Actor Antonio Banderas Performs Haunting Duet At Royal Albert Hall, Leaves 'Phantom Of The Opera' Fans With Goosebumps

Mar 31, 2020 by apost team

The world of musical theater knows the name Andrew Lloyd Webber quite well. He is credited with composing a number of musical scores including Evita, Dreamcoat, Cats, School of Rock and many others. Spanish actor Antonio Banderas made Webber’s work come alive when he performed his 1986 hit The Phantom of the Opera in front of a live audience with Sarah Brightman back in 1998 for the composer’s 50th birthday celebration at The Royal Albert Hall.

Based on a famous French novel, The Phantom of the Opera features lyrics from Charles Hart, additional lyrics from Richard Stilgoe and music by Lloyd Webber. After its opening show in the ‘80s, originally starring Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman, the New York production won six 1988 Tony Awards including one for Best Musical, according to Playbill.

Banderas, who is known for his roles in The Mask of Zorro and Spy Kids, also has experience on the stage performing musicals. According to Playbill, Banderas worked on another popular Lloyd Webber musical in the 1990s starring as Che in the film adaptation of Evita. In fact, there was talk about Banderas starring in the 2004 film adaptation of The Phantom of The Opera given that the composer and the actor already had a professional relationship.

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"If they need me or they think that I am the person to play that character on the big screen, I'll be there," Banderas told Playbill in 2003. "We have been in contact since the time that I did Evita, talking about Phantom. I was in London with him several times when Shekhar Kapur was attached to the project. Nothing happened. It was [left] in the hands of Warner Bros."

It’s no wonder then that Banderas’ live duet with the English soprano Sarah Brightman is so magnificent. Though he may be better known for his roles in blockbusters and kids movies, Banderas is an experienced broadway performer with a surprisingly penetrating voice. The six-minute dramatic performance, which includes an impressively costumed organist, mysterious lighting and a full orchestra, is worth watching in full. The clip begins with the foreboding sound of the organ. Suddenly Brightman appears on stage, illuminated by the spotlight. Banderas joins a quarter of the way in, walking slowly up to Brightman to join in the spectral duet. With his mysterious delivery, it’s a joy to watch the two sing together.

Despite Banderas’ stand out performance, Warner Bros. went in another direction with the 2004 film, opting for Gerard Butler as the Phantom. Although we might never get to see Banderas’ Phantom interpretation on the big screen, his early duet with Sarah Brightman will continue to live on and demonstrate the actor’s overlooked skills as a singer. And who knows? In the event of a film adaptation of Lloyd Webber's Phantom of the Opera sequel, Love Never Dies, Banderas might get another chance.

What did you think of Bandera and Brightman's performance? Were you surprised to know he was gifted with so much musical ability? Let us know and pass this on to all your musically inclined friends and family members.