#POTO Spain

[operafantomet]

Judith Tobella as Christine in Sitzprobe, Spain ( from her Instagram )

[marleneoftheopera]

Laura Enrech and Lara Sagastizabal's first shows as Christine and Carlotta, respectively.

[phantomchristinesuk]

Christines of the Broadway Italia/LetsGo Company productions

Trieste/Milan/Monte Carlo

Amelia Milo (Principale)

Margherita Toso (Prima Sostituta)

Martina Cenere (Seconda Sostituta)

Madrid

Talía del Val (Principal)

Judith Tobella (Alternante)

Laura Enrech (Alternante/Primera Suplente)

Naiomi Weiler Lara (Segunda Suplente)

Marina Brisa (Reemplaza a la Segunda Suplente)

Pictures from performers and productions instagrams

[corneliofuck]

I saw the Madrid production of Phantom last night (on Christmas Day)!!! It's my first time seeing a nonreplica production!😁

Principals Gerónimo Rauch and Talía del Val were out at last night's performance, and I had the pleasure of seeing understudies Fran León and Laura Enrech in the lead roles.

Laura plays a sweet sweet Christine who doesn't deserve one iota of the shit Erik puts her through. I'm rooting for her. Fran plays Erik as an absolutely pathetic little man, which is my fave interpretation. Sympathetic, with emphasis on the pathetic. They've both got magnificent, golden voices.

This production leans heavily into the "Christine contemplates suicide" angle in AIAOY, and the whole song is played as Raoul talking her off the ledge. I'm not sure it's my fave, bit it's certainly a different choice.

I love seeing different directors' and scenic designers' interpretation of the material: this one made heavy use of a turntable which catapults us between scenes and set pieces.

It's my first time seeing the show in Spanish, and this production uses a different translation than the Mexican one the 90s. I wanted to get my hands on a copy of this translation, but alas, they were not selling them at the merch booth. The translation seemed a bit...idk, literal? At times. The libretto didn't strike me as poetic as the English one. But I know translating musical theatre is an absolute monster of a task, so I won't complain. There is no translator credited in my program. 😐 (wtf.)

Anywayyy if you're in Madrid I highly recommend seeing this!!♥️💚

[theres-music-in-you]

Some peeks at Talía del Val in costume fittings for POTO Spain! Screencaps from the video posted here (x).

[ballerinadellamusica]

Hi— I'm curious to know if you have insight as to how the magic noose stage effect happens in the final lair of the Spanish production? I saw it last night and I was floored with this effect. For my life, I couldn't figure out how they did it without harming the actor— he was lifted several inches off the ground. Thanks!

Hi, Yes I do know.

There is a little seat that is on the bed post which Raoul pulls out and sits on. When the Phantom uses the noose the seat goes up making it seem like Raoul is actually being hung.

When the Phantom releases Raoul, the seat comes down with him and Raoul quickly flips it back into place so it is not seen by the audience.

It is more obvious if you sit front row on the lower level and have seen it a couple of times, it’s quite easy to miss on a first watch as they try to hide it.

It’s a very cool effect, especially since most productions Raoul is hung at floor level, it’s the first production I have watch where he is off the floor.

[wheel-of-fish]

Phantom of the Opera in Spain just announced!

[jennyfair7]

Gerónimo Rauch will be the Phantom in Madrid! (X)

[lot666achandelierinpieces]

Hi! I would love to have "El fantasma de la Opera" Madrid 2003 soundboard with Juan Carlos Barona and Teresa Barrientos. The old mega link does not work anymore. Any chance you could upload it again? Millon thanks!

Of course! It's one of my favorites!

Juan Carlos Barona, Teresa Barrientos, Armando Pita 2003; Madrid, Spain

HERE

[operafantomet]

Following up the post about the most original non-replica productions, here's a photoset on moments I thought rather original in the POTO Mediterranean production (Italy, Spain, Monaco):

Having some key scenes from the first act re-enacted - in slow-motion and in reverse from the chandelier crash and up to Hannibal - during the Overture was definitely something I have never seen before! Quite odd, yet cool and fascinating.

