Theatrical milestone: 'The Phantom of the Opera' comes to Barcelona for the first time

BarcelonaIf there is a show that can be considered the king of musicals, for almost 40 years, it is The Phantom of the OperaAndrew Lloyd Webber's production, originally premiered in 1986 in London's West End and in 1988 on Broadway, has year after year reaffirmed its throne as one of the most-seen and most-awarded musicals in history. Considered a classic of the genre, the show has been performed uninterruptedly in the United States and the United Kingdom for over 30 years, but until now, no one had ever brought it to Catalonia in its entirety. The first to do so is the production company Lets Go, in a project spearheaded by Antonio Banderas, performed in Spanish and already on the bill for the last two years in Madrid. It will now run at the Tívoli Theatre in Barcelona from September 23rd to February 1st of next year.

The musical is based on the novel of the same name by Frenchman Gaston Leroux, published in 1911, and of which Adesiara has just published a Catalan edition with a translation by Anna-Maria Corredor. The Phantom of the Opera, set in the 19th century, tells the story of a disfigured genius's obsession with a soprano, a dark and terrifying story that takes place between stages and catacombs. Ana San Martín and Daniel Diges play the protagonists in a version that maintains the musical's score but has revamped its staging to adapt it to the Tivoli and the theaters in Spain where the tour will take place. In fact, the project arose from the impossibility of finding a theater in Madrid that, due to its size, could host the original version of the musical. "Antonio Banderas and I proposed this adaptation to Lloyd Weber, who accepted. Now we have the original version for all Spanish-speaking territories. In November, we will premiere it in Mexico and then we will also tour Latin America," explains Iñaki Fernández, executive producer of Let's Go.

The show is directed by Federico Bellone, who has worked to offer a more modern version. "The set is completely new, and we've incorporated many magic effects, surprises, and quick scene changes. It's a huge production, but very compact so it can be performed in theaters," says Fernández. The production retains a large part of the Madrid cast and the 15 live musicians, led by Miquel Tejada, installed in a pit "where a lot will happen."

Bringing the characters closer

One of the elements that also differs from the original version of the musical, according to the actors, is their approach to portraying the characters. "It's a period story, but we've made an effort to bring them closer to the present day while remaining respectful of the material," emphasizes Ana San Martín. Diges adds that their work "is less static than in more classic versions" and seeks "a less rigid, more realistic performance."

For both actors, The Phantom of the Opera It had been a proposal they had long desired. "I'd always had the beautiful obsession of being able to play Christine. It's an immense honor to now bring it to Barcelona," says the actress, who has also starred in Catalan films. High School Musical (2009) and Sea and sky (2014). "It's the character I've always wanted to play, I immediately understood it and made it my own," says Diges, who also starred in High School Musical at the Tivoli.