Sarah Brightman

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Sarah Brightman, depending on who you ask, is best known for one of three things: playing Christine in Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera, being a classical crossover singer, or appearing in Repo! The Genetic Opera. This is a consequence of her reinventing herself enough times to rival Madonna (or perhaps David Bowie). A chronology:

The disco era. Yes, there was an era before Phantom. In her late teens, she and the British dance troupe Hot Gossip scored a hit with the song "I Lost My Heart to a Starship Trooper," which is pretty much Exactly What It Says on the Tin and an attempt to cash in on the popularity of Star Wars and similar space films that came out during this time. She released many solo singles as well.

The Musical Theatre era. Long story short, she met Andrew Lloyd Webber while soloing on his Requiem album, married him, and starred in a number of his musicals, most famously as Christine in The Phantom of the Opera -- a part written specifically for her. Much tabloid attention was had.

The early solo era. Brightman and Webber eventually divorced -- more tabloid attention was had -- and she released several now-obscure, rather uneven solo albums such as "As I Came Of Age." All this pales in comparison to:

The Frank Peterson era. Around the early '90s, Brightman heard the work of Enigma, liked it a lot, and got in touch with one member of the group, Frank Peterson. He has been her producer ever since (and was her boyfriend for much of the decade.) Her albums since then include:

  • Dive: Water-themed, unsurprisingly, and somewhat of a transition from the early solo era. Most fans consider it to be somewhat uneven.
  • Fly: A rock/electronic album, the likes of which she has never recorded since. Also contains one of her first classical crossover singles, "A Question of Honor."
  • Eden: Her first true "classical crossover" album.
  • La Luna: Like Eden, but more ethereal. Moon-themed.
  • Harem: Middle Eastern-themed and more influenced by electronic and dance music.
  • Symphony: Classical crossover again.

She's also appeared in Repo! The Genetic Opera as Blind Mag, in one of the more pronounced What the Hell, Casting Agency? in that film.


Sarah Brightman provides examples of the following tropes: