Aug 13 2007
Who Is The Best Phantom? A Video Gallery…
If you want to spark a lively debate among Phantom Of The Opera fans, you probably just have to bring up the age old question: “Who is the best phantom?”. Though most polls show Michael Crawford as the favorite with Gerard Butler in second, the truth is that there have been many talented actors play the part of the Phantom over the years. Each actor brought something a little different to the character, IMHO.
Here are some videos, clips, and quick bios on some of the different phantoms - all talented, and each different. See who your favorite is!
Antonio Banderas
Antonio (to my knowledge) has never played the Phantom. However, he was a major contender for the role in the movie, and has a sizable number of phans. This video clip shows him performing Phantom Of The Opera with Sarah Brightman:
My thoughts: Antonio Banderas is a talented singer and actor (see his role in Evita for a great example), but his Spanish accent does cause somewhat of a challenge in casting him as a French opera composer. Antonio’s version of the Phantom is smooth and sexy.
Michael Crawford
Michael was the original phantom in the first West End Production of Phantom, and he is the Phantom featured on the most popular cast recording album. Michael also played the Phantom in the Los Angeles production.
(Click on image to view video.)
My thoughts: Michael is probably my favorite phantom, because of the smooth, yet dark quality to his voice. IMHO, he shines on Down Once More - as the Phantom is fully unveiled as the murderer he is, Michael vocally delivers a forceful, even sinister performance, yet retains the beauty.
Gerard Butler
Gerard, of course, played the Phantom in the 2004 movie of Phantom Of The Opera. Due to copyright issues, there are not videos of Gerard available on the net, but here is a video of No One Would Listen, a postlude to the movie:
My thoughts: Gerard vocally delivers a very smooth, romantic Phantom, and is an excellent actor. I find that he lacks the darkness many of the stage phantoms have, but I think perhaps that is what makes many people like Gerard’s phantom.
Howard McGillin
Howard has played the Phantom more times than any other actor. He was also the actor playing the role when the Phantom became the longest running musical. Unfortunately, I’m unable to find any un-pirated videos or audio files of Howard as the Phantom.
Hugh Panaro
Hugh played the Phantom twice on Broadway, the most recent time up until October 2005. The only performance videos of Hugh Panaro are obviously pirated versions (from cameras snuck into a theatre), so here is concert footage for Hugh:
My thoughts: Hugh gives a strong performance as the phantom, but seems a tad weak in the above video.
Anthony Warlow
Anthony played in the original Australian production of the Phantom.
My thoughts: Anthony Warlow gives the phantom a powerful, commanding presence. Not my favorite, but very good. He sounds more like a baritone than a tenor, IMO.
Colm Wilkinson
Colm Wilkinson is probably best known for playing in the Canadian production of Phantom, though he is actually Irish.
My thoughts: Colm Wilkinson is usually better known for playing Valjean in Les Miserables, but he gives a powerful performance as the Phantom. He performance is dark, evil, and hauntingly beautiful.
What do you think? Who is your favorite phantom, and why?
Antonio as the Phantom? Who woulda thunk? His voice is good, but I can’t get past the accent. I think the made a good choice with casting Gerard Butler in the film version. Personally, my favorite Phantom will always be Crawford, but it’s sad because the Phantom is the only role he can sing and sound good on. I bought his CD once and regretted it the minute I started listening to it. I’ve never been a big fan of Brightman. I saw the show in NYC last fall twice and didn’t care much for it. It seemed rather cheesy in the staging and the singing wasn’t very good. I was sad, because I love the movie so much and I loved the show the first five times I saw it in San Francisco. I’ve seen Howard McGillin and think his understudy is better. It was interesting to watch all the other videos of various Phantoms from throughout the years. I’ve found that no one will ever be up to the par set by Crawford, though.
I really like the Colm Wilkinson one!
A quick note about the video of Hugh (I filmed that one). Hugh was ill at the time of that performance and that was the next-to-last song in a two-hour concert. He’d been by a spider which had caused a fever and, by his own admission after the show, he felt it was affecting his performance since he felt constriction in his lungs and diaphragm.
Paula,
Thank you very much for that info! That makes perfect sense…
~Adam
[...] Adam Thompson presents Who Is The Best Phantom? A Video Gallery? [...]
Must say, I just saw Anthony Warlow do Phantom twice in the last two months and he is head and shoulders above Michael Crawford.
For me Colm Wilkinson and Michael Crawford are both amazing as the Phantom. I grew up with Michael but recently have become a huge Colm Wilkinson fan. He has been on tour recently and sings songs from the many plays that he’s been in including some Irish folk songs and some rock and roll covers. It’s the best concert I’ve ever been to and have been to 4 shows.
Michael Crawford is definately a more passionate and strong-voiced Phantom whereas Colm Wilkinson has a softer voice but also brings across the Phantom’s anger and resentment which makes him more the evil murderer than a romantic desperately in love with Christine.
Gerard Butler
I have seen the movies, no plays yet, and the clips above, and….Gerard Butler is my favorite. Gerard Butler makes me want to cry at the ending “sobs” and he is an amazing singer and actor! TAKE THAT CRAWFORD FANS!
I’ve seen the Australian production of Phantom four times over the last two years, three times in Melbourne and once in Brisbane. fortunately for me, i was lucky enough to see Anthony as Phantom all 4 times! I think he’s a brilliant actor and even more amazing singer! naturally a baritone i think he portrays and sings the role of the phantom remarkably and i honestly can’t have gone to see the show enough times! i could go many more just to hear his voice. he portrays the role with such passion i can never get through a show without shedding a tear. he hits some of the highest notes I’ve ever heard from a male singer - especially in the All I Ask of You Reprise!
his acting is simply sublime - he can come across as such a gentle, naive, child-like character whose been lost without a mothers love, let alone any sort of affection, and then transform into a violent and frightening monster driven by jealousy and rage or a deceitful, cunning predator luring in his prey through his mesmerizing voice and music.
his voice and acting seems to capture me under his spell every single time.
I have seen Gerard Butler in the 2004 film version - first time I had ever seen Phantom - and I must say he is quite a good actor, not the greatest singer (though what do u expect? - he was cast as an actor that could sing) and I have heard Michael Crawford. Honestly, I’d have to say I love Anthony more then the other two, I don’t know, Michael’s voice doesn’t appeal to me as much, maybe because Im Aussie i naturally lean towards Anthony because he has an Australian accent, I’m not sure. anywho, thats just my opinion. =)