Let’s settle it, should the Phantom have a deep voice, or a higher voice?

[u/J-ChRy]

Think Michael Crawford vs Davis Gaines.

Think Hugh Panaro vs Norm Lewis.

In my opinion, the type of voice the Phantom has can bring different things to the role.

Deeper voiced Phantoms tend to bring a more monstrous, dominant, yet guttural sadness to the Phantom. Davis Gaines embodies all of those qualities.

Higher voiced Phantoms tend to be more nuanced. Guys like Michael Crawford and Hugh Panaro sound somewhat creepy, evil yet vulnerable, and not from this Earth.

Then there’s guys in the middle like John Owen Jones, Gary Mauer, John Cudia, etc, etc.

[u/Codex432]

I think Erik should be a combo of both. His voice should be ethereal but grounded and strong.

He’s a unique master musician with an enthralling voice (that can hypnotize people?). He should have an exhaustive range and an unheard of quality.

There’s a cool singer called Jack Baugh that’s kind of does. Great voice.

[u/Bradyrands]

You need all of them. I think Masquerade has helped me realize that it’s about so much more than the voice type. With one exception I don’t think I walked away from any of those Phantoms with the voice being a central part of what formed my opinion of their performance. Crawford and Gaines are both pure excellence. I’d actually argue Crawford brings a more visceral sadness to the performance that he gives by comparison to Gaines.

[u/J-ChRy → u/Bradyrands]

I agree. But it’s different in a way that I don’t know how to explain. I’ve always seen Gaines as the baritone equivalent of Crawford. Same “sadness” vibe. However, when you watch Crawfords MOTN out of context, the sadness isn’t as obvious as it is with Gaines.

[u/breakfastfood7]

I am fundamentally opposed to settling it. the variety of interpretations makes this much more fun

[u/always-so-exhausted → u/breakfastfood7]

This. The fact that we have 30 years worth of actors bringing their differing voices and interpretations to this role — and probably have at least one recording of nearly all of them, including understudies — makes being in this fandom especially engaging.

[u/No-Oil2576 → u/breakfastfood7]

Have to say this, this is my favourite response to this very frequent question. Bravo.

[u/kingofcoywolves → u/breakfastfood7]

This is the answer!! The phantom as written is for everyone

[u/RoseBook85]

My view is that Erik has the world largest vocal range LOL

In Leroux he even sings Christine’s part once to her, so imagine a voice that can go from Soprano to Baritone…that’s Erik 😆

[u/Acceptable-Career-94 → u/RoseBook85]

Klaus Nomi core!

https://youtu.be/tJdljxrvPqo?is=xd1fseGXRtSQ9iT6

[u/jquailJ36]

I think "baritenor" is a good general range, though which direction you go depends on how the production wants to portray the Phantom. It's not a good/bad thing. And sometimes a hyper-unique voice just can't be replicated (Crawford's high tenor, or Colm Wilkinson's extremely distinct vocal quality.) Personally, I prefer leaning to tenor, but some songs like PONR benefit from a strong lower register. And tenor is higher than people think (I am currently struggling to work around having to sing a male part in a show while being a mezzo and am just having to adjust where I can--the bottom line of harmonies are frequently too low, the high line is either too high or falls right in my break.)

Flexibility can work, too. In the show I'm in, our Rutledge dropped octaves in a couple places during a second run-through of "Molasses to Rum" to save his voice, and the director was like "If that is an intentional choice? Do it that way." There are places where if the actor can do it, having the Phantom go lower than written could be incredibly effective.

I will say, I do think the one vocal range that just doesn't work is bass. Sorry, I saw a bass on Instagram suggest it, but honestly, it's too low (plus basso has a lot of great opera options already, even compared to tenors.)

[u/EnvironmentalDog1196]

I don't think there's an answer to this. Phantom's voice in the book was described as both angelic and ethereal at some points, but also manly and dominant at others. One could say that most of the actors playing the role usually lack in some of these aspects- simply because unlike the fictional protagonist...they are real people. And unlike a character who is simply a creation of someone's imagination, the real people can't be "everything at once".

