Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

West End musicals

34 replies

cosmobrown · 31/03/2021 19:20

AIBU that when you go to the West End, you should expect to see and hear real musicians rather than pre recorded music? I've just heard rumours that Phantom of the Opera is cutting the orchestra down from 28 to 14 because Cameron MacIntosh thinks people don't care about the music aspect of a musical.

AIBU = you don't care about the music
AINBU = there should be live musicians

OP posts:
CloudFormations · 31/03/2021 19:21

Sacrilege! There should definitely be real musicians!

MrsCaptainJakeBallard · 31/03/2021 19:21

YANBU, it's a big part of the performance I would say!

1Morewineplease · 31/03/2021 19:21

Sounds a bit bonkers actually... what's the point then?

ElphabaTheGreen · 31/03/2021 19:25

Are you sure? Or is it a social distancing measure? Orchestra pits are cramped and maybe reducing the number of musoes down there is actually a way of getting shows up and running again, and most, if not all, back into work.

Also, bits of musicals - especially Phantom - are pre-recorded anyway. All of Christine’s screams are pre-recorded so the performer doesn’t wreck her voice. Some singers will also pre-record those high notes in the title song because doing them eight shows a week is undoable for many.

PurpleFlower1983 · 31/03/2021 19:25

This happened at Les Mis years ago, the addition of a symphonia and the orchestra cut down to 9, yet up the prices go.

PurpleFlower1983 · 31/03/2021 19:27

The original production is also being replaced by the cheaper version that was touring too.

Phantom1 · 31/03/2021 19:34

The title song in Phantom is all recorded because the performers are moving around the stage so much and the high notes at the end of the song (forgotten the name for it) are also pre-recorded to safe the performer's voice.

There was a bit if a fuss when Les Miserables did as purpleflower1983 says but Cam Mac said he would have to close it otherwise.

Phantom1 · 31/03/2021 19:34

SAVE!

Blueeyedgirl21 · 31/03/2021 19:37

That’s awful . I feel for jobbing musicians, work must be like hens teeth

A lot of weird musical super fans just go for the cast to be honest. I know a woman who used to go and see a particular actor in Phantom maybe once a week, she thought she knew him personally after a while and was a bit obsessed with him. There was a whole community who did it, and spend most of their money and free time on it.

I think it’s people like that who don’t care so much about the actual music and quality of it.

melj1213 · 31/03/2021 19:38

Are you sure? Or is it a social distancing measure? Orchestra pits are cramped and maybe reducing the number of musoes down there is actually a way of getting shows up and running again, and most, if not all, back into work

Yeah, I heard that some shows were considering using prerecorded music so that they could have less people crammed into the orchestra pit without it affecting the quality and depth of the musical sound.

With the number of orchestra members in some shows there is no way for them to socially distance and so it will be a case of some musicians physically in the orchestra pit being rounded out by a recording of the full orchestra so that the show can go ahead sooner and that people can get back to their jobs. I think I heard some shows were planning on splitting their orchestra into smaller groups so that they rotate every night so they all get to physically play some shows (and therefore get back to work and get paid) but the number of people physically in the theatre every night is reduced

DarkDarkNight · 31/03/2021 19:40

It’s quite sad for the musicians. Just a cost-cutting exercise to Cameron MacIntosh, but I think something will be lost.

Comefromaway · 31/03/2021 19:42

There will be live musicians. The band is usually cut down on tours for logistical reasons, one being space in regional theatre pits. What often happens is that parts such as violins are doubled on the keyboard (programming keyboards with Mainstage like they do in theatre pits is my son’s hobby. But it’s played live by musicians although they may be playing with a click. You often find they bring in extra musicians over and above the original scoring for the cast recording.

Sometimes it affects the sound adversely, sometimes you can’t tell. The orchestral bits in Wicked don’t sound anywhere near as full in London as on Broadway. London has never used the full orchestrations.

Comefromaway · 31/03/2021 19:43

@ElphabaTheGreen

Are you sure? Or is it a social distancing measure? Orchestra pits are cramped and maybe reducing the number of musoes down there is actually a way of getting shows up and running again, and most, if not all, back into work.

Also, bits of musicals - especially Phantom - are pre-recorded anyway. All of Christine’s screams are pre-recorded so the performer doesn’t wreck her voice. Some singers will also pre-record those high notes in the title song because doing them eight shows a week is undoable for many.

Brownie points for knowing which bit of Wicked is pre-recorded (other than the “melt”!
ElphabaTheGreen · 31/03/2021 19:52

I refuse to believe any of Wicked is pre-recorded

houselikeashed · 31/03/2021 19:55

Apparently they have reduced the size of the orchestra pit at Phantom, and put an extra row of seats in the stalls, so I don't think it is about being able to socially distance in the pit.

Original poster
Cosmobrown · 31/03/2021 19:58

So, would people be happy if the West End went to mainly pre recorded music with male 3 or 4 token 'live' musicians?
Apparently CamMac thinks if you want to hear quality live music you should go to the opera or a concert.

OP posts:
Comefromaway · 31/03/2021 20:07

@ElphabaTheGreen

I refuse to believe any of Wicked is pre-recorded
The scream when she melts is. (Each actress does it individually) and so is have another drink you dark eyed beauty.
PurpleFlower1983 · 31/03/2021 20:11

@Cosmobrown

So, would people be happy if the West End went to mainly pre recorded music with male 3 or 4 token 'live' musicians? Apparently CamMac thinks if you want to hear quality live music you should go to the opera or a concert.
Cam Mac is an arse to be fair.
houselikeashed · 31/03/2021 20:13

Cam Mac is an arse to be fair.

yes, but a very very rich arse. Angry

LIZS · 31/03/2021 20:17

Same happened with Les Mis number of tears ago,

Comefromaway · 31/03/2021 20:17

But the music isn’t pre-recorded (apart from very specific bits for specific reasons). The pre-recorded bit in Wicked I mentioned for example is done because it’s a flashback and so as not to give away a plot line).

Gingernaut · 31/03/2021 20:18

Not just the orchestra - when I went to see Phantom years ago, there were dummies in the ballroom scene - being twirled around by dancers and set up in the background to give the impression of a crowd.

PsychoSyd · 31/03/2021 20:20

It's nothing to do with Covid and everything to do with cutting costs. The fewer musicians they have, the less they're spending on professional rates. There was a huge fuss a few years ago about the National Theatre doing this for their production of War Horse.

Franksalot · 31/03/2021 20:24

I think Equity are quite strict about what parts are allowed to be pre-recorded.

The musicians don't get paid much at all so it can't be that much saving.

Queenoftheashes · 31/03/2021 20:33

Is CamMac now in charge of phantom?