Phantom Of The Opera Essay

“The Phantom of the Opera,” has always been intriguing to me, it is now even more so that I look at it through a more educated musical lens. This musical expertly uses centuries old classic opera techniques, and musical elements, to create its enticing and captivating scenes. This short essay will include an analysis of the musical elements it uses to highlight each actors character traits, to set the scenes, develop the plot, and to bring forth the intense emotions it draws from the audience. First, let us analyze the musical elements as well as costumes that help portray Christine’s character. Christine’s story is quite sad, orphaned and brought to live at the Opera, she is a shy, sweet girl that has remained in the background for most
The theme song, “The Phantom of the Opera,” is used as a leitmotive throughout the entire musical. The orchestration is thick with the characteristic resonant tones from the organ. The organ dominates playing the melody, in low dark tones, rising and falling in an eerie manner. The rhythm is steady, drums roll in placing emphasis, and the key board further adds to the eerie tones. This song, is repeated several times throughout the musical, sometimes only in brief pieces. It is repeated for example after the curtain falls on Carlotta and the hanging of one of the stage hands, as if to say the Phantom is there. This music symbolizes the Phantoms menacing side and is a display of his power over the opera. Another intriguing operatic practice that was employed in the musical is the pants role. Christine plays the role of the page boy, in the song “Prima Donna,” while Carlotta plays the role of countess. An interesting part of this is that Christine is not used for her feminine voice, that would represent a male before or just reaching puberty, she does not speak at all. The purpose of putting her in the role was perhaps to demean her, and show her passive