I suppose I should say something about myself here, though there´s very little to say.

I´ve been living in Spain for a good many years, and I´ve been a fan of POTO since I saw it on the Gran Via in Madrid several years ago. It´s a little different in Spanish -- first of all, "fantasma" has one more syllable than "phantom" has, so you can imagine how that changes the songs. Nonetheless, it worked, thanks to some great translation and heroic adaptation work. And some really great performers!

There was one really funny moment I should mention. When Christine fainted upon seeing the image of herself in bridal array, she hit the floor. The Spanish Phantom didn´t catch her! I suppose it wasn´t in his contract, but it seemed kind of weird. He just stood there looking at her. Tough guy!

One of the most touching moments came when the audience was leaving the theater after the musical had ended. I overheard a remark made by an elderly lady, who doubtless had lived through the civil war, rationing, and years of dictatorship. "That music gives me goosebumps," she said, and I couldn´t help thinking about how there is music so great that somehow it binds us all.