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To mark 40 years of The Phantom of the Opera, Andrew Lloyd Webber has returned to the original 1986 master tapes to create a brand new remix of the iconic score, restoring previously unreleased material from his personal archive.

The Phantom of the Opera celebrates it’s landmark 40th anniversary this year, and to celebrate, Andrew Lloyd Webber is going into his archive. The composer behind hits like Phantom, Cats, and Jesus Christ Superstar has rediscovered the original analogue master tapes of the 1986 Original London Cast Recording and remixed the score for the first time ever, restoring previously unreleased sections and uncovering rare material from his personal archive.

Andrew Lloyd Webber shared his thoughts on the recordings, saying:

‘One of the most poignant moments was hearing the late Steve Barton as Raoul. As the memories of the making of this album flooded back, I was struck by how brilliant and precise Hal Prince’s casting was. Every performance has such character. Michael Crawford’s Phantom is a masterclass in musical theatre acting through song. Sarah Brightman’s voice has a trueness and clarity combined with vulnerability that I had forgotten. I remembered the late drama critic Jack Tinker describing it as like fine porcelain. Mike Reed, the conductor, interpreted my score with an unerring understanding of tempi and with a rare combination of bravura and sensitivity. The orchestral playing is sensational.’

Recorded at Abbey Road Studios in September and October 1986, the Original London Cast Recording is one of the most celebrated musical recordings of all time, capturing the original West End performances of Michael Crawford, Sarah Brightman and Steve Barton, conducted by Mike Reed.

With collective sales of more than 40 million, it remains one of the best-selling cast albums ever, and was the first musical cast recording to debut at number one in the UK charts.

Watch: Andrew Lloyd Webber announces special 40th Anniversary Phantom of the Opera release

A platinum edition for superfans

The definitive collector’s edition included in the anniversary releaes is the 6LP limited edition vinyl box set, A Collector’s Piece Indeed. It includes the 2026 mix alongside the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack on champagne vinyl and Masquerade: The Orchestral Score on glass-clear vinyl, previously only available in-venue at Masquerade in New York.

The box also includes a hand-numbered Robert Heindel art print, one of 2,026; replica annotated early edition scripts and sheet music from Lloyd Webber’s archive; and a fold-out replica poster of the original Broadway production complete with cast signatures.

The 2026 Mix features timeless favourites including ‘”‘The Music of the Night,’ ‘Think of Me,’ ‘All I Ask of You’ and, of course, the iconic title song, alongside three bonus recordings previously unheard outside Lloyd Webber’s personal archive: a cassette demo of the Phantom title song from its earliest incarnation as a proposed standalone single; ‘Box Five,’ the first draft of the Opera Managers’ ‘Notes’ scene, later reworked into ‘Prima Donna’ after Hal Prince rejected the original outright; and an early demo of ‘Masquerade’ featuring Richard Stilgoe’s original lyrics, recorded before the rewrite heard in the show today.

See the show, now in its 40th year

  • Venue: His Majesty’s Theatre
  • Booking dates: until 13 March 2027
  • Running time: 2 hours 30 minutes (including interval)
  • Age guidelines: 10+. Under 5s will not be admitted. Parental guidance advised.

The Phantom of the Opera

His Majesty's Theatre, London

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The Phantom of the Opera
Main photo: Phantom of the Opera 40th Anniversary Release

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