally wear headphones to review or in this case, while looking for track cuts during the tracking of it. I had it playing through the Title song over the headphones, set them down for a minute to cross my admittedly small apartment to where my washing machine was running water, and I could hear this audio over the running machinery and water running ... and my volume was down below the half way point. Any audio playing on headphones I can hear across that distance in those conditions has to be loud. But it's also very clear other than those few skipping places, so I'm splitting the grade.
About the date. I have questions. The original file (the whole show was originally one track before I tracked it) was labeled as being August 13. However, the Metadata claimed it as August 30. I don't remember who I got it off of as it langished in my "to edit" folder for way too long, so I don't know who to ask now. I did do a bit of research, and I haven't found a site where there's an audio with matching location and cast for August 30. There are at least three other traders who have one from the 13th. The zip file will reflect the August 13 date, but I can't, in good conscience, not inform.
Regarding the metadata in the files you'll recieve. All the cast info above is taken directly from the original metadata on the file, and is still reflected there. I did edit the album title to reflect the date as August 2012 (the date was originally showing up in the track name in Audacity, not the album name.)
One other note. When I tracked it, I tossed a track out that was less than 15 seconds - containing the shuffling between acts. So the track numbers will show a missing track, but that's what it was.
(Are Broadway audiences so jaded that they miss the cues to applaud? Because this one did!)
A+/A-
UK Tour, August 23, 2012 (Leeds)
Evening Performance
Richard Woodford (u/s), Katie Hall, Simon Bailey, Elizabeth Marsh, Hannah Cadec, David Phipps-Davis (u/s), Simon Green, Angela M. Caesar, Vincent Pirillo
David Phipps-Davis's first performance as Firmin. Matinee and evening performances available.
Gloriously clear audio.
Not familiar with the new UK tour yet. Did they change a bit of the dialogue, or am I hearing flubs?
A
UK Tour, Edinburgh, September 29, 2012
John Owen-Jones, Katie Hall, Simon Bailey
John Owen-Jones's last. Apparantly there are two different versions going around, one tracked, one not ... this is the tracked version.
A
Vienna, Austria, December 3, 2012
Christian Müller, Lisa Antoni, Oliver Arno, Reinhard Brussmann, Ramin Dustdar, Emilio Ruggerio
Not quite as clear as the audio from December 6, there's some scratchy sounds in places in this one. Not awful by any means, not even bad enough to drop a full grade, just not quite as good as the other Vienna audio from this time.
A
Vienna, Austria, December 6, 2012
Christian Muller, Lisa Antoni, Oliver Arno
Concert celebrating the Vienna production.
Gorgeously clear audio. One difference I noted from the original Vienna production - this audio features the Trio in Perros. Very interesting to hear it in a language other than English.
A+
Broadway, January 21, 2013
Hugh Panaro, Sierra Boggess, Kyle Barisich, Michele McConnell, Jim Weitzer, Tim Jerome, Ellen Harvey, Christian Sebek
TRACKED. Sierra Boggess's first performance as Christine on Broadway. The first five minutes or so is audience chatter prior to the announcements (I've tracked that separate from the announcements but left them because they can be a good identifier of the audio down the road.) Also talking through the Entr'acte. Good sound quality. No overload, which is odd for an audio that has such a high volume.
(When did the Broadway production stop using the "bang" at the beginning of the Overture? This is the second Bway audio I've tracked recently where I noticed it missing.)
A
Broadway, January 26, 2013
Hugh Panaro, Sierra Boggess, Kyle Barisich, Michele McConnell, Christian Sebek, Jim Weitzer, Tim Jerome, Ellen Harvey, Kara Klein
Additional Finale Performances by John Owen Jones, Peter Joback, and Ramin Karimloo.
Phantom on Broadway turns 25! Not only is this a fantastic audio, but includes tons of bonus tracks - the audio of the video that played prior to the show, plus the 40 minutes aftershow "Finale" speeches, and the "Four Phantoms" performing the Title Song with Sierra, and the full company and former cast members coming together for MOTN. inallyourfantasies's master.
A+
Broadway, February 6, 2013
Hugh Panaro, Samantha Hill, Kyle Barisich, Michele McConnell, Jim Weitzer, Tim Jerome, Ellen Harvey, Christian Sebek, Carly Blake Sebouhian (u/s)
A
Budapest, February 23, 2013
Csengeri Attila, Mahó Andrea, Bot Gábor, Pándi Piroska, Pankotay Péter, Szerednyey Béla, Galbenisz Tomasz, Bencze Ilona, Kuthy Patrícia
A
Broadway, March 8, 2013
Paul Schaefer (u/s), Samantha Hill, Jeremy Stolle (u/s), Michele McConnell, Richard Poole (u/s), Tim Jerome, Ellen Harvey, Christian Sebek, Kara Klein, Scott Mikita (u/s), Greg Mills (u/s)
wanderingchild's master. VERY slight hiss, not enough to drag the grade down.
Why isn't Schaefer a principal? Because ... wow.
Initially traded to me as April 8, but the metadata proclaims it as March. Since I'm not finding mention of an April audio with that cast ... I'm going with the Metadata on this one. Thankfully I didn't already have it either way!
