Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall: The Masquerade Party

I love movies and I love having friends over, so what better combination than to have a movie night with friends, right?  Thanks to Universal Studios Home Entertainment, I had the opportunity to host a Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall Masquerade Party!  The party was complete with a copy of The Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall Blu-ray, Masquerade Masks, electric tealight candles, and snacks.  One lucky guest even walked home with her own copy of the movie.

During the event, we started out socializing and enjoying drinks and appetizers.  We had beautiful roses at the table with the food and then another table with the Blu-ray displayed, tealights going, and a variety of masks to choose from.  Everyone had a great time and we all enjoyed the Musical.  How much cooler would it be to see in real life?  Blu-ray definitely brings you one step closer to the real experience!

On February 7, 2012, Universal Studios Home Entertainment released a Once-in-a-Lifetime Experience on Blu-ray, DVD, and On Demand – The Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall.  You can now enjoy the longest-running Broadway musical of all time, as it celebrates 25 years of romance with a spectacular live production on one of the world’s most legendary stages.

SUMMARY:

Broadway’s longest-running production of all time celebrates a triumphant quarter century on stage with The Phantom of the Opera at Royal Albert Hall, available on Blu-ray – with perfect hi-def picture and perfect hi-def sound – DVD, On Demand and Digital Download from Universal Studios Home Entertainment.  On October 2, 2011, composer Andrew Lloyd Webber and producer Cameron Mackintosh marked the 25th anniversary of their beloved musical extravaganza, “The Phantom of the Opera,” with a lavishly staged production at London’s legendary Royal Albert Hall that was beamed live via satellite to cinemas across the globe.  The Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall marks the first time a live performance of the blockbuster musical has been made available for home viewing, making it a must-have anniversary release for fans everywhere.

The Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall stars Ramin Karimloo (2011 Olivier Award nominee for Best Actor in a Musical for “Love Never Dies”) as the lovestruck Phantom and Sierra Boggess (2011 Olivier Award nominee for Best Actress in a Musical for “Love Never Dies”) as the beautiful and gifted soprano Christine.  The show also features Barry James, Gareth Snook, Liz Robertson and Wynne Evans, as well as special guest appearances from the actors who originated the roles of The Phantom and Christine, Tony® Award winner Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman, in a memorable final curtain call.

“Phantom” aficionados will also be thrilled to know that “Love Never Dies,” Andrew Lloyd Webber’s spectacular follow-up musical will also arrive on Blu-rayTM and DVD for the first time on February 7.  With lush visuals and a mesmerizing score that rivals the original in power and beauty, this live production of “Love Never Dies” finds Christine and the Phantom reunited in turn-of-the-century New York City after a decade apart.

“The Phantom of the Opera” premiered at Her Majesty’s Theatre in London on October 9, 1986. It has won more than 60 major theatre awards, including seven Tony® Awards and three Olivier Awards, and became the longest-running show in Broadway history on January 9, 2006 when it celebrated its 7,486th performance.   “The Phantom of the Opera” has grossed over $5.6 billion worldwide and been seen in 145 cities in 27 countries. Live productions of “The Phantom of the Opera” are currently playing in London, New York, Budapest, Las Vegas and Kyoto.

Blu-ray™ and DVD Bonus Features:

• The Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall
• “Getting Past the Point of No Return:” A behind-the-scenes “Making Of” feature starring the cast and crew.
• Love Never Dies
• “Making Of” Featurette:  Take a look behind the scenes at Andrew Lloyd Webber’s breathtaking sequel.

SYNOPSIS:

THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA LIVE AT ROYAL ALBERT HALL

Lurking beneath the glamor and spectacle of the Paris Opera House, the horribly disfigured Phantom, once a promising musician, now terrorizes the opera company.  Shamed by his physical appearance and feared by all, the Phantom is drawn to the beautiful ingénue Christine Daaé and begins coaching her secretly, as a tragic romance unfolds between the unlikely pair. This dazzling live restaging of the original production recreates the jaw-dropping scenery and breathtaking special effects of the original, set to Andrew Lloyd Webber’s haunting score.

SYNOPSIS:  

LOVE NEVER DIES

The year is 1907. It is 10 years after the Phantom’s disappearance from the Paris Opera House.  He has escaped to a new life in New York where he lives amongst the screaming joy rides and freak-shows of Coney Island. In this new electrically-charged world, he has finally found a place for his music to soar. All that is missing is his love – Christine Daaé. Now one of the world’s finest sopranos, Christine is struggling in an ailing marriage to Raoul. So, it is with excitement she accepts an invitation to travel to New York and perform at a renowned opera house. In a final bid to win back her love, the Phantom lures Christine, her husband, and their young son Gustave from Manhattan, to the glittering and glorious world of Coney Island… not knowing what is in store for them.

