The first time I knew about Andrew Lloyd Webber was his musical on Phantom of the Opera. I was in complete perplexity when I heard the music first time. I was like, what is this? How can it sound like classical but with lots of digital keyboards, electric guitars and rock-n-roll drum beats? The music is absolutely wonderful. Rich, exuberant and yet terrifying at times, dramatic this second and turning somber next. Just one sound and you know what's coming on stage. The whole show is a theatrical wonder. The eye-catching and ever-changing costumes, stage design and special effects are enough to have audience full attention from start to finish.
What I like more is the fact that underneath this gorgeous and lavishly composed music, chandelier crashing down from the opera house dome ceiling and an intricate underground waterway labyrinth, lies a very simple story.
It's a story about love.
It starts rather complicatedly as it's a triangle relationship. A young, beautiful and talented soprano (Christine), a dashing gentry (Raoul) who is enamored with Christine, and the shadowy figure (Phantom) with half of his face burnt so badly that he has to wear a mask and who has been secretly coaching his star in his heart, Christine. All these years feeling misunderstood and shunned by the people overground, Phantom finally found someone who sees beyond his burnt face and cherishes his musical talent. Beneath the emotionless mask lies a tender heart, yearning for love. And he also falls in love with Christine, helplessly.
The secret betrothal between Christine and Raoul has enraged Phantom. Feeling betrayed, Phantom kidnaps Christine to his underground hide-out. Raoul follows suit but gets trapped by the device set up by Phantom. Phantom threatens to kill Raoul if Christine tries to escape.
It's not who you are underneath, but what you *do* that defines you.---Batman Begins
Eventually he lets Raoul go, both Christine and Raoul. Phantom has learned how to love a person, the way that Christine has shown him, that true love is unconditional.
It's great to be given unconditional love. It's sublime if you can give it back.
Learn to be lonely
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ps. This is something I have wanted to write for a long time. I know that no matter how much time I spend writing and polishing this piece, there is no way I could describe fully how moved I am about the story and do justice to the depth of Gaston Leroux had intended. Therefore, this is simply a document to remind me of what I feel about this magnificent combination of music and novel.
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