Antonio Banderas as the Phantom

[Angel]

www.youtube.com/w/%22Phantom-of-the-Opera%22---Sarah-Brightman-%26-Antonio-Banderas?v=Lkq2DFLLKIM&search=Zach%20Allen%20Zachary%20Music%20of%20the%20Night%20Phantom%20Opera%20Indiana%20Solo%20Ensemble%20ISSMA%20Andrew%20Lloyd%20Webber%20contest%20Competition

Okay, aside from being one helluva long URL, this is a link to an ALW concert featuring Antonio Banderas and Sarah Brightman performing the title song from Phantom. For those who don't know, Banderas was at one stage being considered for the role of the Phantom in the 2004 movie and spent several years in vocal preparation.

What do you think?

Although I think casting a Scottish Phantom makes less sense than hiring a Spanish one, I'm still glad they chose Gerry. Antonio's accent (although lovely) is, IMO, way too strong. His 'our strange duet' absolutely cracked me up. But, hey, he can sing pretty good

(By the way ... is it just me or is something up with Sarah? She sounds different. At least, until she starts hitting those high Cs Anyhoo, I prefer her on the OLC, definitely. But that's off-topic.)

[Simple Rose]

I, surprisingly, didn't actually mind! I rather liked his voice! This is quite shocking even to me because I kind of scoffed at the idea when I first heard it... but he has an excellent control on his vibrato and a lovely, lovely tone (not to mention a lovely, lovely face...mm. I could stare at that all day). As far as his accent, really, the only parts you could hear it were where an "ee" sound was required. If he gets a voice instructor (the same kind who teach british people to talk with the american drawl) then I'm sure there would be very limited noticeability. And besides, do we forget the endless rolling "r's" of Michael Crawford?

[Angel]

Eh, maybe I'm just super-sensitive to accents. But don't you diss them rolling Rs! Admittedly, they're not entirely correct when singing in English, and I'm hopelessly biased (is that the right word?) towards Crawford, but, quite frankly, I don't care. I just think that a rolling R is one thing, while getting distracted by an accent is another. Antonio has a nice voice; if he ever made a CD, I'd quite happily listen to it. But, as much as I try, I just can't see (hear?) him as the Phantom I'd like to see how he would interpret the role acting-wise, though.

But, hey, what's a forum without some ... differing opinions?

[Jaycee]

Well, I defnitely noticed the accent, but i'm probably super-sensitive to accents too. You can thank my choir director for that. I agree, the "our strange duet" was pretty darn funny. I don't mind his voice, but as for him actually playing the phantom...I don't know. I think Gerry did a pretty good job (except that last note in music of the night, but i don't want to go off topic) and It's pretty hard to imagine anyone else as the phantom. And, is it just me or has anyone else noticed that there are a lot of phans who hate Antonio Banderas? I've noticed several comments about that on a few different sites but i have yet to discover the reasoning behind it.


(and i do think there was definitely something up with Sarah's voice in that video)

[Angel]

there are a lot of phans who hate Antonio Banderas

Well, I'm a phan and I really like Antonio Banderas ... just not as the Phantom

[Jaycee]

I like him too, but I keep finding these posts saying things like OMG I TOTALLY HATe ANTONIO BANDERAS GO GERRY! And stuff like that (i'm not too good a imitating brainless phangirls...is that good thing? I think it must be! ).