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From the moment the original London production of Andrew Lloyd Webber, Charles Hart, and Richard Stilgoe’s Phantom of the Opera opened at Her Majesty’s Theatre on October 9, 1986, it was clear that the sweepingly romantic musical was a juggernaut.  Directed by Harold Prince, the production combined innovative stagecraft with proudly old-fashioned musical melodrama, and forty years on, it’s still packing houses at Her – now His! – Majesty’s Theatre.  The original cast recording featuring Michael Crawford as the Phantom, Sarah Brightman as Christine Daaé, and Steve Barton as Raoul, along with Rosemary Ashe (Les Misérables, Mary Poppins), Steve Barton (Cats, Dance of the Vampires), David Firth (1776, Assassins), John Savident (television’s Coronation Street, Doctor Who) and Mary Millar (Beauty and the Beast, television’s Keeping Up Appearances), has never gone out of print.  Now, on November 6, it will return in a new remixed edition by Andrew Lloyd Webber, available on both CD and LP.

Lloyd Webber and Stilgoe collaborated on the book to the show, basing it on Gaston Leroux’s 1910 French novel Le Fantôme de l’Opéra. Largely set beneath the Paris Opera House, the story concerns the mysterious Phantom, a disfigured musical genius who becomes obsessed with the young soprano Christine Daaé. As Christine’s career rises, she becomes caught between the Phantom and her childhood friend, Raoul, Vicomte de Chagny.

To whet appetites for the show, Sarah Brightman and Steve Harley recorded the musical’s title song as a single which reached No. 7 on the U.K. Singles Chart in early 1986.  Brightman’s single of “All I Ask of You” with Cliff Richard fared even better later that same year, peaking at No. 3.  The long-awaited London cast album was recorded at EMI Studios and Audio International Studios in London.  It was originally released in February 1987 on double LP and cassette along with a 2-CD edition and reached No. 1 on the British Official Albums Chart where it remained for three weeks. Its overall chart run was substantial, with 140 weeks in the U.K. Top 100. It also reached No. 2 in Australia.  A single disc highlights version was also released at the time.  Brightman and Michael Crawford’s double A-sided single of “The Music of the Night” and “Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again” returned Phantom to the U.K. Singles Chart, reaching No. 7 in early 1987.

The original cast recording was nominated for a Grammy Award in 1988 but lost to the original cast album of Les Misérables.  The show itself fared better, taking home two Olivier Awards in 1986: one for Crawford for Best Actor and one for Best New Musical.  At the Tonys in 1987, the show took home a whopping seven awards including another award for Michael Crawford as Best Actor, one for Best Director for Harold Prince, one for Best Featured Actress for Judy Kaye (the original Broadway Carlotta), and Best Musical, among several other awards.

The show and cast album have also done very well commercially with the musical still running in London and the album having been declared three-time platinum in the U.K. and four-times platinum in the U.S. (both the 2-CD and highlights versions).  A film version was released in 2004; its soundtrack also proved popular, topping the soundtrack charts and peaking at No. 16 on the Pop chart.  Though the Broadway production at the Majestic Theatre closed on April 26, 2023 after a record 13,981 performances – it remains the longest-running Broadway show of all time – it’s back in New York as the immersive walk-through production of Masquerade.  (Phantom is the third longest-running show in the West End, following The Mousetrap and Les Misérables.)

The Phantom of the Opera: The Andrew Lloyd Webber 2026 Mix was created by the composer with the original analogue multitrack tapes.  In addition to remixing the album with current technology, Lloyd Webber has restored previously unheard material originally cut for length.  (While tracks with added material have not been revealed, several titles are new to the release.)  He’s also added three bonus tracks: “Andrew’s Phantom Demo,” “Box Five,” and the original demo of “Masquerade.”  All tracks are available on 2 CDs or 3 LPs.

A limited box set (of 2,026 copies) entitled “A Collector’s Piece Indeed” features the remixed cast recording, the film soundtrack, and Masquerade: The Orchestral Score (only otherwise available at the New York theatre) plus a hand-numbered art print and replicas of the original script, sheet music, and poster.

The upcoming expanded remix is currently available through Andrew Lloyd Webber’s official online store, with a release date of November 6.    The title song of the musical is streaming now in its new mix, which gives the song a punchier rock sound with an emphasis on the guitars and rhythm section underpinning the orchestral splendor.  You’ll find the track listing and pre-order links below. (As an Amazon affiliate, we earn from qualifying purchases.)

The Phantom of the Opera: The Andrew Lloyd Webber 2026 Mix (The Other Songs, 2026)

2CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
2CD (Amazon Exclusive Artwork): Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
3LP: Andrew Lloyd Webber Store
6LP: Andrew Lloyd Webber Store

CD 1

1. Prologue (The Andrew Lloyd Webber 2026 Mix)
2. Overture (The Andrew Lloyd Webber 2026 Mix)
3. Hannibal Rehearsal (The Andrew Lloyd Webber 2026 Mix) (*)
4. Think Of Me (The Andrew Lloyd Webber 2026 Mix)
5. Angel Of Music (The Andrew Lloyd Webber 2026 Mix)
6. Little Lotte / The Mirror (Angel Of Music) (The Andrew Lloyd Webber 2026 Mix)
7. The Phantom of the Opera (The Andrew Lloyd Webber 2026 Mix)
8. I Have Brought You (The Andrew Lloyd Webber 2026 Mix)
9. The Music Of The Night (The Andrew Lloyd Webber 2026 Mix)
10. I Remember / Stranger Than You Dreamt It (The Andrew Lloyd Webber 2026 Mix)
11. Magical Lasso (The Andrew Lloyd Webber 2026 Mix)
12. Notes (The Andrew Lloyd Webber 2026 Mix)
13. Prima Donna (The Andrew Lloyd Webber 2026 Mix)
14. Il Muto (The Andrew Lloyd Webber 2026 Mix)
15. Why Have You Brought Me Here (The Andrew Lloyd Webber 2026 Mix)
16. All I Ask Of You (The Andrew Lloyd Webber 2026 Mix)
17. All I Ask Of You – Reprise (The Andrew Lloyd Webber 2026 Mix)

CD 2

1. Entr’acte / Six Months Later (The Andrew Lloyd Webber 2026 Mix)
2. Masquerade / Why So Silent (The Andrew Lloyd Webber 2026 Mix)
3. Notes / Twisted Every Way (The Andrew Lloyd Webber 2026 Mix)
4. Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again (The Andrew Lloyd Webber 2026 Mix)
5. Wandering Child / Bravo Monsieur (The Andrew Lloyd Webber 2026 Mix)
6. Don Juan Triumphant (The Andrew Lloyd Webber 2026 Mix) (*)
7. The Point Of No Return (The Andrew Lloyd Webber 2026 Mix)
8. Down Once More / Track Down This Murderer (The Andrew Lloyd Webber 2026 Mix)
9. Have You Gorged Yourself (The Andrew Lloyd Webber 2026 Mix) (*)
10. Andrew’s Phantom Demo (The Andrew Lloyd Webber 2026 Mix) (*)
11. Box Five (The Andrew Lloyd Webber 2026 Mix) (*)
12. Masquerade Original Demo (The Andrew Lloyd Webber 2026 Mix) (*)

Original album released as Polydor/Really Useful 831 273, 1987

(*) track not present on the original album release