Music of the Night
This is definitely one of Daddy's favourite
Performed by Russell Watson
Performed by Josh Groban
"The Music of the Night" is a song from the musical The Phantom of the Opera. It is one of the show's most famous songs and one of the most famous songs in musical theatre. The popular song has sold millions of copies worldwide and has been translated into many different languages. The music was written by Andrew Lloyd Webber and the lyrics were written by Charles Hart. The song was made famous by Michael Crawford, the actor who originated the role of the Phantom both in London and on Broadway. The Really Useful group filmed a video Starring Crawford and Brightman (who did not sing) which featured the original lyrics to the song.
It is sung after the Phantom lures Christine Daaé down to his lair beneath the Opera house. He seduces Christine with "his music" of the night. Eventually, the Phantom pulls back a curtain to reveal a life-size doll of Christine in a wedding gown, causing her to faint. The Phantom carries Christine to a bed, where he lays her down and goes on to write his music. Sarah Brightman declared at the London's Royal Albert Hall Concert in 1997 [1], that the song was originally written by Andrew Lloyd Webber for her, the first time he met her. It was later added into the Phantom of the Opera musical.
1 year before The Phantom Of The Opera even opened at Her Majesty's Theatre, the original version of the song was performed at Andrew Lloyd Webber's own theatre Sydmonton, along with the first drafts of the show. The audience were a specially gathered groups of Webber's acquaintances. The Phantom was played by Colm Wilkinson, who sang The Music Of The Night in Act One. As the lyrical assistance of Charles Hart had not yet touched the song, the lyrics were (in places) very different from the ones used in the 3 versions below.
Sarah Brightman declared at the London's Royal Albert Hall Concert in 1997 [2], that the song was originally written by Andrew Lloyd Webber for her, the first time he met her. That version had different lyrics and was called Married Man. The lyrics were later rewritten and the song was added into the Phantom of the Opera musical.
Lyrics
Nighttime sharpens, heightens each sensation
Darkness stirs and wakes imagination
Silently the senses abandon their defences
Slowly, gently, night unfurls its splendour
Grasp it, sense it, tremulous and tender
Turn your face away from the garish light of day
Turn your face away from cold, unfeeling light
And listen to the music of the night
Close you eyes and surrender to your darkest dreams
Leave all thoughts of the world you knew before
Close your eyes, let your spirit start to soar
And you'll live as you've never lived before
Softly, deftly, music shall caress you
Hear it, feel it, secretly possess you
Open up your mind, let your fantasies unwind
In this darkness which you know you cannot fight
The darkness of the music of the night
Let your mind start a journey through a strange, new world
Leave all thoughts of the world you knew before
Let your soul take you where you long to go
Only then can you belong to me
Floating, falling, sweet intoxication
Touch me, trust me, savour each sensation
Let the dream begin, let your darker side give in
To the harmony which dreams alone can write
The power of the music of the night
You alone can make my song take flight
Help me make the music of the night
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Music: Andrew Lloyd Webber.
Lyrics: Charles Hart; additional lyrics by Richard Stilgoe.
Show: "The phantom of the opera" (1986).
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