If only you knew…

I’m going to start rambling on again about my theories involving ‘The Phantom of the Opera’… LoL… anywayz.. I posted that little bit down there on my MySpace Blog on March ‘05…

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"The Opera ghost really existed. He was not, as was long believed, a creature of the imagination of the artists, the superstition of the managers, or the absurd and impressionable brains of the young ladies of the ballet, their mothers, the box-keepers, the cloak-room attendants, or the concierge. No, he existed in flesh and blood, though he assumed all the outward characteristics of a real phantom, that is to say, of a ghost."

- Gaston Leroux

Gaston Leroux.. the guy who wrote ‘The Phantom of the Opera’. I was browsing the PotO website earlier [ www.thephantomoftheopera.com ] and stumbled upon that comment, leaving me ponderning if the story of the PotO is true. The famous Paris Opera House is really in France, with 2 ballet schools within it. Even the lake under it is real. I still have to find out if it has been burned at some point in time. I’d surely like to visit it one day.

The Phantom of the Opera has been one of my favorite musicals since I watched its broadway version of it in 1998 with some church friends [ Kuya Jesse, Auntie Bhabes, Uncle Joji, Auntie Jane & some others ]. I think I was about 8 years old then. It was very memorable expirience. It was one of the things that inspired me to start singing. Then, I could reach all the high operatic notes. Then I stopped singing for about a year, so now I can’t really sing like I used to, but I manage to once in a while. Then when the movie of it came out, it renewed my obsession for it. hehe. Although I wish they kept the original cast [Michael Crawford, Sarah Brightman, Steve Barton..] but the new cast it fine! They were supposed to make the movie a long time ago with the original cast, but Andrew Lloyd Webber & Sarah Brightman split so the project was put on hold. I think they’re also going to create a sequel to it, atleast, that’s what I read in the program for the broadway.

I know they’ve already made a few movie versions of the Phantom, I’ve yet to see them though. But from the reviews I’ve read about them on www.imdb.com some of them aren’t worth watching. But the one that seems interests the one created in 1925 [ a black & white, silent version ], starring Lon Chaney Snr. Anyone know where to get a copy of it?

As for the book, unfortunately haven’t been able to find a copy of that either. Aww.. But I’ll keep on looking.

The Phantom of the Opera, a true story or a figment of the imagination? Only time can tell..

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I’ve learned and researched more about it since then.. haha.. [obsessed much?? LoL!] there’s this coolio website [www.phantomoftheopera.info] with tons of information and some proof that the Phantom might’ve existed. The story which Gaston LeRoux penned may have some facts and fiction in it, stretching reality to make it seeem more interesting. The reality might no be as glorious as the book! LeRoux had to fill things in with his imagination..  Oohh.. and I do have the original book! You can also find and read it online for free!

The setting for the story is in The Ganier Opera house in Paris, Frace. Although in the story it is called The Opera Populaire. There was a chandelier crash incident in 1896, this was also described in the book, but the only difference is that in the book, the whole chandelier fell, in reality, only a part of it did. In both instances though, it fell on a woman. What’s bizzare though, that on site they have a library which contains encyclopedias [about the opera house] on each year, except for the year 1896.

The book and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s version have their differences, but the idea is pretty much the same.

Then there’s Christine Daae… It is speculated that she was based on a real person, Christine Nilsson. I have to admit they have a lot in common. LeRoux had actually met Nilsson [and it said he flirted a bit, too... LoL!] So basically, some of Daae’s characteristics and background are based off of Nilsson. 

I shall continue this at another time… since right now it’s 3:30am and my brains falling asleep on me.. haha.. Bonne nuit, mon ames! Ciao!