For quite a few mirror set designs it is obvious Christine will step through it at one point. Not here. Cause how in the world will she get up there? Ah, of course by stepping at the chair, then the dressing room table, lined up like a staircase... Cool take on it.

Whereas the First Lair was pretty conventional in staging and directing, the set design was out of this world. OK, so "only" a backdrop, but to amazing effect. Very Piranesi "imaginary prisons" look to it - and with that glowing, candle light lit organ in front. Loved it. Loved it a lot.

The Phantom swinging back and forth, like a Tarzan stuntman, during the Il Muto ballet - as a foreshadowing of poor Buquet who will swing across stage in a similar manner in a few seconds. Not my favourite take on it, but A+ for creativity.

The whole of AIAOY taking place on a narrow ledge, which made it both more restrained than usual, and a bit more intimate - with Raoul acting like Christine could really fall down (or jump for that matter) any second. So most of his singing is about trying to get her into safety, while she is utterly despairing:

The Phantom riding the crashing chandelier. Truth be told, a bit less impressive live than in photos. In photos it looks like a giant drop, but live it was more a case of a chandelier moving forward, then pyrowork. Yet... Even if it's been a part of the Phantom repertoire in movies and artwork, and even if Las Vegas had a stunt man appearing hanging from the chandelier, it was cool to actually see it done in a stage production.

Each cast member dancing with a cloaked dummy on wheels in Masquerade. Again - maybe not my favourite thing, I didn't find it super convincing. But original? OH YES.

ENDLESS LOVE FOR ANDRÉ'S FLOUNCED DRESS! And for dressing Meg Giry like a perfect bigger version of the Monkey Musical Box, with a yellow tutu:

The slow motion fighting with chairs and vocal scores in the Don Juan sitzprobe, while Christine walks slowly away with a red rose, starting on the WYWSHA intro? Fascinating.

The Phantom in giant black wings flying away during the Mausoleum scene? What even? (no, it did not make more sense live)

Then a bunch of tricks for the Final Lair, first and foremost Raoul trapped in a magical lasso hoisting him up in the air, supported by the bed frame. Originally topless (Trieste), later (Madrid) wearing a shirt. Ar'right. Then the Phantom disappearing by laying down in the bed and disappearing in the sheets when the mob enters the lair. Rather cool trick because it wasn't obvious how it was done. Alas no photos of that, but at least one of the trapped Raoul:

All in all a production full of surprises and unique moments, even if some other scenes were more or less the same or very similar as the replica version. I liked it a lot! For more thoughts and moments, you can have a look at the review I wrote here)

[marleneoftheopera]

Photos from POTO Madrid.

[phantomchristinesuk]

At Phantom Madrid they had a special event for Valentine’s Day.

Most productions would have their principal actors on for the show even if it means changing the schedule up to fit this but Madrid did not do this.

They kept to the normal schedule and allowed understudy/alternate Christine, Laura Enrech, to still perform which I feel is really nice, especially since it allows a cover to be center stage during something that is being promoted and recorded for social media.

(Laura also spoke during the curtain call in relation to the giveaway winners who came up on stage which is where these pictures/screenshots are from)

[theres-music-in-you]

First look at Judith Tobella as the alternate Christine in Spain! Photo from Talía del Val's Instagram.

[ballerinadellamusica]

A second season in Madrid!

I knew this announcement would be coming at some point as a cast member mentioned a second season to me whilst I was there.

There is also more to be announced but I imagine that will be just before or after this season closes at the end of May.

If you can get there before May 2025, I definitely recommend it, the whole cast are some of the strongest I have seen.

[britishchick09]

carlotta in the new italian poto has been the prima donna for just as long as rewrite carlotta! :o

[yamiangie]

Meg is the monkey this is going to live rent free in my head. Also look at her and her mom dancing!