In the first chapter of our new season, we descend into the roots of Shadowbrook Camp, where a forgotten museum exhales dust and memory beneath the shadow of Witchcrest Peak.
Julian Hale returns to the place he tried to forget.
Tommy Ray Harlan unearths songs passed down in whiskey and whispers.
And Madame Ruth remembers the night a young stranger stepped into her parlor…
and nothing was ever quite the same again.
The mountain listens.
The town remembers.
And some names were never meant to be buried.
Content warning: This episode contains gun violence and sexuality.
Zariya Hollow: The Ghost in the Opera House – Two Decades of Shadows and Song
My journey with Le Fantôme de l’Opéra began not with the written word, but with music. It was the mid-1990s, and I first encountered the Phantom in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical, sitting beside my grandmother, mesmerized as the chandelier swung, the organ thundered, and the Phantom’s heartbreak echoed through the theater. Not long after, I stumbled across the Wishbone adaptation, a playful but poignant introduction to Gaston Leroux’s story. These early experiences sparked a fascination that would follow me for decades.
It wasn’t until my teenage years that I delved into Leroux’s novel—reading it for the first time in German, a faithful translation that brought the story vividly to life. I was captivated not only by the Phantom’s tragic genius but by the depth of Leroux’s writing, the intricacies of his characters, and the shadowy grandeur of the Paris Opera House. The story’s layers resonated deeply, and my connection to it grew. I wrote and staged two adaptations in school, followed by a screenplay, each an earnest attempt to grapple with the story’s complexities. But these early projects were only fragments of what I longed to create.
At the heart of my journey with Phantom has been my collaboration and friendship with Josep Farkas, better known as SylentPhantom, creator of the seminal PhantomsTheater. For years, Josep has been a tireless advocate for Leroux’s legacy, dedicating seven years to meticulously translating the original novel and compiling the incredible appendix that sheds light on its historical and cultural context. His work is more than scholarship—it is an act of love, a commitment to preserving and illuminating Leroux’s masterpiece. Josep’s insights, dedication, and support have shaped my understanding of Phantom in ways I could never fully articulate. His contributions are interwoven with the very foundation of The Ghost in the Opera House.
When I began producing The Ghost in the Opera House through Zariya Hollow, it felt like the culmination of all the years I had spent living with this story. To voice Le Fantôme was both an honor and a terrifying challenge, requiring me to step into his genius, his torment, his unrelenting loneliness. Composing the score—original songs, underscoring, and arrangements of operatic selections—was a deeply personal process, an attempt to echo not only Leroux’s vision but the emotions that have drawn me to this story since I was a child.
But this series was never mine alone. It was built on collaboration, on the talents and dedication of an extraordinary cast and crew. The actors brought the characters to life with nuance and emotional truth. The sound designers and engineers constructed an immersive world that made the Opera House breathe, its echoes and whispers alive in every scene. And throughout it all, the spirit of “Le Fantôme” served as a guiding force, reminding me of the enduring power of this story and the community it continues to inspire.
After two decades of living with this tale, and years of production, the work is complete. The Ghost in the Opera House is not simply an adaptation; it is a reflection of everything Phantom has meant to me—a story of shadows and music, of love and loss, of the beauty and tragedy of being human. It is one of my proudest achievements, not because it is flawless, but because it is honest, born of passion and collaboration.
To those who listen, I hope this series resonates with you as deeply as it has with me. May it echo with the wonder, heartbreak, and beauty that first drew me to “Le Fantôme’s” world all those years ago.
Experience the full series here.
Zariya Hollow: The Ghost in the Opera House In this spine-tingling installment of Zariya Hollow, the veil between worlds grows thinner as th
In the first chapter of our new season, we descend into the roots of Shadowbrook Camp, where a forgotten museum exhales dust and memory beneath the shadow of Witchcrest Peak.
Julian Hale returns to the place he tried to forget.
Tommy Ray Harlan unearths songs passed down in whiskey and whispers.
