Set your screen to Night Mode đ if you dare.
Years ago, a friend took me to an Andrew Lloyd Webberâs version of a Gothic Classic, The Phantom of the Opera. The show was entrancing and beautifully done. It got me out of depression at the time and took the focus off myself. To think of the personalities, characters, the history, the premise and of course the different variation on the story. This version highlighted with a more compassionate take on the Phantom himself as a misunderstood villain apart from previous versions including the original 1911 Gaston Leroux version.
The Overture opens with the powerful ambience of a Music Hall pipe organ, a recognizable melodic pattern reminisces of Bachâs Toccata and Fugue in D Minor setting the unmistakable atmosphere for us into the Gothic horror fiction genre.
At one point the audience began to cheer more for the Phantom who himself invested much of his time, energy, and passion into teaching his protégé Christine to being the best she could be as an Opera singer.
But most of all for love to fill an empty heart.
Villains are always an interesting study. We can speculate what made them the way they are. And a backstory that is often missing leaving us wondering if we would make the same choices in his shoes.
Hence the same lesson repeated in the humanities, to never judge a person by mere appearances but by the size and form of their passion in their heart.
My Version of the âThe Opening Sceneâ
The patrons are already filing in.
It was too late to cancel the highly touted performance now.
Everyone can observe the King of Hungary Archduke of Austria and his wife were already seated at the Invitation of the French Minister. There would be a serious loss of face, perhaps even jeopardize the French Hungarian alliance.
1888 Austrian 1 Florin
With Carlottaâs untimely illness and not able to perform tonight, the Opera house managers were praying that the performance would be adequate. The show must go on and the reputation of the Palaise Garnier Opera house now rest on the shoulders of the second-rate stage soprano.
It was Christineâs moment.
She knew the part.
After weeks under her dark mysterious tutor known as the Phantom promised that her chance would come. The orchestral crescendo cue was coming up. Armand, the first manger wipes the sweat from his brow, he whispers âBe ready Christine.â While his partner Firmin simply prayed. Stagehands and actors, actresses, all eyes narrowed to the one woman and her untested voice is about to take stage.
Christine entered onto the Stage with poise and confidence.
The stage lights focused on her being, the eyes of the audience instantly followed every step of her entrance. The Orchestral movement struck at the predetermined beat.
Christine only hesitated on the start of her singing piece, but it was tastefully done as her Mentor assured her that it was dig at the Play Writeâs dull static style and a salute to the Austrian Kingâs favorite composer who deliberately employ the same device on a famous Concerto.
1888 Austrian 1 Florin
At the end of her performance, the King and his wife stood and applauded in approval of an unexpectantly magnificent performance. The audience immediately followed the Royal lead with a thunderous applause and began to toss flowers upon the stage.
The mood backstage was ecstatic. Armand and Firmin could not contain themselves over the wildly successful performance this night and their good fortune.
At stage side Christine was showered with accolades crowded by new fans, autograph seekers, and News Reporters until a few Hungarian Officers pushed their way through.
âMademoiselle Christine DaaĂ©, I am Captain Jurasek of his Highness Franz Joseph Iâs personal guard. I am instructed to tell that his Highness was very pleased with your performance and desires give a gift as a token of his good pleasure.â
1888 Austrian 1 Florin
Another bouquet of aromatic flowers filled her arms, an envelope with an open invitation to visit the Austria-Hungarian Kingdom and a brand newly minted large silver coin. At just that moment she could barely hear a distant pipe organ playing in the distance.
Her mysterious mentor was satisfied.
I got to be crazy if I were to rewrite this whole story, but I must leave it there because I went way overboard as it is.
I do like to write, and I wish I could have more time and energy to do that.
Just listening to the soundtrack once again, especially my favorite "Music of the Night" will make my night shifts more enjoyable.
And just thinking: Wouldn't the Phantom of the Opera and The Bloody Raven make an interesting couple?
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References
1. My own pictures shot with a Samsung SM-A530W
Sources
Wiki; Phantom of the Opera
âEt lux in tenebris to serve laboro, sum sicariusâ âI work in the shadows to serve the Light, I am an Assassinâ