Random Phantom of the Opera Stuff

My (New) Top Ten Christines

 A little while ago, I made a top ten list for Christine actresses, but that was then and I've changed my mind since. So, since I've been listening to different Christines and finding so many I liked, I felt it be best if I make a new list. And that's what this chapter is.

 I'm going to give you my personal top ten Christines. Please understand that these are my personal favorites, and that we might not see eye-to-eye on everything.

1. Rebecca Caine: It took time, but Rebecca has become my absolute favorite Christine. She sang with a beautiful, pure, crystal-clear voice, and to me she's the perfect Christine.

2. Dale Kristien: Dale is definitely my second favorite. She performed on Broadway and in Los Angeles from 1989-1993, and is the only principal actress who actually performed all eight shows a week. Her acting was good, her voice was beautiful, she herself was gorgeous, and she and Michael Crawford are one the best Phantom/Christine duos I've ever heard.

3. Elisabeth Berg: Elisabeth was the first Swedish Christine, who premiered in the original Swedish cast in 1989. I personally think she's a little underrated, because her voice is absolutely beautiful, and perfect for Christine.

4. Sarah Brightman: I guess whether or not Sarah was a great Christine depends on who you ask. She's always been one of my favorites. I will admit her acting was not the best, but singing-wise, she's one of the best I've heard. She just seemed to sing through everything so effortlessly and with such ease, and that's why she's one of my favorites.

5. Joke de Kruijf: Joke was the original Dutch Christine back in the 1990s, and I believe she also performed in Germany and Austria at some point. She had a very sweet, charming voice that I think gave her Christine an innocent charm.

6. Maria Kesselman: Such a very underrated Christine. Maria was an understudy for the role of Christine during the show's early days in London. I don't think she was ever anything more than an understudy, which is a shame. I've heard audio of her Christine, and she had a voice that was clear, sweet, and strong.

7. Louise Fribo: Louise was the Christine of the Danish production of Love Never Dies, and is by far my favorite LND Christine. Her 'Love Never Dies' is beautiful, and her 'Beneath a Moonless Sky' duet with Bo Kristian Jensen (one of the Phantoms of the production) is my favorite.

8. Emmi Christensson: Emmi is an gorgeous Christine. She's beautiful, her singing is beautiful. She's one of the few blonde Christines I've ever seen (the only others being Renata Krassy and Barbara Fonyo, both from the Hungarian production), and I feel like the fact that she's blonde and Swedish is a bit of a tribute to the Christine in the novel, who was blonde and Swedish.

9. Elena Bahtiyarova: Elena is my favorite Russian Christine. I liked her the very first time I heard her. Her singing is beautiful, and her acting actually made Christine seem a little more mature, not as innocent as she's usually painted to be.

10. Luzia Nistler: Luzia was the Christine of the original Austrian cast, and performed in the early 1990s. Like Sarah Brightman, I don't think her acting was the best, but there's something about her voice that I just found enchanting.

That was my top ten. But there are some others I like:

Celinde Schoenmaker
Katy Treharne
Harriet Jones
Kelly Mathieson 
Lisa Vroman
Rebecca Luker
Mary Michael Patterson
Patti Coheneur
Elizabeth Welch 
Edyta Krzemien 
Renata Krassy 
Anna Maria Kaufmann 
Tamara Kotova
Rachel Anne Moore
Andrea Maho
Barbara Fonyo
Mercedesz Csampai
Claire Lyon
Emmy Rossum 
Mary D'Arcy 
Tamra Glaser
Ana Marina

 It's a lot, I know, but I think they all deserve some love.

 Now, even though I have a lot here, this isn't every Christine there is. If anyone's favorite isn't here, it's either because I didn't like them or I've never heard them before. You're very welcome to make recommendations, but if you ask questions in a rude way like 'Oh, well, why isn't so-and-so, she's the best', the only reply you'll be getting is some sarcasm from yours truly.

So, feel free to comment on your own favorites (hopefully, we'll have someone in common). And please comment if you think I should do an actual top ten chapter for Raoul, but he really does deserve some more love.