Had to book to see Anna as Christine of course, heard her debut and was absolutely blown away by how amazing she sounded right off the bat!
I was sat in the dress circle for weds evening as I normally am and was a fantastic show as always, Joanna Ampil again really becoming a stellar carlotta! Was lucky enough to have the glorious Victoria Ward on for Madame Giry always love a Victoria show! Ensemble sounding incredibly strong.
James was on for phantom and I’ve saw him 20 times now and have to admit there have been some performances where I’ve just not found him very interesting but wow he was on fire! A fantastic music of the night and final lair really really loved him on both nights!
Anna was BREATHTAKING she looked gorgeous! And then the vocals which were just absolutely beyond words. She’s a good dancer which is nice to see in Hannibal! Her following along with Carlotta during think of me was a great touch.
Think of me was beautiful no notes, Anna’s were phenomenal however!
Her and Millie’s chemistry as Meg and Christine was so lovely in the dressing room scene.
Title song was brilliant, cadenza was gorg especially the high E
Her acting in music of the night was highlight she was so responsive to James and her facial expressions were fantastic.
Rooftop was amazing and her chemistry with Ashley was brilliant, lovely all I ask of you especially front row the orchestrations were so lush it actually made me a little bit emotional for a song I’m not that bothered for.
Twisted every way she really let it rip and I was blown away!
Her following behind Madame giry as the company leave the stage from Don Juan rehearsal into journey to the graveyard broke my heart.
Wishing was absolutely spectacular so powerful and moving.
Point of no return was soooooo sensual and tense, James and Anna were so good in this scene.
A PHENOMENAL final lair Anna really held her own, James was so refreshing as I feel Dean doesn’t shine in this scene specifically unfortunately but an exhilarating end to the 2 shows I saw.
Overall a stunning 2 shows seeing Anna I hope to be back before she finishes up!
These are the images that have not been published online from what I can tell or are slightly different angles to the online/theatre images.
Other pictures featured in the brochure are the boat, Music of the Night and Rooftop images but these look like the same pictures as online (possibly with slightly different editing.
This brochure is currently on sale at Phantom London so if you visit there you will likely buy this one.
Pictures: Phantom of the Opera brochure published April 2026, photos taken by Johan Persson
No-one asked for this, but I'm going to post it anyway.
Here are my thoughts on Anna Zavelson's first show as Christine Daae on 18th May 2026.
- Firstly, what a voice!! Anna can really sing, she reminded me a lot of the Broadway Christines, which I guess makes sense. It was quite funny at the start of Christine's Think of Me, because you can tell what a fantastic voice she has, even when shes trying to hide it.
- There were lots of cute little acting choices during Hannibal - like Anna looking back at Meg when she asks "Christine, what's the matter?" and then jumping and looking forward when Mdm Giry bangs her cane and tells her to concentrate and flinching when Meg first starts shouting about her catchphrase about the Phantom.
- She's also really smiley as she gets prepared for her debut during the transition in Think of Me, and she's a very cute Elissa.
- Anna does a lot of acting with her eyes and face - I'd recommend using the opera glasses to watch her if you're sitting further from the stage. She also acts a lot through her voice, which is nice for audios.
- This might just have been me, but during her high notes at the end of the title song, she genuinely looked like she couldn't control her voice and had no idea how she was singing like that. Like there was this kind of panicked, shocked look and I was all there for it.
- In MOTN there are times when she almost looks like she's in pain, like shes caught between the pleasure and pain of the music.
- When the Phantom sings that she should "turn your thoughts from the world you knew before" she does this quick spin to look at him, shocked that he would ask such a thing.
- Also not about Anna, but Ashley!Raoul is always so pissed off in Notes and I am here for it.
- Why are all the current Christines so good at playing Serafimo? It was never a part of the show I cared about that much, but honestly I can't stop watching it now - its just so good how Christi e goes from all cute and playful to absolutely terrified after the Phantom makes himself known.
- The rooftop was sooo good - her voice when she sings about his face and his eyes, my poor heart. And she is a very enthusiastic kisser - she really went for it after Raouls initial tentative kiss, hands in his hair, everything.
- Also she jumps/flinches when Raoul calls her name after they've been searching for the Phantom. Such a nice little character moment.
- And because I'm a sucker for Raoul/Christine cuteness, she buries her head against his chest when he holds her during the rooftop. But, I just want a hand kiss at some point during the scene, is that too much to ask!?
- Also have I mentioned she is a beautiful Christine. Although where are my luxurious curls?
- Triton girl is back!
- Also, not sure if this is normal and I've just never noticed it - but Meg is willing to throw hands when the Phantom beckons Christine over in Why So Silent, like she shouts "no" and has to be held back by her mother. I am in love.
- Anna looked like she was having so much fun dancing in Masquerade and her poofy skirt was gorgeous (at least by new UK star Princess dress standards)
- Christine stumbling as she walked over to the desk in Notes II (possibly a mistake rather than a choice) and then mouthing "no" over and over as Piangi and Carlotta corner her in Notes II.
- Anna looks so despondent in the sitzprobe scene. Then as everyone walks off, she faces Mdm Giry who can't quite meet her eyes and then Anna follows her across the stage as she walks off stage - which I found quite haunting. I don't think that's normal blocking, although my memory isn't always great about these things
- Oh god. Her WYWSHA made me cry. Her acting, the grief just rolled off her in waves as did the adoration for her poor father. And that voice!
- Little costume note about Anna's Aminta dress - it has very bright red lacing on the bodice and big red roses on the apron. It's beautiful.
- In the final lair she flinched when he sing-shouts "Pity comes too late"
- Christine looked so sorry after unmasking the Phantom before he pulls her off stage.
- Ashley jumped!!! I haven't seen hum jump since Lily's last show.
- She looks so sad when Raoul is in the noose - she keeps holding his face and then putting her head to his chest as if crying - my poor heart
- Anna stroked the Phantom's hair during the kiss and she was crying as she hugged him
- Also did I mention that Victoria was back on as Mdm Giry. What a queen.
- After the kiss, Christine is looking for a way to escape but turns when the Phantom keeps singing, telling her and Raoul to leave. Like Beatrice she does shoo Raoul away and walks towards the Phantom, but doesn't get quite as close as Beatrice did during her run. When she comes to give the ring back, she holds his hand for a long while but eventually pulls away and sobs as she runs back to Raoul.
- Initially she faces forward as Raoul steers them away on the boat, but about half way across she turns and looks to the Phantom.
Keeping my fingers crossed that Colleen stays with phantom a bit longer, not that I’ve heard anything I just really want to see her more cause she’s one of the best Christine portrayals I’ve ever seen
In honour of Beatrice's final show yesterday, I thought I'd share one of my audios from her recent run at His Majesty's. She quickly became one of my favourite Christines - she's a fantastic performer and I think every Phantom fan should get a chance to hear her.
Please enjoy this audio. It's not the best quality, but it's something. Also let me know if there's any issues with the link - I've not used mega before.
I'd be grateful if you didn't share outside of tumblr and please don't trade, just gift it on.
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The Phantom of the Opera - 22/04/2026 - Dean Chisnall, Beatrice Penny-Toure, Ashley Gilmour
