«The Phantom of the Opera»

«The Phantom of the Opera» - A Musical in Two Acts

STARS OF THE ST. PETERSBURG OPERETTA

A musical fantasy (tragicomedy) with music and lyrics by Maury Yeston, inspired by Gaston Leroux’s novel «The Phantom of the Opera»

ABOUT THE SHOW:

This performance tells the story of Erik - the phantom of the Paris Opera House - his life, love, and death. It differs significantly from both Leroux’s novel The Phantom of the Opera and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s well-known Broadway musical.

The score echoes operetta motifs and conjures the spirit of old American musical films.

At the heart of the story lies the melodramatic triangle between the young aspiring singer Christine, her music teacher Erik, and the wealthy patron of the Opera, Count Philippe de Chandon. Erik has spent his entire life hidden in the catacombs beneath the theatre, where his father, the former Opera manager, concealed him from the world.

There’s room for humour in this show as well. The scenes featuring the new manager Cholet and his prima donna wife Carlotta are intentionally comical. Even Erik displays a sense of humour - albeit a dark one, reflecting the bleakness of his underground life.

The first act is light and somewhat cheerful, establishing the characters and their relationships. However, it ends on a darker note: the Phantom drops a chandelier onto the stage - a foreboding sign of the tragedy to come. The second act takes a more dramatic turn, culminating in the confrontation between Christine and Erik, who shows her his face at her request. One of the most touching moments in the show is the duet between Erik and his father - the former manager. They reunite at last, only to part forever. The Phantom dies, having received the first and only kiss of his life from Christine.

CAST OF CHARACTERS:

THE PHANTOM (Erik) - the ghost of the Paris Opera, laureate of international competitions, soloist of the «Russia» Ensemble named after Lyudmila Zykina - Igor Shumaev

CHRISTINE - his pupil, soloist of the musical theatre «Zazerkalye», laureate of international competitions - Nadezhda Antyufeyeva

COUNT PHILIPPE DE CHANDON - a businessman, laureate of international competitions - Evgeny Berlin

CARRIÈRE - former manager of the Opera, soloist of the Mikhailovsky Theatre, laureate of international competitions - Sergey Dreytt

CHOLET - new Opera manager, Honoured Artist of Russia - Anatoly Puzyryov

CARLOTTA - opera diva, Honoured Artist of Russia - Marina Ulanova

LEDOC - Minister of Culture, actor at the Petersburg Engagement Theatre - Igor Illarionov