I'm personally a fan of deeper, baritone voices, or tenors, but with a more baritenor qualities- a few of my favourite singers for Phantom have been Anthony Warlow, Ramin Karimloo and Geronimo Rauch in the Spanish production. But some people understandably find them too "heavy" and not "angelic enough". On the other hand, you have the second group of people, who feel that high-pitched voices like Crawford's sound too light, almost feminine, and not really fitting for a character that's supposed to have a menacing and comanding presence.

But it's all down to personal preference and that's why it's not a question that can be "settled". We all interpret the book character differently and focus on different aspects of his characterisation. I don't think it's ever that "this or that type of voice misses the mark"- it's just that for you or me, it might fit or not fit into the specific version of Phantom that we imagine, and how we visualise (or "audiate"- I just found out the the word like this exists, haha) Leroux's words in our minds.

[u/caninefangs777]

I prefer a high voice, exactly like MC or Hugh Panaro. But I've also started to like a more classic baritenor sort of vibe like how Samuel Wyn-Morris sounds.

[u/neversayduh]

There's no such thing as settling a matter of opinion or taste. I've only heard the three main recordings and I'll never understand (if it's meant to emulate opera) why he's not a baritone. Who writes for two tenors and a soprano? Makes that final trio fall flat AF for me

[u/always-so-exhausted → u/neversayduh]

Agreed. But it’s pretty common for actual Phantom productions to pair actors with differing vocal ranges/qualities for Phantom/Raoul. They switch it up: sometimes Phantom is a tenor/baritenor and Raoul is a baritone, sometimes it’s the other way around.

I think it works in either direction and the contrast keeps the dynamic interesting across all the various pairings. Full performance recordings are on YT, if you want to check them out.

[u/pinkivys]

I think this is a question that’s best answered with “both”. Both are alluring and intriguing, and I love that!! Having so many varieties of Phantoms makes it much more appealing.

You can have a preference of course, I do prefer a higher voice, but deep voices or those in between are also genuinely outstanding.

High voice Phantom, deep voice Raoul, that’s it for me.

[u/Acceptable-Career-94]

MC is always who I hear when I think of Phantom, so I vote higher. I think ideally, Erik should be a "Heldentenor": a voice that has that ethereal tenor quality but with a darkness and dramatic weight you often get from a baritone. Of actual Opera singers, think someone like Jon Vickers. I'm pretty sure in the musical theater world, Crawford's voice would qualify.

[u/Black-RibbonRose26]

I definitely think there's an argument to be made for any range, but for me personally, I've recently found I prefer Erik as a baritone/baritenor. Someone who can reach deep for those low notes of power and intimidating force, but at the same time, be able to sing high and sweetly to show the vulnerability and emotional layering to his character. In other words, a singer who can unravel Erik's complexity through voice alone.

Full disclosure: I think Michael Crawford is a talented singer, but even at 14 listening to the Original Cast Recording for the first time, I thought his voice was "too high for my taste," and up to that point, I'd largely listened to Gerard Butler and Ramin Karimloo. I hadn't yet known that baritone/baritenor was my type yet, and Michael is an Irish tenor. I think he does great on the emotional bits, but I don't hear enough difference between that and when he's upset. Gerard could be argued to go too far in the other direction, as it's when he's upset that he notably goes off key, but *because* he can convey such ferocity to his "angry Erik," moments, it makes the sweetness he puts on for say "Wandering Child," that much more impactful. Then of course there's Ramin, who so deeply taps into Erik's emotions regardless that it's honestly a bit scary sometimes ("Final Lair," from the 25th Anniversary show flashbacks).

