Cover Ramin Karimloo bows on stage during the 25th anniversary performance of Andrew Lloyd Webber's ‘The Phantom Of The Opera’ at the Royal Albert Hall, London in 2011 (Photo: Getty Images)
Ramin Karimloo bows on stage during the 25th anniversary performance of Andrew Lloyd Webber's ‘The Phantom Of The Opera’ at the Royal Albert Hall, London in 2011 (Photo: Getty Images)
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From Ramin Karimloo and Gerard Butler to Ayunga, each generation of Phantom has brought distinct qualities and voices to Andrew Lloyd Webber’s ‘The Phantom of the Opera’. Here’s a walk down memory lane
Since opening in London’s West End on October 9, 1986, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera has mesmerised global audiences. It delivers a timeless tale of intense passion between Christine Daaé, a talented young soprano, and the Phantom, a disfigured musical genius hidden away in the subterranean depths of the Paris Opera House. Based on Gaston Leroux’s classic Gothic horror novel originally published as a serial in Le Gaulois, the story is naturally steeped in rich mystique. Lloyd Webber—also celebrated for global hits like Evita and Cats—transformed the narrative into a worldwide sensation layered with sumptuous orchestrations.
The role of Daaé is widely considered one of the most demanding tracking roles in musical theatre history. The performer must demonstrate mastery in both operatic vocal performance and classical ballet, whilst successfully hitting a piercing E6 note at the operatic climax of the titular song, The Phantom of the Opera.
The role of the Phantom is equally unforgiving. It demands a sweeping vocal range spanning over two octaves alongside immense stylistic versatility. Furthermore, the actor must project a complex, terrifying and fiercely passionate anti-hero without relying on conventional facial expressions, keeping his countenance masked from the audience.
As the production celebrates its landmark 40th anniversary this year with an expansive Asia tour—concluding its spectacular final run at the Shanghai Grand Theatre from September to December—Tatler highlights the franchise’s most famous Phantoms who have brought the power of the music of the night to life.
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1. Michael Crawford, the original Phantom
Above Michael Crawford as the Phantom and Sarah Brightman as Christine Daaé in ‘The Phantom of the Opera’
Crawford was hand-picked by Lloyd Webber to originate the iconic title role in London in 1986. He remained with the West End production for two and a half years before crossing the Atlantic to debut the role on Broadway in 1988. The following year, he opened the Los Angeles production, eventually returning after a brief hiatus to deliver his historic final curtain call as the Phantom on April 28, 1991.
2. Ramin Karimloo, the youngest Phantom
Above Ramin Karimloo as the Phantom and Sierra Borgess as Christine Daaé in ‘The Phantom of the Opera’
In 2004, Iranian-born Canadian actor Karimloo became the youngest performer to take on the mantle of the Phantom. He initially joined the production as a standby at the age of 26, before securing the principal role full-time at 27. Following his final regular performances in The Phantom of the Opera in 2009, he went on to star as the Phantom in Lloyd Webber’s official creative sequel, Love Never Dies. His performance earned him a prestigious Laurence Olivier Award nomination for Best Actor in a Musical in 2011.
3. Howard McGillin, the longest-running Phantom
Above Howard McGillin in ’The Phantom of the Opera’
American actor McGillin holds an unparalleled theatrical milestone as the longest-running Phantom in Broadway history. He brought the mysterious anti-hero to life at the historic Majestic Theatre on Broadway for a record-breaking 2,544 performances, cementing his legacy within the global theatre community.
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4. Gerard Butler, the rock-infused Phantom
Above Gerard Butler performing ‘Music of the Night’ in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s ‘The Phantom of the Opera’
Scottish actor Butler’s casting as the traditionally grotesque character in Joel Schumacher’s 2004 cinematic adaptation came as a surprise to critics and theatre purists alike. His strikingly handsome appearance, paired with a raw, rock-infused vocal style, reinvented the Phantom as a darkly romantic heartthrob. Instead of emphasising physical deformity, the film chose to channel his monstrosity through his twisted, obsessive infatuation with Daaé.
5. Ayunga, one of the first Chinese Phantoms
Above Ayunga as the Phantom in the Chinese version of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s ‘The Phantom of the Opera’
As the star and co-producer of the world’s inaugural Mandarin-language production of The Phantom of the Opera, Ayunga made cultural history. Premiering on April 19, 2023, at the Shanghai Grand Theatre, the staging marked the 18th official language adaptation for the global franchise. Ayunga, who is of Mongolian ethnicity and hails from Ordos, Inner Mongolia, graduated from the prestigious Beijing Dance Academy. He rose to national prominence after winning the reality television series Mr Super in 2014, and has since starred in numerous acclaimed Chinese and Western musical productions.
Zabrina is the Senior Editor, Arts and Culture of Tatler Hong Kong. She specialises in performing arts, visual art and film. Her wanderlust was first fuelled by the Mighty Rovers Antarctica Expedition 2010. Over the years, she has interviewed A-list artists and filmmakers, including Oscar winners Chlóe Zhao and Tim Yip, Golden Horse winner Sylvia Chang, In the Mood for Love cinematographer Christopher Doyle, Pachinko author Min Jin Lee, and Coachella’s first Chinese solo singer Jackson Wang. She won gold at the WAN-IFRA Asian Media Awards for her 2021 feature on the waves of hate crimes targeting Asian Americans.