A-
Broadway, March 9, 2013 (Matinee)
Jeremy Stolle (u/s), Samantha Hill, Greg Mills (u/s), Michele McConnell, Richard Poole (u/s), Tim Jerome, Ellen Harvey, Christian Sebek, Kara Klein, Scott Mikita (u/s)
Slightly echo-y, and some mild overload on loud bits. Nothing too far out there though.
A-
Broadway, March 9, 2013 (Evening)
Paul A. Schaefer (u/s), Samantha Hill, Greg Mills (u/s), Michele McConnell, Richard Poole (u/s), Tim Jerome, Ellen Harvey, Christian Sebek, Kara Klein, Scott Mikita (u/s)
Some intermittent mic contact noise, but otherwise a beautiful clear audio.
A
Broadway, March 11, 2013
Hugh Panaro, Marni Raab, Jeremy Stolle (u/s), Michele McConnell, Nathan Patrick Morgan (u/s), Richard Poole (u/s), Tim Jerome
Somewhat on the quiet side, but otherwise gorgeous quality.
A-
Broadway, April 6, 2013 (matinee)
Hugh Panaro, Samantha Hill, Kyle Barisich, Michele McConnell, Greg Mills (u/s Andre), Tim Jerome, Ellen Harvey, Nathan Patrick Morgan (u/s Piangi), Carly Blake Sebouhian (u/s Meg)
Wanderingchild's master. Master's notes: Last row of Orchestra next to a fidgety baby (yes, a baby) for Act 1, right side Front Row for Act 2. As a result, the brass and drums tend to be louder and clip a lot. Includes Hugh's BC/EFA speech and Outro music.
The tracking though ... no numbered tracks so it sorts in alphabetical order by default. Not a problem if you're me and you know the show backwards and forwards, just throwing it out there.
A-
Broadway, April 27, 2013
Hugh Panaro, Samantha Hill, Kyle Barisich, Michele McConnell, Richard Poole (u/s), Tim Jerome, Ellen Harvey, Christian Sebek, Kara Klein
Yet another "Hugh Panaro's last performance" audio (He would return yet again in August). Maybe we should change all of those to be listed as "End of Hugh's XXXX year run"? I'm being a bit of a smart alec, but in truth I *LOVE* hearing any of Hugh's "Final" performances because the man is brilliantly awesome on a normal night and always pulls out even more extra stops for these finals. Gorgeous sound quality.
A
Broadway, April 29, 2013
Peter Jöback, Samantha Hill, Kyle Barisich, Michele McConnell, Greg Mills (u/s), Tim Jerome, Ellen Harvey, Christian Sebek, Kara Klein
Peter Joback's first performance as Phantom. Sounds like possibly the same taper as Hugh's "final" performance two days before.
A
London, July 13, 2013
Marcus Lovett, Sofia Escobar, Simon Thomas, Janet Fischer (u/s), Jeremy Secomb, Tim Laurenti (u/s), Barry James, Anna Forbes, Cheryl McAvoy
One track per act.
A
London, July 20, 2013
Marcus Lovett, Sofia Escobar, Simon Thomas, Gareth Snook, Ducan Smith (u/s) Lara Martins, Louise Lydell (u/s), Jeremy Secomb, Layla Harrison (u/s)
One track per act. Someone in London has a superb audio recording device because these have been beautiful as well as plentiful.
A
London, July 27, 2013 (Matinee)
Marcus Lovett, Sofia Escobar, Simon Thomas, Nicola Rutherford (u/s), Marc Vastenavondt (u/s), Gareth , Duncan Smith (u/s), Anna Forbes, Cheryl McAvoy
One track per act. However, it's a gorgeous audio and an awesome cast.
A
London, August 1, 2013
Marcus Lovett, Sofia Escobar, Simon Thomas, Lara Martins, Cherly McAvoy, Anna Forbes, Barry James, Gareth Snook, Jeremy Secomb
One track per act.
A
Broadway, August 26, 2013
Hugh Panaro, Mary Michael Patterson, Jeremy Hays, Michele McConnell, Laird Mackintosh, Tim Jerome, Ellen Harvey, Christian Sebek, Kara Klein
TRACKED. First performance for Jeremy Hays and Laird Mackintosh. Hugh's first back from his extended "Vacation". Some minor clicking here and there and very mild overload on the loud bits. Also, this is another nicely LOUD audio ... my sound is only at 35 percent and I'm thinking of turning it down which is odd for me with boots.
From the sounds of some of the applause the audience was full of Hugh fans - they go a little crazy, but not too over the top.
Hugh's MOTN ... WOW.
A
Broadway, August 27, 2013
Hugh Panaro, Mary Michael Patterson, Jeremy Hays, Michele McConnell, Laird Mackintosh, Tim Jerome, Ellen Harvey, Christian Sebek, Kara Klein
TRACKED. Audience chatter for the first track, funnily enough they are recounting some taper getting busted a few weeks prior.
Whoever taped these audios around this time period has some SERIOUSLY superior equipment as far as the volume is concerned ... I reviewed another audio from circa early 90's in between two tracking projects of this time period and ... this audio is INSANELY loud at 100% let me tell you!