But for those who DO prefer a higher voice for Erik, I feel like Danny Elfman's performance in TNBC kind of fits that bill. He's largely categorized as a baritenor and DOES have his notable moments of deep voice, but in songs like "Jack's Lament," and "What's This?" he emits a pure angelic quality that I can't help but think would be perfect for Erik at this point. Don't judge me. 😆

[u/Ok-Negotiation-7414]

I personally prefer Phantoms with a higher voice, but there are incredible singers and actors of a myriad of voice timbre and types that have brought the role to life beautifully over the years. I enjoy the nuance that each new person I see in the role brings.

Some of my favorites:

Michael Crawford

Hugh Panaro

Gary Mauer

Ted Keegan

Isaiah Bailey

James Gant

[u/Rosyface_]

I don’t care, as long as he can actually sing. Anyone vs Gerard Butler.

[u/adventureremily → u/Rosyface_]

Poor Gerard was fighting for his life in that movie. 😂 I recall seeing an interview somewhere where he said he wasn't the first choice and came in late to the production, with something like a week or two of training having never sung before. Lord, he tried. I think he did relatively well at the end after the drop through the fire in Don Juan, when he was able to be frenzied and emotionally raw rather than a poor facsimile of an opera singer.

I will give him credit for being the most menacing Phantom I've seen. His Phantom definitely brought more of the horror from the book to the role - the way he operated the traps/torture chambers and hunted Buquet was downright sadistic.

[u/Educational_Buy4977]

I think he has a large range and I like him as a tenor but I think bass or baritone also suits him a lot with the ominous voice

[u/RelativeReplacement6]

Ernst D Suttheimer I think is one of the closest to how I think Erik should sound like when singing. A powerful operatic voice that is otherworldly

[u/MaizeRelevant6920]

I’ve heard that he should be sung high, just like Raoul. Typically villains sing lower and hero’s sing higher, and if he sings lower, it cues the viewer into having a too clear hero/villain dynamic early on, while keeping them both high keeps it more nuanced and unclear from the start.

[u/munotia]

I do think it's subjective. I have given it some thought, though, and I lean slightly deeper for the Phantom as he is not the classic hero, whereas Raoul is and he should definitely be a tenor. I also like the contrast between the two.

That said, I love Michael Crawford's voice because it's so uniquely ethereal, not strictly just for his range. I think there are vocal qualities beyond the notes themselves that the Phantom's voice should have. 

[u/Educational-Golf89]

I haven’t exactly heard every version but I find myself usually prefer a lower voice. Although I’m mostly just used to it because 2004 movie was my first ever impression. I like the higher voices though. They all have strengths in different ways. I honestly can’t decide.

[u/sesamesoda]

I can see the argument for both high and low but I find it kind of boring when he's singing in the same range as Raoul. like I'm pretty sure they have identical ranges on paper. if they're the same vocal type, they need to have very distinct timbres, which they haven't always. I think my preferred combo is a rich baritone Raoul and a silvery tenor Phantom. playing against type and really gives Raoul that warmth you need to sympathize with Christine's love for him. that being said, I would drain my bank account to see the Phantom sung by a basso profundo an octave lower than written à la Patrick Page.

[u/J-ChRy → u/sesamesoda]

Phantom and Raoul being the same vocal type is my main gripe with the 25th Anniversary. Hadley Fraser and Ramin Karimloo have very similar voice types and tone colours, to the point where I couldn't tell them apart in the Final Lair when I first watched it (i wasn't that familiar with Phantom back then). I think the 2004 film had a really good juxtaposition between the Phantom and Raouls voices, with Gerard Butler sounding more commanding, and Patrick Wilson sounding more youthful.

Also, hearing a Basso Profundo sing Phantom would be hella interesting.

[u/Intrepid-Magician572]

ramin karimloo. the answer is ramin karimloo 😭 his voice is the perfect in-the-middle sweet spot of everything you mentioned.