And Madame Ruth remembers the night a young stranger stepped into her parlor…
and nothing was ever quite the same again.
The mountain listens.
The town remembers.
And some names were never meant to be buried.
Content warning: This episode contains gun violence and sexuality.
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all fans of the enigmatic world of "The Phantom of the Opera"
We are excited to present the first chapter of "Zariya Hollow - A Horror Anthology: Episode 13 - "The Ghost in The Opera House".
This project, a labor of love spanning nine years, has been made possible in collaboration with phantomstheater.weebly.com. We extend our heartfelt thanks to Phantomstheater for providing access to their translation of the original Le Gaulois newspaper publication of Gaston Leroux's "Le Fantôme de l'Opéra", along with the comprehensive appendix. Discover more and stay updated at phantomstheater.weebly.com/Zariya-Hollow.
Zariya Hollow: Season 1, Episode 13 - "The Ghost In The Opera House" (Chapter 1)
In the gripping season finale opener, "The Ghost In The Opera House," we step into the mysterious corridors of Paris's famed Opera House, led by the enigmatic voice of Gaston Leroux. His narration not only brings the grand architecture to life but also whispers of the secrets and ghostly enigmas hidden within its walls.
This episode is a defining moment in the Opera House's chronicles, capturing the significant transfer of leadership from the old directors, Messieurs Debienne and Poligny, to the new custodians, Armand Moncharmin and Firmin Richard. The handover of the small master keys isn't merely a formal procedure; it signifies the dawn of a new era, riddled with unexpected challenges and eerie tales of a phantom lurking in the shadows.
As we navigate through Leroux's vividly painted scenes, we explore the Opera House's majestic underbelly, where the new directors grapple with the daunting rumors of a spectral inhabitant. Parallel to this, in the serene town of Perros-Guirec, another story starts to unfurl, intricately linking to the opera's own enigmatic saga.
Leroux's masterful storytelling skillfully blends reality with legend, weaving a narrative that captivates and haunts in equal measure. "The Ghost In The Opera House" is more than a tale of unspoken love and ghostly presence; it's an expedition into a realm where every hidden corner and echoing note tells its own story. As the tale progresses, Leroux sets the stage for a finale that is set to be as unforgettable as the legend of the Paris Opera House itself.
Tune in to this mesmerizing journey at anchor.fm/zariyahollow/episodes/Zariya-Hollow-S1Ep13--The-Ghost-In-The-Opera-House-Chapter-1-e2dlke1.
In the first part of our enthralling season finale, "The Ghost In The Opera House," we are transported into the heart of Paris's most enigma
In the wake of Covid 19 and all the other things going on this year, this is a little Christmas present, I give to all of you.
When I was young, (a very long time ago now)
I began a Christmas tradition with my grandparents. I rigged our entire living room with little hidden tricks and effects and I would reenact A Christmas Carol as a one-person show, much like Charles Dickens himself used to do, with only the fireplace, Christmas tree, and candlelight.
Over the years I have refined and honed this performance.
I offer this, an audio performance of “A Christmas Carol” by yours truly. Merry Christmas darlings,
I’m getting rid of this particular tumblr, I am moving primarily to my Phantom one,. Would you all mind migrating and following this?
