The Phantom of the Opera Soars to Number One in its 40th Anniversary Year

Forty years after it first captivated the world, The Phantom of the Opera has done it again. The Phantom of the Opera (The Andrew Lloyd Webber 2026 Mix) has claimed the top spot on the Official UK Compilation Album Chart, a fitting triumph in the show’s landmark anniversary year.

Returning to the original analogue master tapes recorded at Abbey Road in 1986, Andrew Lloyd Webber has remixed the Original London Cast Recording for the first time. The result lets Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman be heard with new clarity and detail. The 2026 Mix is the most complete presentation of the score ever released. It restores previously unheard material and adds three rare recordings from Andrew’s personal archive: his Phantom demo, “Box Five” and the original “Masquerade” demo.

It’s a moment that echoes history. In 1986, the Original London Cast Recording became the first British musical cast album to enter the charts at number one, and it has since sold more than 40 million copies worldwide. Four decades on, a new generation of listeners is rediscovering that score alongside those who have loved it for years.

The achievement follows a remarkable anniversary celebration, including a special gala performance at His Majesty’s Theatre on 9 October, the show’s original London home.

Whether you first heard “The Music of the Night” in 1986 or last week, thank you for keeping the music alive.

The Phantom of the Opera (The Andrew Lloyd Webber 2026 Mix) is available now on 2CD, 3LP vinyl and deluxe digital download.