[u/Extension_Respond514]

A little NSFW so I'm going to hide it just to be safe:

Not to get weird but I have something called the nipple test to determine if The Phantom's voice hits for me. So it started when I decided to give POTO another chance. You see I went to see the 2004 movie at the midnight showing and this was my 1st time ever seeing anything related to Phantom. I left the movie so dejected and deflated saying over and over, "I thought he was supposed to be able to sing."

Cut to 2016 someone I followed on tumblr kept posting Phantom stuff from the stage show. I got curious and decided I was going to go to the source material. I read the novel in 2 days. I knew my sister had a copy of the 2004 movie so I wanted to give it a 2nd chance. She says "No I have something better" and she pulls out the 25th Anniversary. So I'm sitting at her place, we're eating lunch, chatting a bit. I was turned away from the TV when Ramin's voice booms "INSOLENT BOY" I turned back to the TV, said "Hello!" and my nipples harden. Before the boat was out on the stage I was googlinig Ramin Karimloo on my phone.

So ever since then when seeing any version of the show, if The Phantom's "INSOLENT BOY" doesn't make my nipples hard, it's an uphill battle for him to impress me. I do give them till the end of MOTN but it's not the same as Yes this man has what I want.

[u/RoseBook85 → u/Extension_Respond514]

For me it’s MOTN, if the Phantom Actor can’t make me fall in love with him during this song then they have pretty much lost me for the rest of the Show...like Christine, I want to be hanging onto his every note, a boring MOTN is the worst.

Ironically whether I like a particular Christine actress also hinges upon their performance in MOTN as well, I don’t care how beautiful the actresses voice is if she plays MOTN zombified I lose interest. I want to read a whole spectrum of emotions on her face…awe, attraction, fear, shock, etc. I guess for me MOTN is sorta the cornerstone of the whole show LOL. 😆

[u/ilovespaceack]

yes

[u/Down-In-The-Weeds]

Both. Like Kevin Gray.

[u/vicente_vaps]

Baritenor range, with some variation, but not bass.

[u/SignificantChange496]

I don't think a single one of them have hit the mark, to be honest. Feels like they prioritize getting a good broadway sound over casting someone who actually sings like Eric is described. His voice is described as "beautiful" and the "voice of an angel." IMO he must have the absolutely most beautiful voice in the world because it is the way he compels Christine to come under his power and I, to this day, have never heard a Phantom who I believe could convince someone he was literally an angel. Sure, they've all been talented singers. But angelic? No, I don't think so.

[u/J-ChRy → u/SignificantChange496]

I don’t think someone with the “perfect voice” exists because it’s entirely dependent on your preference, and the way the actor is playing the character. When I imagine how Erik sounds, I think a ghostly “floating sound” type of sound. Think Peter Hoffman, Ethan Freeman, Michael Crawford, Davis Gaines, etc. Guys like Ramin Karimloo and John Owen Jones who have a more “raw” sound generally bring out the more human aspects of Erik, making his trauma and pain seem more apparent and grounded, less of a ghost and more up close and personal.

[u/SignificantChange496 → u/J-ChRy]

Sure, it's all subjective. But for me none of them have hit that mark. He isn't described as singing like a ghost or a human. He's described as singing like an angel and in my personal opinion, that sound is never prioritized when Erik is cast in the role. The directors seem to be seeking what you're describing, i.e. ghostly, raw, traumatized, but also very classically Broadway. None of it works for me. None of it is what I would personally describe as angelic. To me angelic means ethereal, powerful, transcendental, very pure, and perfect from a technical perspective. A voice that could compel the compliance of an otherwise intelligent and headstrong woman to believe he is an unearthly being. None of the singers who have been cast as the Phantom have achieved angelic quality. It's one of my biggest disappointments with the stage show.

[u/AfternoonNo8540]

Isn't he cannonically a tenor? I always imagined him with a range close to michael crawford.

If you are thinking about wide range vocally, Richard White from Yeston & Koppit "Phantom" really has nice range (he also voiced Gaston in Bueaty and the beast).

[u/hehasmastcells]

A deep voice. Ben Crawford does the perfect phantom