Some minor occaisonal distortion - nothing that lasts more than a second or two. And not bad enough for me to drop the grade.
Firmin flubs in Notes 2 - he misses "It's the final straw."
Hugh Panaro's second show after a 4 month hiatus.
A
London, October 10, 2013
Geronimo Rauch, Olivia Brereton, Sean Palmer, Fiona Finsbury (u/s), Jeremy Secomb, Martin Ball, Andy Hockley, Layla Harrison (u/s), Jacinta Mulcahy
Gorgeous clear audio. One track per act.
A
London, October 26, 2013
Scott Davies (s/b), Sofia Escobar, Antony Hansen (u/s), Lara Martins, Jeremy Secomb, Martin Ball, Andy Hockley, Cat Lane, Jacinta Mulcahy
Sofia Escobar's last matinee performance as Christine. Phanofmusical's master.
One track per act. Good sound quality.
A
US Tour, December 3, 2013 (Providence, RI)
Mark Campbell, Julia Udine, Ben Jacoby, Jacquelynne Fontaine, Craig Bennett, Edward Staudenmayer, Linda Balgord, Frank Viveros, Hannah Florence
One track per act. Nice crystal clear audio. First audio I've gotten my hands on where I've been able to hear the new Phantom tour in full ... OMG they added the Trio! With some minor dialogue changes but ... it's there.
A
US Tour, December 26, 2013 (Minneapolis)
Mark Campbell, Grace Morgan, Ben Jacoby, Jacquelynne Fontaine, Frank Viveros, Hannah Florence, Linda Balgord
Not quite the quality I'd expect out of anything after 2010. Some hiss, and slightly muffled. Mic contact noise. And some mild mechanical distortion. Typically however any specific problem comes on it's own, not all of the above over the entire audio, which would have made me drop the grade a lot further, still, I can't give this an A.
Lots of flubs, including Jacquelynne Fontaine's mic going out in 'Prima Donna'.
Ginabeckonstrading's master.
B+
Hamburg January 5, 2014
Rob Pitcher (u/s), Valerie Link, Nicky Wuchinger, Rachel Anne Moore, Anton Rattinger, Guido Gottenbos, Mona Graw, Raymond Sepe, Theano Makariou
Gorgeously clear audio.
A
Broadway, January 18, 2014
Laird Mackintosh (u/s), Mary Michael Patterson, Jeremy Hays
TRACKED. Laird Mackintosh's debut as the Phantom on Broadway. I'm not sure if it's audience noise or on stage, but there's an odd muffled talking and what sounds like someone lugging something large, which doesn't make sense, at the beginning of Hanibal. It's still there during Carlotta's Think Of Me as well. There's also a siren (emergency vehicle) going off during Carlotta's TOM as well. Are the walls of the Majestic THAT thin? Other audience talking at different points throughout - seriously enough that someone actually shushes them at one point at the beginning of act 2! (I want to say BRAVI to whoever did the shushing!)
Okay ... Mary Michael Patterson showed some SERIOUS fear of the Phantom during the Notes 2 scene ... she didn't even sing the portion from "Raoul I'm frightened don't make me do this ..." and it worked for me! Bravi for a Christine who did something different than the norm!
A
Broadway, January 25, 2014
Hugh Panaro, Mary Michael Patterson, Jeremy Hays, Michele McConnell, Christian Sebek, Laird Mackintosh, Tim Jerome, Ellen Harvey
I've seen this labeled as the 26th anniversary performance - but either it's NOT or the date's off ... because Phantom on Broadway's birthday is January 26. Ah well, it's still a lovely audio with the amazing Hugh Panaro.
A
Poland, March 2, 2014
£ukasz Dziedzic (2nd), Paulina Janczak (2nd), £ukasz Talik (2nd)
Beautiful quality recording. No overload, very little audience noise. That swordfight in Bravo Monsier still gets to me though.
A
Broadway, May 12, 2014
Norm Lewis, Sierra Boggess, Jeremy Hays, Michele McConnell, Christian Sebek, Laird Mackintosh, Tim Jerome, Ellen Harvey
Beautiful quality - almost soundboard audio quality. If there weren't a small handful of tells to tell me it isn't, I'd wonder. It was also nice to hear such a receptive audience - I daresay Broadway audiences haven't clapped at the beginning of the title song for a long time, but they do in this audio, right at about the point the body doubles should appear on the travelator.
A
Broadway, May 22, 2014
Norm Lewis, Sierra Boggess, Jeremy Hays, Laird Mackintosh, Tim Jerome, Michele McConnell, Ellen Harvey, Deanna Doyle, Christian Sebek
electricportcullis's master.
Whoever tracked this had a sense of humor ... track 27 is "Piangi's Dead and Other Crazy Shit Happens".
A
Broadway, June 2, 2014
Norm Lewis, Sara Jean Ford, Greg Mills (u/s), Michele McConnell, Laird Mackintosh, Tim Jerome, Ellen Harvey, Christian Šebek, Polly Baird
TRACKED. I have now tracked this audio. Most copies floating around are likely untracked.
When did they start doing the full Graveyard Trio in Wandering Child on Broadway??
