GREAT PERFORMANCES: “The Phantom of the Opera”

This lavish production, staged in the sumptuous Victorian splendor of London's Royal Albert Hall, marked the 25th anniversary year of The Phantom of the Opera, a show that has been seen in 145 cities in 27 countries, played to more than 130 million people and won more than 50 major theatre awards.

PBS

To mark the 25th anniversary year of The Phantom of the Opera, Andrew Lloyd Webber and producer Cameron Mackintosh presented the musical in a lavish, fully staged production in the sumptuous Victorian splendor of the Royal Albert Hall. Audiences were invited to join the celebration, which was broadcast to theatres around the world. Stars Ramin Karimloo as The Phantom and Sierra Boggess as Christine were joined by Barry James as Monsieur Firmin, Gareth Snook as Monsieur André, Liz Robertson as Madame Giry and Wynne Evans as Piangi, together with a cast and orchestra of more than 200 including special guest appearances.

The Phantom of the Opera first opened in 1986 at Her Majesty’s Theatre and is based on the French novel Le Fantôme de l’Opéra. The show has been seen in 145 cities in 27 countries, played to more than 130 million people and won more than 50 major theatre awards, including seven Tonys and three Olivier Awards in the West End. It is currently showing in London, New York, Budapest, Las Vegas, and Kyoto. In 2006, it became Broadway’s longest-running show ever.

GREAT PERFORMANCES: The Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall, Sunday at 5:30 p.m.on PBS-HD.