Today marks 40 years since Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera made its West End debut at Her Majesty’s Theatre in London on 9 October 1986, with Sarah Brightman originating the iconic role of Christine Daaé.
Written specifically for Sarah and inspired by her extraordinary vocal range, the role of Christine was created with her voice in mind. As Andrew Lloyd Webber’s muse, Sarah became the original Christine, bringing to life a character and musical score that would go on to captivate audiences around the world.
Starring alongside Michael Crawford as the Phantom and Steve Barton as Raoul, Sarah was part of the original London cast of what would become one of the most successful and longest-running musicals in theatre history.
Four decades later, The Phantom of the Opera has been seen by 160 million people across 217 cities, 52 territories and 23 languages. Its unforgettable music, spectacular staging and timeless story continue to enchant generations of audiences worldwide.
As the musical celebrates this remarkable milestone, take a look back through the archives at Sarah’s time as the original Christine Daaé, from the early rehearsals to the iconic production that began it all.