A
Broadway, June 10, 2014
Laird Mackintosh (u/s), Sierra Boggess, Jeremy Hays
Beautiful quality. Some audience/taper noise, but nothing detracting. Mild echo. No overload!
A
Broadway, July 31, 2014 (Matinee)
Norm Lewis, Sierra Boggess, Jeremy Hays, Lynne Abeles, Laird Mackintosh, Tim Jerome, Cristin J. Hubbard, Christian Sebek, Polly Baird
A
London, August 25, 2014
Geronimo Rauch, Olivia Brereton, Antony Hansen (u/s)
Olivia Brereton's third-to-last performance.
TRACKED. Nice quality, although either Olivia does not have a penetrating voice at ALL or her mic is turned way down during act 1 - the orchestra nearly overpowers her at times. (Example, if I did not know the show as well as I do, I'd wonder what she was singing during the Angel Of Music reprise during The Mirror, and the last note she sings during the Title Song sounds like a woman being murdered - whether that's what is supposed to be or was I don't know, but there it is.) She's a bit louder in act 2.
A
London, August 27, 2014
Geronimo Rauch, Harriet Jones, Antony Hansen (u/s)
xxsparksxx's Master. Somewhat echo-y, and some occaisonal distortion. Nothing bad enough to make me drop the grade. When it's not either of the above, it's near perfect quality.
A/A-
London, August 30, 2014
Geronimo Rauch, Olivia Brereton, Antony Hansen (u/s), Andy Hockley, Martin Ball, Lara Martins, Jacinta Mulcahy, Jeremy Secomb, Cat Lane
Act 2 only. Not as clear as other recent London audios. One track for the act.
B
Broadway, September 13, 2014 (matinee)
Norm Lewis, Kaley Ann Voorhees (alt, third ever), Jeremy Hays, Tim Jerome, Laird Mackintosh, Michele McConnell, Ellen Harvey, Chritsian Sebek, Deanna Doyle
Jennyfair's master. I know for a fact this is a digital audio, but there's a slightly hissy sound in quiet moments that I typically associate with analog audios - it disappears during the louder moments. Not bad enough to make me lower the full grade though.
A-
Broadway, September 22, 2014
Norm Lewis, Kaley Ann Vorhees (alt.), Jeremy Hays, Laird Mackintosh, Tim Jerome, Nathan Patrick Morgan, Satomi Hoffman, Kara Klein, Ellen Harvey
A
Broadway, September 27, 2014
Norm Lewis, Mary Michael Patterson, Jeremy Hays, Kara Klein, Satomi Hofmann (U/S), Laird Mackintosh, Tim Jerome
One track per act. In .wav format (odd choice?) Sound quality is not quite up to the standards I've come to expect from post 2005 audios ... it's not BAD, but not as clear as most other audios from this time period. Makes me wonder about the recording equipment used nowadays ...
B
Russia, October 2, 2014
Ivan Ozhogin, Tamara Kotova, Evgeny Zaycev, Yuri Mazihin, Alexei Bobrov, Irina Samoylova, Elena Charkviany, Oganes Georgian, Valeria Migalina
8th preview in Moscow. Luinaluna's master.
A
Russia, November 4, 2014
Dmitry Ermak, Elena Bahtiyarova, Evgeny Zaycev, Yuri Mazihin, Alexei Bobrov, Irina Samoylova, Elena Charkviany, Oganes Georgian, Valeria Migalina
A
Estonia, November 11, 2014 (Tallinn)
Stephen Hansen, Maria Listra, Koit Toome, Kristina Vähi, Priit Strandberg, Lauri Liiv, Janika Sillamaa, Reigo Tamm, Linda Kolde, Simo Breede, Rasmus Kull, Märt Jakobson
The first thing I noticed about this audio is the echo - it's ... VERY echo-y. The orchestra is slightly overpowering - I'm having trouble making out words (of course the fact it's in a language I don't know doesn't help me much.) Now, the quality isn't BAD. It's actually good ... I can at least make out the emotions put into this performance if nothing else.
Not many audios out there from Estonia ...
A
London, November 28, 2014
Simon Shorten (emergency cover), Lisa-Anne Wood (u/s), Oliver Savile (u/s)
There are apparantly two versions of this floating around with different qualities. Given the sound quality on this I think this is the better of the two. Nice and clear, very little flawed about it. Only the "London Echo" which I expect and know is a hall limitation and not an equipment issue because lord knows it's been there forever!
A
Hamburg, December 21, 2014
Mathias Edenborn, Lauri Brons, Nicky Wuchinger, Guido Gottenbos, Anton Rattinger, Debra Fernandes, Raymond Sepe, Michaela Christl, Vanessa Spiteri
Tracked with the songs labeled in German ... but now I have to ask. Don't people know that Wandering Child was renamed after Vienna for every other German production? I know that's not related to the quality, it's just a quibble. The audio is excellent but I don't expect less from anything this new.
A
World Tour, December 28, 2014 (Hong Kong)
Brad Little, Claire Lyon, Anthony Downing, Tina Walsh, Eleanor Waite, Andrea Creighton, John O'May, Jason Ralph, Thabiso Masemene
Tracks are named, not numbered (so they come up in alphabetical order in the folder instead of order in the musical.)
