H184 DVD Musical The Phantom of the Opera 25th Anniversary Performance - Unopened ★★★ Unopened DVD. Japanese product (Region ALL). The images shown are from a previously viewed DVD. ★★★ A performance held in London to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the hit musical "The Phantom of the Opera." Over 200 cast members and an orchestra performed together, with special appearances by Sarah Brightman and other original cast members. Starring: Ramin Karimloo, Sierra Boggess, Hadley Fraser Directed by: Cameron Mackintosh Language: English Subtitles: Japanese (2 types), English Number of Discs: 1 Recorded: 2011, Royal Albert Hall, UK Released: 2012 Running Time: 162 minutes ★★★ Quoted from online reviews: ① The actors, orchestra, costumes, and stage design are all amazing!! I can only think of words of praise; it was a truly wonderful work. As it's a filmed stage production, you can see movements and flow outside the frame that are difficult to perceive in a movie. As a side note, Ramin Karimloo, who plays the Phantom, didn't come from a music school, but is a self-taught individual who learned through library materials and mimicking singing. Since the original Phantom is a self-taught genius, he's the perfect fit for the role. ② The more I watch it, the more I can't help but wish I could see this performance live, even just once in my life... Although the Shiki Theatre Company is wonderful, this work, even from my TV at home, seems to show a clear difference in quality. Sarah Brightman's appearance at the end was a moment that deeply moved me, as I have been listening to the original British cast CD since my younger student days. It's a DVD I'll treasure for a lifetime. ③ I've seen the movie version and the Shiki Theatre Company version, but this one was the best. It's very powerful. There are two types of Japanese subtitles: 1 is a free translation (similar to the movie and Shiki versions), and 2 is a literal translation. I've never understood many parts of The Phantom of the Opera, but it was very easy to understand when I watched it with the literal subtitles. If you find The Phantom of the Opera difficult to understand, I recommend watching it with Japanese subtitle 2. ④ I saw it in a movie theater, and it was the most moving and tearful Phantom of the Opera I've ever seen! Everything that I didn't quite understand in the stage and movie versions was completely clear to me.