ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER RELEASES REMIXED AND REMASTERED VERSION OF THE ORIGINAL “PHANTOM OF THE OPERA” ALBUM, CELEBRATING 40 YEARS
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ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER RELEASES
REMIXED AND REMASTERED VERSION OF THE ORIGINAL
PHANTOM OF THE OPERA ALBUM
AS LONDON PRODUCTION CELEBRATES 40 YEARS
THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA (THE ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER 2026 MIX)
TO BE RELEASED ON 3LP VINYL, 2CD AND DIGITAL
DIGITAL SINGLE OF TITLE SONG RELEASED ON SEPTEMBER 18;
FULL DIGITAL ALBUM RELEASED ON OCTOBER 9
TO MARK 40th ANNIVERSARY OF THE MUSICAL;
PHYSICAL 3LP AND 2CD RELEASED ON NOVEMBER 6
PHANTOM OF THE OPERA – A COLLECTOR’S PIECE INDEED
6LP BOX SET RELEASED ON 20 NOVEMBER
INCLUDING MUSIC FROM MASQUERADE
Pre-order available now from: https://andrewlloydwebber.orcd.co/phantomoftheopera
“Mixing the album I made 40 years ago was an extraordinary experience. It was as if I had the artists in the studio with me all over again.”
Andrew Lloyd Webber
New York, NY / London, England (September 17, 2026) – To celebrate the landmark 40th anniversary of the iconic Phantom of the Opera, Andrew Lloyd Webber has rediscovered the original analogue master tapes of the 1986 Original London Cast Recording and remixed the score for the first time ever, restoring previously unreleased sections and uncovering rare material from his personal archive.
The Phantom of the Opera (The Andrew Lloyd Webber 2026 Mix) is the most complete presentation of the iconic score to ever be released and sounds more breathtaking than ever. It will be available across digital, CD and vinyl formats, with the 3LP edition restoring material cut from the original album because of running time restrictions.
The iconic title song, ‘The Phantom Of The Opera’, recorded by Sarah Brightman and Michael Crawford, launches at midnight on Friday 18 September. The digital album follows on 9 October on Phantom of the Opera‘s 40th anniversary, which will be marked with a gala celebration at His Majesty’s Theatre, London, home to the musical since its opening night. A full physical release follows, with the 3LP vinyl and 2CD on 6 November, followed by a limited edition 6LP box set on 20 November.
The 6LP limited edition vinyl box set – A Collector’s Piece Indeed – is the definitive collector’s edition for the 40th anniversary. It includes the 2026 mix along with The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack 2LP on champagne vinyl and Masquerade: The Orchestral Score on 1LP glass clear vinyl, which to date has only been available in-venue at Masquerade in New York, the immersive reimagining of Phantom of the Opera. Also in the box are a hand-numbered Robert Heindel art print (one of 2,026); replica annotated early edition scripts and sheet music from Andrew’s archive; and a fold-out replica poster of the original Broadway production complete with cast signatures.
Recorded at Abbey Road Studios in September and October 1986, the Original London Cast Recording is one of the most celebrated musical recordings of all time, capturing the original West End performances of Michael Crawford, Sarah Brightman and Steve Barton, conducted by Mike Reed. With collective sales of more than 40 million, it is one of the best-selling cast albums of all time, and was the first musical cast recording to debut at number one in the UK charts.
Forty years on, Andrew Lloyd Webber returned to those original tapes. Of the eleven original two-inch tape reels recorded at Abbey Road Studios in September and October 1986, eight survived intact and have been remixed without enhancement. The vocal and orchestral performances are presented exactly as they were captured 40 years ago. The material from the three reels lost since the original sessions has been carefully restored using an unplayed vinyl pressing of the 1986 album.
“One of the most poignant moments was hearing the late Steve Barton as Raoul. As the memories of the making of this album flooded back, I was struck by how brilliant and precise Hal Prince’s casting was. Every performance has such character. Michael Crawford’s Phantom is a masterclass in musical theatre acting through song. Sarah Brightman’s voice has a trueness and clarity combined with vulnerability that I had forgotten. I remembered the late drama critic Jack Tinker describing it as like fine porcelain. Mike Reed, the conductor, interpreted my score with an unerring understanding of tempi and with a rare combination of bravura and sensitivity. The orchestral playing is sensational.” – Andrew Lloyd Webber
The 2026 Mix features timeless favourites including ‘The Music Of The Night’, ‘Think Of Me’, ‘All I Ask Of You’ and the iconic title song, plus three bonus recordings.
