#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

[theres-music-in-you]

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

[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.

[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]

So what happens in the Italy/Spain production when the Lasso/rising up the pole doesn’t work properly in the final lair.

Well, one option is the Phantom ‘ties’ Raoul’s hands around the pole and the noose just lightly hangs around his neck (think 2004 movie, kind of).

Raoul is no longer ‘hung’ and he just has to watch (or look away) as Christine & the Phantom kiss, Phantom then just releases his ‘hands’ and removes the noose from his neck.

Very well acted tonight by Manu, Judith & Guido, especially since they went into the scene expecting it to work (the seat for Raoul came out but there was just no rise up), if you didn’t know Raoul was meant to rise then you would have thought this was normal.

It also reminded me a bit of the replica version.

[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!

[andrewlloydwebber]

What do you think of the new Italian/Spanish POTO?

I know initially I didn't care for the Italian production at all really, but I think it has grown on me with the Spain publicity, although I still wish both countries had done the replica in the native language. I still believe some of the choices are ridiculous (shirtless Final Lair Raoul, Phantom with a jet pack, suicidal All I Ask of You, unimaginative Masquerade choreography, tiny flaming chandelier, Phantom swinging back and forth like Tarzan, Firmin in drag) but some of the costumes are really beautiful in a low key way and the rotating drum set is cool and reminds me of Schikaneder, although it does seem kind of cramped. I also love the mirrored show curtain. But seriously, no wedding dress in the Final Lair? What do all these non replicas have against it??? Only the Czech, Estonian, and Bulgarian productions have any sort of costume change for this scene.