There was a moment listening to Wandering Child (the first track I sampled) where I wasn't sure it was Brad. Because he seriously doesn't sound right in that track. But the others I sampled ... yep, there's Brad. I'm now convinced it's something with whatever they did to make Wandering Child echo the way it does, because relistening to that track after MOTN and PONR ... it STILL doesn't sound like Brad in WC until he starts saying "I am your angel of music, come to me angel of music!"
Other than that ... beautiful quality audio. Just what one expects off of newer audios.
A+
Broadway, January 1, 2015
Norm Lewis, Julia Udine, Jeremy Hays,Lynne Abeles (alt), Laird Mackintosh, Carrington Vilmont (us), Linda Balgord, Christian Sebek, Kara Klein
Nice quality, slightly quiet.
A
Russia, January 28, 2015
Dmitry Ermak, Tamara Kotova, Eugeny Zayсev, Irina Samoylova, Oganes Georgiyan, Yuri Mazihin, Sergey Sorokin (u/s), Elena Charkviani, Valeria Migalina
Some mild crackling (I can't tell if it's a mic noise or a bad connection somewhere, perhaps even during transfer?) Not bad enough for a full grade drop though.
A-
Broadway, February 9, 2015
James Barbour, Julia Udine, Jeremy Hays
James Barbour's first performance as Phantom.
A
Broadway, February 26, 2015
James Barbour, Kaley Ann Voorhees (alt), Jeremy Hays
TRACKED. Missing the Entr'acte, everything else is there. Annoying people who talk through parts of the show (Seriously, I can appreciate laughter and audience reaction, but to be carrying a conversation at a show like this ... /endrant), but otherwise awesome sound quality - whoever taped this had a great seat, because there's no overload.
Something happens during Bravo Monsieur - After Raoul's line "Can't you see she'll never be yours?" he stutters on the second "Christine". Then he starts the line "More tricks Monsier?" Except he only says "More trrrrrrr". Barbour replies "What?" and then modifies the next line slightly and the show continues.
A
US Tour, March 1, 2015 (Pittsburg, PA, Matinee)
Allan Snyder (u/s), Krista Buccellato (u/s), Storm Lineberger, Jacquelynne Fontaine, David Benoit, Edward Staudenmayer, Anne Kanengeiser, Frank Viveras, Morgan Cowling, Adam Bashian (u/s Buquet)
Jennyfair's master. Has an odd echo-y quality to it, and a slight mechanical noise. Not badly enough to detract from the audio - certainly not as bad as soooooo many of our older analog audios, and not even enough for me to down the full grade, but it's there.
I'm still trying to decide my feelings on some of the changes to the tour ... although I still get a little shiver of happiness to hear the Trio.
A-
Romania (Bucharest), March 7,2015
Adrian Nour, Irina Baiant, Florin Ristei
TRACKED. The only audio I've seen surface out of the Romanian production. Slightly heavy on the bass and some overload on the louder bits. Has an odd sound quality that I attribute to theatre accoustics. Very appreciative audience - I don't know of another audio where I've heard applause at the end of the title song! There's a delay between the end of Prima Donna and the beginning of Il Muto (with only one audio to judge off of, not sure if that is something peculiar to the production or a one-off issue?) I've also noticed some different instrumentations in the in-between scene areas (between the Ballet and the Rooftop for example) than what I'm used to. Given that this was a non-replica could explain that I suppose?
A-
US Tour, March 10, 2015 (St. Louis, MO)
Chris Mann, Katie Travis, Storm Lineberger, Kathryn McCreary (u/s), David Benoit, Edward Staudenmayer, Anne Kanengeiser, Frank Viveros, Alexandra Pernice (u/s)
Thanks to a wonderful fellow trader, I now have a complete and TRACKED copy of this!
A
Prague, Czech Republic, April 11, 2015
Marian Vojtko, Monika Sommerova, Tomas Vanek, Tereza Matlova, Nikolaj Visnajkov, Andrea Gabrisova, Miroslava Casarova, Josef Stagr, Petr Matuszek
A ton of overload, even on the not-so-loud bits. Not sure if this is typical of the Prague production as this is the first audio I've listened to so far, but the tempo seems VERY rushed - MOTN, for example, only runs 4:20, and nothing's missing. If we were still in the days of audio cassettes I'd wonder if someone messed up on high-speed dubbing.
B+
Russia, April 14, 2015
Dmitry Ermak, Elena Bahtiarva, Eugeny Zaycev
A
Russia, April 15, 2015
Andrey Schkoldychenko (u/s), Tamara Kotova, Eugeny Zaycev, Yuri Mazihin, Sergey Sorokin (u/s Andre), Ekaterina Lehina, Oganes Georgiyan, Elena Charkviany, Valeria Migalina
Luinaluna's master. Very nice and clear.
A+
Broadway, April 15, 2015
James Barbour, Julia Udine, Jeremy Hays, Laird Mackintosh, time Jerome, Michelle McConnell, Linda Balgord, Christian Sebek, Kara Klein
TRACKED.
Some random mic contact noises here and there, nothing major.
Barbour flubs a word in "I Gave You My Music" - he says "She was bound to love you when he heard you sing" instead of "He was bound ..."