CAST AND FILMMAKERS: 

THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA LIVE AT ROYAL ALBERT HALL

Cast:  Ramin Karimloo, Sierra Boggess, Hadley Fraser, Barry James, Wendy Ferguson, Gareth Snook, Liz Robertson, Wynne Evans, Sergei Polunin
Producer:  Cameron Mackintosh
Music by:  Andrew Lloyd Webber
Lyrics by:  Charles Hart
Book by:  Richard Stilgoe and Andrew Lloyd Webber
Based on the novel:  Le Fantôme de L’Opéra by Gaston Leroux
Additional lyrics by: Richard Stilgoe 
Film Directed by:  Nick Morris
Stage Production Directed by:  Laurence Connor based on the original London Production directed by Hal Prince
Musical Staging and Choreography: Gillian Lynne
Lighting:  Patrick Woodroffe and Andrew Bridge
Sound:  Mick Potter 
Set Design:  Matt Kinley, inspired by Maria Björnson’s original design for the stage

CAST AND FILMMAKERS:

LOVE NEVER DIES

Cast:  Ben Lewis, Anna O’Byrne, Maria Mercedes, Simon Gleeson, Sharon Millerchip, Emma J Hawkins, Paul Tabone, Dean Vince
Composer:  Andrew Lloyd Webber
Lyrics & Book:  Glenn Slater
Book:  Ben Elton, Frederick Forsyth
Additional Lyrics:  Charles Hart

CAST AND FILMMAKERS CONT.:  

LOVE NEVER DIES

Director:  Simon Phillips
Choreographer:  Graeme Murphy AM
Set & Costume Designer:  Gabriela Tylesova
Lighting Designer:  Nick Schlieper
Musical Supervisor:  Guy Simpson

TECHNICAL INFORMATION BLU-RAY™: 

THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA LIVE AT ROYAL ALBERT HALL

Street Date:  February 7, 2012
Copyright:  2012 Universal Studios
Selection Number: 61121260 (U.S.)/61121766 (Canada)
Running Time:  2 hours, 40 minutes
Layers:  BD-50
Aspect Ratio:  1.78:1
Rating:  N/A
Languages/Subtitles:  English SDH, French, Spanish, German, Spanish, Japanese, Korean, Dutch, Portuguese, Hungarian, Polish, Russian, Turkish, Icelandic, Cantonese, Mandarin
Sound:  English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1

TECHNICAL INFORMATION BLU-RAY™:  

LOVE NEVER DIES

Street Date:  February 7, 2012
Copyright:  2012 Universal Studios
Selection Number:  61121301 (U.S.)/61121768 (Canada) 
Running Time:  2 hours, 1 minute
Layers:  BD-50
Aspect Ratio:  1.78:1
Rating:  N/A
Languages/Subtitles:  English SDH, French Canadian, Spanish
Sound:  English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1/ Dolby Digital 2.0

TECHNICAL INFORMATION DVD:  

THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA LIVE AT ROYAL ALBERT HALL

Street Date:  February 7, 2012
Copyright:  2012 Universal Studios
Selection Number:  61121259 (U.S.)/61121767 (Canada)
Running Time:  2 hours, 40 minutes
Layers:  DVD-9
Aspect Ratio:  1.78.1
Rating:  N/A
Languages/Subtitles:  English SDH, French, Spanish
Sound:  English Dolby Digital 5.1, English Dolby Digital 2.0

TECHNICAL INFORMATION DVD:   

LOVE NEVER DIES

Street Date:  February 7, 2012
Copyright:  2012 Universal Studios
Selection Number: 61121300 (U.S.)/ 61121769 (Canada)
Running Time:  2 hours, 1 minute
Layers:  Dual Layer
Aspect Ratio:  1.78.1
Rating:  N/A
Languages/Subtitles:  English SDH, French Canadian, Spanish
Sound:  English Dolby Digital 5.1, English Dolby Digital 2.0

A big thanks goes to Universal Studios Home Entertainment for making this “Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall” Masquerade Viewing Party possible!  The party package and movies were provided by Universal Studios Home Entertainment.  All opinions expressed in this post are 100% mine.