Photo and Video Special: Original Star Michael Crawford Visits Orange County High School PHANTOM Production
This weekend, Michael Crawford
made a surprise appearance at the Huntington Beach Academy for the
Performing Arts' production of THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA in Orange
County, California. After watching the performance, Crawford appeared
on-stage and met with the students to congratulate the cast,
orchestra, crew and production team. Click
Here!
Happy Birthday Michael!
All
of us at the MCIFA are wishing Michael a very Happy Birthday (January
19th)!
New Interview - Michael Crawford talks to Jonathan Wills | ITV News
While
in Cambridge, helping to raise money for 'The Sick Children's Trust'
Michael talked to ITV News.
Here's How it Went! Michael as The Voice of God at
'A Britten Celebration' - Performance of 'Noye's Fludde'
Southwark Cathedral, Friday 15 June 2018
NOTE: THE PERFORMANCE will be BROADCAST on
BBC RADIO 3 ON 3rd JULY (check guides for exact time)
It will be available online for one month after.
A
number of M.C.I.F.A. members were in the audience on 15 June, and
shared their expericence with us. It sounds like it was a great
evening!
"Several M.C.I.F.A. members met at the beautiful 12th century Southwark Cathedral, London for the 60th anniversary of Noye's Fludde. Michael, now playing The Voice of God, originally had the role of Jaffett in the original production in 1958.
Arriving early, we had good front seats in the central nave. The performance was being recorded by the BBC Radio 3 programme. Presenter Petroc Trelawny gave an introduction, and after a brief history of the Cathedral, Benjamin Britten and the Performers, he welcomed the conductor, Martyn Brabbins. Britten also included the audience in his productions so we had to rehearse three hymns featured in Noye's Fludde. He told us off for our diction and we had to do it all again. :-)
The first half consisted of the BBC Singers performing 2 pieces of music, Sacred and Profound Hymns with medieval lyrics and Rejoice in the Lamb. Fortunately, the programmes contained the words with a modern translation. It was better sung in the Old English as the translation was rather depressing if not morbid. Nevertheless, it was superbly sung, one verse for soprano by a young boy. The smile on his face at the end was amazing.
After a 20-minute interval and another rehearsal of community singing, the orchestra, main performers and children were introduced with a resume of the plot. Michael entered from the choir stalls, dressed in white open neck shirt and black trousers, and went into the Pulpit. Sounding clear and loud he opened with the first of five vocal dialogues he had in the play (he didn't sing). When not appearing, he descended the Pulpit and sat on the steps. Using the minimum of props, the storm scene was done by a great deal of swaying, open umbrellas and music with great affect. Children wore handmade masks of the animals on their heads and seemed to thoroughly enjoy themselves.
The concert lasted just over two hours. When the music and singing had finished, we were good audience members and waited for the conductor’s signal before applauding. It seemed to go on for ages. Michael, with a large smile on his face, took his bows with everyone else. At one lull it looked as if he was going off, but was quickly brought back and the applauding went on further still. He is clearly very loved here in his home country. He happened to walk by us after the show and thanked us for coming. All in all, it was a very special evening."
"Several M.C.I.F.A. members met at the beautiful 12th century Southwark Cathedral, London for the 60th anniversary of Noye's Fludde. Michael, now playing The Voice of God, originally had the role of Jaffett in the original production in 1958.
Arriving early, we had good front seats in the central nave. The performance was being recorded by the BBC Radio 3 programme. Presenter Petroc Trelawny gave an introduction, and after a brief history of the Cathedral, Benjamin Britten and the Performers, he welcomed the conductor, Martyn Brabbins. Britten also included the audience in his productions so we had to rehearse three hymns featured in Noye's Fludde. He told us off for our diction and we had to do it all again. :-)
The first half consisted of the BBC Singers performing 2 pieces of music, Sacred and Profound Hymns with medieval lyrics and Rejoice in the Lamb. Fortunately, the programmes contained the words with a modern translation. It was better sung in the Old English as the translation was rather depressing if not morbid. Nevertheless, it was superbly sung, one verse for soprano by a young boy. The smile on his face at the end was amazing.
After a 20-minute interval and another rehearsal of community singing, the orchestra, main performers and children were introduced with a resume of the plot. Michael entered from the choir stalls, dressed in white open neck shirt and black trousers, and went into the Pulpit. Sounding clear and loud he opened with the first of five vocal dialogues he had in the play (he didn't sing). When not appearing, he descended the Pulpit and sat on the steps. Using the minimum of props, the storm scene was done by a great deal of swaying, open umbrellas and music with great affect. Children wore handmade masks of the animals on their heads and seemed to thoroughly enjoy themselves.