Audio includes BCEFA Speech at the end.
A
London, May 19, 2015
Geronimo Rauch, Harriet Jones, Liam Tamne, Lara Martins, Andy Hockley, Martin Ball, Jacinta Mulcahy, John Ellis, Alicia Beck
Definitely has that "London" sound. On the quieter side as far as audios go, but other than that it's solid.
A
Russia, May 27, 2015
Dmitry Ermak, Elena Bahtiyarova, Eugeny Zaycev, Ekaterina Lehina, Petr Markin (u/s), Alexei Bobrov, Elena Charkviany, Oganes Georgiyan, Regina Shukina (u/s)
TRACKED. (Track names are in English. Sorry, my Russian isn't up to snuff. Other than about ten to twenty words, I can't speak a lick of it!) A fair bit of noise - it's either mic contact or a VERY squeaky chair, I can't be sure. Not knowing where the mic was ... both are possible. It's slightly distracting. Also some whispering during songs here and there, possibly from the taper. Couldn't tell you what's being said though.
Carlotta's "croak" ... sounds ... more like a lamb bleating.
I'm giving this a split grade - the lower grade reflects the areas where the added noise distracts too much.
A/B
Prague, Czech Republic, June 20, 2015
Radim Schwab, Michaela Gemrotová, Tomas Vanek
Clear, but very echo-y. Heavy on the track cuts (10 tracks from Down Once More to the end of the Final Lair.) This is the second audio from Prague I've listened to, and again I'm noting how fast the tempo of this production is (MOTN runs 4:23 with nothing missing, for example.) It's a minor quibble though. I do, however, LOVE that they brought the Trio in Perros to this production - Radim, Michaela, and Tomas brought it to life WONDERFULLY!
A
Prague, Czech Republic, June 21, 2015
Marian Vojtko, Michaela Gemrotova, Bohus Matus, Petr Matuszek, Jan Urban, Tereza Matlova, Nikolaj Visnja
So far the best quality audio out of Prague I have (of the three I've reviewed so far.) Since I've made notes of this in the other two - the tempo thing. It's a little better here (MOTN runs 4:44). However the quirk of splitting the lair into 10 tracks continues (a minor complaint.) Came labeled as the "Last performance of the season" (I'm assuming that Phantom took a break for the summer because there are shows again starting in September according to a fellow traders site. But I've been a bad phan and have been concentrating elsewhere.)
I have to say it: Marian's MOTN is GORGEOUS here. I much prefer the slower tempo they used here, and the way he switches between singing and whispering reminds me a little of Anthony Warlow (though not *quite* as pronounced as Warlow does it.)
A
Broadway, June 27, 2015 matinee
James Barbour, Kaley Ann Voorhees, Kyle Barisich, Michele Mcconnell, Tim Jerome, Linda Balgord, Kara Klein, Christian Sebek
TRACKED
Some mic contact noise in various places. Otherwise solid.
A
London, July 10, 2015
Geronimo Rauch, Lisa-Anne Wood (u/s), Liam Tamne, Lara Martins, Andy Hockley, Martin Ball, Alicia Beck, Jacinta Mulcahy
bestofallpossibletrade's master. Not related to the quality, but it's nice to have a London master who tracks their audios!
Slightly echo-y quality (reminds me of the sound of the audios comming from Her Majesty's in the early 2000's - while crystal clear they all had that sound, so I'm going with theatre accoustics on this one and not a recorder issue.)
A
Broadway, July 18, 2015
James Barbour, Julia Udine (act 1)/ Susan Owen (us Act 2), Jeremy Hays
Includes the announcement at the beginning of Act 2 regarding the change of Christine (I can only assume that the change was due to some emergency on Julia's part.) Beautiful quality.
A
Austria, August 1, 2015 (Bad Leonfelden)
Claus Durstewitz, Ilia Vierlinger
Non-replica production with some toned down orchestrations. Oddly, they used the original Vienna Lyrics for both the Title Song and Music Of The Night, but "Hamburg and every other German Language Production after" lyrics in Wandering Child (not that it's a BIG difference, it's just two words changing places.) Very echo-y, but otherwise a beautiful audio.
A-
London, August 29, 2015
Geronimo Rauch, Harriet Jones, Liam Tamne, Martin Ball, Tim Morgan, John Ellis, Alicia Beck, Lara Martins, Shena Sanders
A
Broadway, September 26, 2015
James Barbour, Rachel Zatcoff, Jeremy Hays
TRACKED. Possibly the first audio of Zatcoff as Christine (she's been in the role only three weeks or so by this point.)
A
Finland, September 26, 2015 (Helsinki)
Ilkka Hämäläinen, Hanna-Liina Võsa, Olli Tuovinen
MOST of the show, the master cut out any bits completely ruined by mic rub, runs 1 hour 51 minutes, so not enough missing for me to consider calling this highlights. Possibly the only audio out of Finland that's been 'released'.
Not the best recording in terms of quality, given the age. As the master put it: "Fourth row, iPotato's mic and 50 piece orchestra don't mix." Still, it's certainly not the worst either. When it's clear, it's clear, but sometimes there's bits that are hard to make out. Notable: in the Graveyard, the orchestra starts to overpower the actors. Don't know if that was a bad mic issue or not. I can't decide if it's a very low A or a very high B, so I'm splitting the grade.