https://lot666achandelierinpieces.tumblr.com/
Gaston Leroux: Le Fantôme de l'Opéra (1964 / France Culture). Broadcast on France Culture on October 3, 1964. “Le Fantôme de l'Opéra” is a “radio film” by Jean-François Hauduroy adapted, in 1964, from the eponymous novel by Gaston Leroux written in 1910. This ghost, which haunts the basement of the Opéra Garnier, is not really a ghost. He frightens and terrifies us because he is a flesh-and-blood character. Erik, the “ghost” of the Opera, is an extraordinary character, whose role is played here by no less extraordinary an actor, Alain Cuny, Performed by: Danièle Ajoret (from the Comédie Française, Christine Daaé), Alain Cuny (Erik), René Farabet (Georges / Raoul de Chagny), Jean-Roger Caussimon (The Persian), Christian Lude (Firmin Richard, the new director), Hubert Deschamps (Armand Monchardin, the new director), Jeanne Frédérique (Madame Giry). With the assistance of René-Jacques Chauffard, Raymond Pélissier, Raymond Jourdan, Micheline Bona, Dominique Jayr, Pierre Decazes, and René Renot. Sound effects: Robert Maufras Directed by Claude Roland-Manuel
LINK: https://mega.nz/#!Wxc3haRQ!lwFRDhtsaVJKpfB-e8XanhowvqBO87qn0AiWUWR5IYc
Diahann Carroll sings a very effective With One Look, from The Canadian production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Sunset Blvd.
Carroll was a very exciting, regal Norma Desmond. She brought a unique and profound fragility to the character and her slightly ragged very powerful voice suited the score beautifully.
Taken from the rare (and out of print) 1995 original Canadian cast recording.
GLORIA SWANSON - THOSE WONDERFUL PEOPLE (Original Sunset Boulevard Musical)
Gloria Swanson reprises her role of Norma Desmond in the first musical adaptation of ‘Sunset Boulevard’. Here she performs the lead song 'Those Wonderful People (Out There In The Dark)’ on the Steve Allen Show in October 1957.
It has been a hell of a year and I am sorry I have been so inactive. My health has been kicking my ass for several months. I thankfully have a wonderful doctor who has been helping me for the past few months.
The days are getting shorter, the weather is getting cooler (in the northern hemisphere, at least), twinkle lights are popping up on trees and lamp-posts, and a tide of blue, red, and green has washed over shop displays that, just a week ago, were solid orange.
All of that to say,
♫ It’s beginning to look a lot like… Phandom Secret Santa Time! ♫
Thanks to the continued participation and support of our wonderful phan community here on tumblr, this event is now in its SIXTH YEAR! Whether you’re a newbie or have been taking part from the beginning, you guys are what makes this whole thing possible, and I appreciate every one of you! It’s always wonderful to see everyone united around something so positive, sharing in the warmth of the holiday spirit. ❆
For those who may not already be aware, or just need a refresher: the Phandom Secret Santa is an annual anonymous holiday gift exchange for Phantom of the Opera phans on tumblr. It is open to phans worldwide, and of all ages (minors, please ask your parent’s permission). Each participant (or ‘santa’) is assigned a ‘giftee’, to whom they will send nice anon asks to during the holidays, as well as a gift (whether by mail or something that can be delivered digitally); in turn, everyone also gets a santa and gift of their own! If you’re lucky, you might even end up with a new friend!
Whether or not you wish to participate in this year’s Secret Santa yourself, it would be incredibly appreciated if you could signal boost this post so that everyone sees it/has the chance to join in! (You will not be added to the participant list unless you actually submit a sign-up form.) Sign-ups close on Friday, November 23rd, at 1AM EST (the day after U.S. Thanksgiving)—but please don’t put it off and risk forgetting!
Click the read-more for complete sign-up details and rules! And let’s make this a fantastic Phandom Secret Santa 2018! ❆✧･ﾟ:･*✧･ﾟ:*
Wicked - Stuttgart/Germany – November 25, 2007 - SoundBoard Willemijn Verkaik (Elphaba), Jana Stelley (Glinda), Mark Seibert (Fiyero), Francesca Taverni (Madame Akaber), Carlo Lauber (Zauberer), Nicole Radeschnig (Nessarose), Michael Günther (Dr. Dillamonth), Stefan Stara (Moq)
Christine Daaé (onstage): He’ll always be there singing songs in my head.. He’ll always be there singing songs in my head.
Me: *Begins imagining a misty candlelight Sinatra stage and in the midst of it stands the Phantom, all of this is inside Christine’s head*
The Phantom: I’m going to take things down a little bit with one of my personal favorites.. *turns to offstage band* HIT IT!