The concert lasted just over two hours. When the music and singing had finished, we were good audience members and waited for the conductor’s signal before applauding. It seemed to go on for ages. Michael, with a large smile on his face, took his bows with everyone else. At one lull it looked as if he was going off, but was quickly brought back and the applauding went on further still. He is clearly very loved here in his home country. He happened to walk by us after the show and thanked us for coming. All in all, it was a very special evening."
****************************************************************************
Michael to Join 'A Britten Celebration' Performance of Noye's Fludde Southwark Cathedral Friday 15 June 2018
In
celebration of the 60th anniversary of Benjamin Britten’s Noye’s
Fludde, Michael is scheduled to appear at ‘A Britten Celebration’
at Southwark Cathedral on Friday, 15 June 2018. He will have a
speaking role as the Voice of God.
Noye’s
Fludde is a one-act opera of the tale of Noah’s Ark, and is
primarily for amateur performers, particularly children. Southwark
Cathedral is where it had its first London premiere in 1958.
You can book tickets at the
following link https://www.bbc.co.uk/events/eqgwxjThis
is very exciting for Michael, since he appeared in the original
performance in 1958 playing Jeffett, the oldest of the three sons.
In
2013, Michael was part of a retrospective about Benjamin Britten. In
an interview, he said: "And, I was 14, I suppose 15 by then, and
my voice had slid down slightly, so he changed the key!" He
further added, "I've got the score still! All the dots are his -
he did all the transposition. It was very exciting to try it all
out."
Additionally,
as for Britten himself, Michael said, "He just spent any amount
of time we needed because he was a kind man. He was generous."
View
the video clip of Michael discussing Benjamin Britten below.
We
hope some of you can join Michael at this special celebration!
New Interview: Catching up with the Original Phantom, Michael Crawford as THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA Turns 30 on Broadway
To celebrate this amazing
milestone, BroadwayWorld checked in by phone with Michael Crawford,
from New Zealand. Click
Here to Read.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO A REAL GENTLEMAN - MICHAEL CRAWFORD
January 19th is a date that
Michael Crawford fans around the world celebrate! The world is a
better, more gentle place with the presence of his remarkable talent
as well as his genuine goodness and decency. We are all grateful, and
wish a Happy, HAPPY BIRTHDAY to you, Michael!!
Michael Crawford CBE presents this month’s BBC Lifeline Appeal on behalf of The Sick Children’s Trust
From the Sick Children's Trust
- Before Christmas, our President Michael Crawford CBE was filmed
spending time meeting families in our ‘Homes from Home’. They
shared their experiences of having a seriously ill child for the BBC
television appeal.
The resulting programme will be
shown on Sunday 21January at 3.15pm on BBC One.
As a charity which relies
entirely on voluntary donations, Lifeline presents an exciting
opportunity for us to raise awareness of our work and generate
essential funds to keep our ten ‘Homes from Home’ running,
supporting around 4,000 families every year.
Michael Crawford,
says: “I
have been President of The Sick Children’s Trust for over 30 years
and it remains a remarkable charity in both the simplicity of its
mission and the huge impact its work has on families and children.
“I still remember to this day
being left alone on a hospital ward as a child after I underwent
surgery to remove my tonsils. I was terrified as I waited for my
mother to collect me, a wait that felt like an eternity. The relief
when she walked through the doors and gave me a kiss and a hug was
overwhelming. That worry is a feeling I do not want any child to ever
have to endure.
“That’s why I support The
Sick Children’s Trust and remain so committed to this cause. As a
charity, we are working towards a future where every child will be
able to have their family by their side as they undergo treatment in
hospital.
“When I meet the families who
so vividly share their experiences, I am so incredibly proud of the
support The Sick Children’s Trust provides, making life just that
little bit easier for mum, dads, brothers and sisters who are facing
unimaginable distress.
“Thank you to everyone who
watches this Lifeline appeal and helps us provide such vital comfort
to so many children across the UK.”
Make sure you tune in on Sunday
21 January at 3.15pm to watch the show! You can also follow
us on twitter to
see behind the scenes details and find out more about the families
featured.
Support
our Lifeline appeal here. You
can also watch the programme online
on iplayer from Monday 22 January.
Christmas Interview with Michael
Michael
Crawford and Evan Burrell joins Lucy Dahill in the 2HHH studios to
talk about the magic of Christmas and the gift of giving. In a
time-poor and distraction-rich world your presence, your love and
your connection are the greatest gifts you can offer another.
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