I'm surprised they didn't perform in Finnish or Swedish (Finland's two offical languages.) They opted for English instead.
If I'm not mistaken, this production isn't a replica? That sounds like a sword fight during Bravo Monsier.
A-/B+
Oberhausen, Germany, November 11, 2015
David Arnsperger, Elizabeth Welch, Max Niemeyer, Susan Gouthro, Michaela Christl, Ilenia Azzato, Guido Gottenbos, Anton Rattinger, Raymond Sepe
Final preview. Someone went a little track-heavy - 8 tracks for the Final Lair? Other than that quibble, wonderful quality.
A
World Tour, November 22, 2015 (Bejing, China)
Ian Jon Bourg (u/s), Sara Sarres, Anthony Downing, Ernst Van Looy, Jason Ralph, Andrea Creighton, Tina Walsh, Eleanor Waite, Thabiso Masemene
TRACKED. amaaazingrace's master. Sound quality is not what one would expect from an audio made in 2015, given today's technological advances. For some reason, it's recorded in Mono. There's some noise distortion. The plus is it's loud - I don't have to jack the volume all the way up to hear the quiet bits, halfway is about fine for those and 25% is nearly too loud for the loud bits (have I mentioned my hearing issues before?) Still, it's in a lot better shape than the 2012 English language audio of Bourg from Vegas.
During Little Lotte there's some odd background music (possibly a cell phone ring tone?). Overload on the loud bits (not unexpected all things considered). A chunk missing from Act two, everything from the end of Masquerade where the Phantom should enter (no "Why So Silent") through the line in Notes 2, "You have secured the largest role in this Don Juan." (Maybe someone accidentally hit the stop button? IDK how sensitive they are these days on digital recorders?)
On the rare side - The only known recording of Bourg from the World tour. And I *still* want to know why they've never made the man a principal in an English Language production. Still nicely psycopathic in all the right places.
B
US Tour, November 25, 2015 (Houston, TX)
Victor Wallace (u/s), Katie Travis, Storm Lineberger, Morgan Cowling, Anne Kanengeiser, Jacquelynne Fontaine, Phumzile Sojola, David Benoit, Edward Staudenmayer
TRACKED. Beautiful sound for the most part. Slightly echo-y. Some brief buzzing in the right channel in the following places I've noticed: the Entr'acte, Why So Silent, the Graveyard scene, Point Of No Return, and Down Once More. In the Graveyard, there's some overload (around the 'booms' during the faceoff between Raoul and the Phantom.)
Victor flubs a line in the AIAOY reprise - "And now, how you've betrayed me. Denied me and betrayed me!" He also flubs most of Why So Silent (given how few new tour audios I've REALLY listened to, and knowing they've changed some lines, I double checked against multiple other tour audios to be sure.) Still, there's something about his performance that I definitely like (regardless of flubs!) It's very well possible that this was an early performance of his behind the mask.
Sounds like the taper is crying at the end of the Final Lair (as Christine hands back the ring.) Second performance for Sojola as Pianji. Includes Victor's BCEFA speech after the show.
A
Oberhausen, Germany, December 12, 2015
Nicky Wuchinger (alt.), Elizabeth Welch, Max Niemeyer, Susan Gouthro, Michaela Christi, Ilenia Azzato, Guido Gottenbos, Anton Rattinger, Raymond Sepe
Overall beautiful quality. Some slight tin-can sound in places, but nothing too distracting. Far better than overload in my opinion. Interesting note: Most of the track names are in German, and this is probably the FIRST audio I've seen of a Non-Vienna production that got the German name for Wandering Child right (they changed it for all productions after Vienna.) So thank you, kind sir/madam for that, because even though I've heard that word for years I've wondered how to spell it!
A
US Tour, January 28, 2016 (Evening)
Victor Wallace (u/s), Celia Hottenstein (alt), Nick Cartell (u/s), David Benoit, Edward Staudenmayer, Jacquelynne Fontaine, Edward Juvier (u/s Piangi), Anne Kanengeiser, Alexandra Pernice (u/s Meg), Dan Debenport (u/s Buquet), Mark Emerson (The Auctioneer)
Oydtrades' master. Absolutely GORGEOUS audio ... this is what a recent audio SHOULD sound like. Audience is very receptive. Flub after PONR: Victor sings "say you want me" twice instead of "say you'll share".
This is probably the first audio of the restaged US Tour that I've actually listened to more than just "a little to get an idea of quality." There is just something about Victor's performance ... and I say that in a good way.
A+
Broadway, March 17, 2016 (Matinee)
James Barbour, Rachel Eskenazi-Gold (us), Paul A. Schaefer (us), Laird Mackintosh, Scott Mikita (us), Michele McConnell, Linda Balgord, Christian Sebek, Kara Klein
Nice crystal clear sound.
A+
London, April 4, 2016
Ben Forster, Lisa-Anne Wood (us), Nadim Naaman, Charlotte Vaughan (us), Tim Morgan (us), Christopher Dickens, Jacinta Mulcahy, John Ellis, Alicia Beck
Additional swings covered in the ensemble due to all the understudies on.