Running across three vinyl discs rather than two, sections of the score cut from the original release because of running time have also been reinstated for the first time. The 2026 Mix also features three previously unheard recordings from Andrew’s own archive: a cassette demo of the Phantom title song from its earliest incarnation as a proposed stand-alone single; ‘Box Five’, the first draft of the Opera Managers’ ‘Notes’ scene, later reworked into ‘Prima Donna’ after director Hal Prince rejected the original outright; and an early demo of ‘Masquerade’ with Richard Stilgoe’s original lyrics, recorded before the rewrite that is heard in the show today.
Since Cameron Mackintosh’s original production opened in 1986, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Phantom of the Opera has become a global phenomenon, with productions playing to 160 million people in 217 cities, 52 territories and in 23 languages.
ENDS
PRODUCT INFORMATION
THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA (THE ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER 2026 MIX)
Digital Single, ‘The Phantom Of The Opera’ · Released 18 September across all streaming and download platforms.
Digital Album · Released 9 October across all streaming and download platforms.
THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA (THE ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER 2026 MIX) (3LP) · CAT NO: ALW013V · RRP £69.99 / $89.99
The complete 2026 Mix is pressed across three black vinyl LPs, with a full libretto, a personal letter from Andrew Lloyd Webber and previously unseen photography.
THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA (THE ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER 2026 MIX) (2CD) · CAT NO: ALW013CD · RRP £14.99 / $19.00
The complete 29-track 2026 Mix is presented across two CDs, with a personal letter from Andrew Lloyd Webber and previously unseen photography.
PHANTOM OF THE OPERA – A COLLECTOR’S PIECE INDEED (6LP box set) · CAT NO: ALW012B · RRP £229.99 / $299.99
Alongside the new 2026 Mix on 3LP black vinyl, it brings together two additional albums – the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack on 2LP champagne vinyl, and Masquerade: The Orchestral Score on 1LP glass clear vinyl, previously only available at Masquerade in New York. The set is completed by a hand-numbered Robert Heindel art print (one of 2,026); replica annotated early edition scripts and sheet music from Andrew’s archive; and a fold-out replica poster of the original Broadway production complete with cast signatures.
FULL TRACK LISTING
The Phantom of the Opera (The Andrew Lloyd Webber 2026 Mix):
LP 1 – Side A
- Prologue
- Overture
- Hannibal Rehearsal
- Think Of Me
- Angel Of Music
- Little Lotte / The Mirror (Angel Of Music)
LP 1 – Side B
- The Phantom Of The Opera
- I Have Brought You
- The Music Of The Night
- I Remember / Stranger Than You Dreamt It
- Magical Lasso
- Notes
LP 2 – Side A
- Prima Donna
- Il Muto
- Why Have You Brought Me Here
- All I Ask Of You
- All I Ask Of You – Reprise
- Entr’acte / Six Months Later
LP 2 – Side B
- Masquerade / Why So Silent
- Notes / Twisted Every Way
- Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again
- Wandering Child / Bravo Monsieur
LP 3 – Side A
- Don Juan Triumphant
- The Point Of No Return
- Down Once More / Track Down This Murderer
- Have You Gorged Yourself
LP 3 – Side B
- Andrew’s Phantom Demo
- Box Five
- Masquerade Original Demo
BIOGRAPHY
Andrew Lloyd Webber is the composer of some of the most successful musicals of all time including The Phantom of the Opera, School of Rock, Cats, Jesus Christ Superstar, Starlight Express and Evita.
He owns six London theatres including the iconic London Palladium and the Theatre Royal Drury Lane. All the profit made by his theatres is ploughed back into the buildings as his way of thanking the profession which has been so good to him.
He is a passionate believer in the importance of music in education and through his Foundation provides free music lessons to tens of thousands of children on both sides of the Atlantic. He also funds a wide range of scholarships which enable young performers to have graduate training in musical theatre who would otherwise not receive it.
He is one of the few to achieve “EGOT” status having won Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony Awards and is an honorary life peer. He is the first member of the British arts community to be appointed a Knight of the Most Noble Order of the Garter in its 700 year history, the highest honour that a British civilian can achieve.
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