Michael Crawford Interviewed in 1988 | The Phantom of the Opera 

He will always be the one and only Phantom to me.

I'm 20 years old , recently found out about this fantastic show and seen almost all the versions on youtube , and I think NO ONE is as good as Michael Crawford as the phantom , it's like he IS the phantom ❤

Seeing Michael Crawford there really does make me pine for the good old days. As someone who has been a fan of this show since it opened, I really do despair of what it has become and how far it has strayed from its original roots. There are rules that Michael created for the part of the phantom that as far as I am concerned are sacred, with the main one being that the phantom should have a ghostly, fatherly voice, something that, whilst not being the most technically perfect singer, Michael understood perfectly, with Dave Willetts following him beautifully with a unique interpretation of the same idea that was completely within the rules. I considered this so intrinsic to the very essence of the show that it never crossed my mind for one second that it would ever be done differently. However, when Dave Willetts left, it all kinda went a bit pear shaped with the introduction of a new rule that the phantom should have a harsh operatic voice, that doesn't sound the slightest bit ghostly, or fatherly, you know the two most important character traits the PHANTOM (i.e ghost) is supposed to possess. When I listen to some of these newer phantoms, I get a bit confused as to what I am hearing; the phantom of the opera, or the go-compare adverts. The show is called the phantom of the opera, not the opera singer of the opera. The opera singers are supposed to sound like opera singers, whereas the phantom is supposed to sound like a ghost. Why on earth are all these newer phantoms sounding more like Ubaldo Piangi? I just don't get it!

I saw Phantom in 1989 in LA Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman the night was magical to me. I will never forget

As soon he started to sing, I got goosebumps

I Love Song. :)

Cornelius Hackl!

SO many things to say here! First, in this small clip, Michael looks as dashing as he ever did, OMGosh! More importantly though, I've read all the comments here, and everyone is spot ON! First, I was NEVER able to see the show, even though I was a hairs breadth away from auditioning for HAL PRINCE almost the moment MICHAEL and crew opened on Broadway. My name is similar to Christine's, my birth-date is in the story which I love dearly, and my singing teacher had given me this new album right before Xmas break in the 10th grade (1986), and told me to learn HER part, to help as merely a vocal exercise at home away from school, since I had a large range similar to Sarah B, and well he thought I'd love this music since he knew I loved gothic-style music. So, that's how it began. Without knowing what ever happened onstage, I began learning the lyrics and and her notes, and all the while, I was imagining the Phantom training ME, just like in the story. Eventually, and after months and months of grueling work to reach Sarah's HIGH E, I lost my voice twice in the attempt, by the end once I'd reached that note, not only did I have it, but I was on TOP of it! I was SO proud of myself, and realized I'd fallen head over heels not only for our Erik, but for Michael too, never once realizing he was my Cornelius Hackl that I'd grown-up with, and was my first BIG celeb crush! So, I worked on it nonstop for the next year and really, could've been an understudy right away. But the moment I hit that note, something happened inside me and it was like not only was I Christine, but HIS Christine. The one he loved and the one that loved him back. So, throughout all that training, he (MICHAEL) really was my "Angel of Music," and plans were made for me to travel to NYC to audition for Hal and hopefully meet Michael. Sadly, it never happened and I was crushed, more than I can say but all that experience singing with Michael made me understand HIS interpretation of his own character. Since then ALL the subsequent Phantoms, IMO, have failed him flatly! The FILM was a complete disgrace with both the leads, especially Butler (Vomit!), and ALW allowed him to make a mockery of the BEAUTY of all Michael's effort in creating and perfecting this now ICONIC role. The film should've been rightfully HIS since Andrew had promised it and when talks first began in 1999, MICHAEL would have been THE perfect age, and his voice was even better since after leaving the role. I cannot watch the film ever again, and I am NOW very afraid to go watch it LIVE for the first time, because of what everyone here has said: Something happened to Erik's part. NONE of the Angelic, haunting and desperate qualities remain, that MICHAEL created and it is a fucking travesty how "violent" stiff and operatic the role has become. I am SO heart-broken over it all, and feel I will die of a broken-heart due to all this alone. MICHAEL, wherever you are, KNOW without any doubt how much you're loved and how much you are still appreciated for your work. I hope you are safe out there, and hope I can meet you one day before it's all done. Your REAL Christine.... XOXOXOXxxxxx

I love many different phantoms, but there's no one like the original. He may not be at the top of my list (mainly because I am a younger phan at age 17 so I love some of the more recent actors), but I absolutely adore the original cast. And Michael, Sarah, and Steve were so amazing and made their characters so iconic and made this show what it is.

He be good in a soap 😍