Typical London echo, some mild overload on the loud bits. Nothing bad enough to warrant dropping a grade. I suspect a problem with Ben's mic - there are times during MOTN that he's nearly inaudible over the orchestra. That said - you can REALLY hear the orchestration during MOTN. I mean I can pick out the flutter of the violins, just as an example. And I don't have the volume all the way up.
A
Estonia, April 16, 2016 (Tallinn)
Koit Toome, Maria Listra, Kalle Sepp, Kristina Vähi, Simo Breede, Lauri Liiv, Merle Jalakas, Valter Soosalu, Hedi Maaroos, Rasmus Kull
HIGHLIGHTS, runs about 70 minutes. Trio-oriented. Quality on this one is far and away better than the other Estonia recording I have. I could be wrong, but Toome might be an understudy or was a temporary replacement? The master noted that it was the second of Toome's three performances as Phantom, and the older audio I have out of Estonia he was Raoul.
A
US Tour, June 26, 2016 (Cleveland) (matinee)
Eric Ruiz (u/s), Krista Buccellato (u/s), Storm Lineberger, David Benoit, Price Waldman, Jaquelynne Fontaine, Marguerite Wilbanks (u/s Mme Giry), Phumzile Sojola, Morgan Cowling, Victor Wallace (Buquet)
Jennyfair's master. Beautiful quality recording, but a bit on the echo-y side. A small bit of taper noise during Hannibal when the taper almost dropped the recorder. Missing the first bit of the Entr'acte (heard it once, etc ...) but otherwise complete. Oh, and FULLY TRACKED YAY!
Quirks: Either I'm mishearing, or Eric made a slight flub in Wandering Child. I could swear I hear him sing, "Yet her soul obeys!" (Isn't it supposed to be "yet the soul obeys"?) Also, a flub in MOTN where Eric sings "floating, falling" twice (he misses "softly, deftly" and picks up the correct lyrics at "open up"). An audience member in front of the taper says "Bombs away" during the Chandelier Crash. (Hilarious!)
A
Oberhausen, Germany, July 28, 2016
Max Niemeyer, Annemarijn Maandag, Marco Fahrland-Jadue, Susan Gouthro, Michaela Christi, Ilenia Azzato, Guido Gottenbos, Anton Rattinger, Raymond Sepe
The quality on this is beyond excellent - near to cast recording quality. No overload. While I haven't listened to every moment, I've yet to catch a mutter, chair squeak, cough or sneeze or other give away to mark this as an audience recording. Either the audience is very restrained in their applause or the applause has been edited down (because I know German audiences can be pretty wild in their applause.) In other words, I have suspicions of it being a soundboard, but can't confirm. At any rate ...
A+
Stockholm, Sweeden, March 29, 2017
Peter Jöback, Emmi Christensson, Anton Zetterholm
Nice and crystal clear, everything you'd expect of a recent audio in terms of quality. Track names are in Sweedish.
I find it interesting, the original Sweedish production did not use the Trio in the Graveyard scene, but this production does.
A+
Harpa Reykjavík, Iceland, February 17, 2018
Þór Breiðfjörð, Valgerður Guðnadóttir, Elmar Gilbertsson,
Sigrún Hjálmtýsdóttir, Hlöðver Sigurðsson, Bergþór Pálsson, Gísli Magna, Margrét Eir, Greta Salóme
In English. Some mild coughing on occasions near the taper. Something about the sound quality reminds me of what I called the "London Echo". It's clear enough, but it's got that odd quality to it that reminds me of London audios circa 2005. Also on the quiet side, the pro to that is little to no overload on the loud bits, but I did have to jack the volume all the way up.
The Bride In The Mirror's Master.
A
US Tour, March 23, 2018 (New Orleans)
Quentin Oliver Lee, Jordan Ensign, Jordan Craig, Trista Moldovan, David Benoit, Edward Staudenmayer, Kristie Dale Sanders, Phumzile Sojola, Emily Ramirez
TRACKED. Alonzo A Warlow's Master. Taper originally released as untracked.
I don't typically pay much attention to Hanibal in audios any more, but had left it playing while editing the info file. Phumzile Sojola as Piangi sounded hilarious during the whole "Rome, Roma" exaggeration sequence, a very nice touch. Also noted some differences from the old replica productions just before Carlotta's Think Of Me (is this a regular thing, or an ad-lib? She stops the pianist and makes them start again.) Judging from the taper's laughter during this part of the scene and her Think Of Me, her physical performance must have been well done, now I kinda want to see it.
Quirks: In act one, there is no track 12. NOTHING is missing. I just accidentally created a zero-length track thanks to my stupid laptop's touchpad going back while typing in another window, so I deleted the zero-length track.
I'm normally not a huge fan of the restaged tour overall, but I'm glad I picked this one up because once these principals grow into their roles ... HOLY MOLY do I see some potential here. (And yes, I know I'm breaking my own rule about keeping these comments to myself lol.)
Quality of the audio overall is excellent. Some audience chatter near the taper at times, and some seat squeeking. Includes a hilarious BCEFA speech from Edward Staudemeyer.
A+