Phantom of the Opera has featured many of the greatest vocalists in the business over the years, and Michael Ball and Sarah Brightman singing “All I Ask of You” is proof of that. The pair sang the operatic pop classic at The Royal Albert Hall Celebration for Andrew Lloyd Webber, with both displaying plenty of vocal firepower. Brightman is the quintessential Christine Daaé, and she leaves no doubt about that here, with her soprano vocals sounding both dynamic and beautifully delicate.
Ball, who plays Raoul, matches her note for note and his baritone sounds like honey over thunder. The duo also shows off their acting chops, leaning into the romantic theme and sharing a pair of kisses at the end of the performance. Ball and Brightman’s “All I Ask of You” is the most popular live performance on the official Phantom of the Opera YouTube channel, with 6.6 million views and counting.
Fans couldn’t get enough of the pair singing together, adding positive comments such as “Sarah Brightman’s voice kills me every time I hear it. Nothing but love” and “Michael Ball’s voice is perfection. So tender, it’s like a caress. So powerful, it gives you chills. Especially as Raoul. Perfection!”
The Royal Albert Hall Celebration was held back in 1998, but Brightman returned to the same venue in 2011 for the 25th anniversary celebration of The Phantom of the Opera. She always delivers 100% anytime she hits the stage, which can be seen on her rendition of “The Phantom of the Opera” and “The Music of the Night” at the anniversary show. This performance was notable for featuring four legendary Phantoms from over the years.
Critics often cite “All I Ask of You” as one of the musical highlights from The Phantom of the Opera. The lyrics find the characters Christine Daaé and Viscount Raoul de Chagny professing their love for one another and planning their future together. The original 1986 single release was performed by Brightman and Cliff Richard, although Steve Barton performed Raoul’s part on the original theatre run in 1986.
“All I Ask of You” was one of several hit singles from The Phantom of the Opera soundtrack, and the 1986 single went to number three in the UK, eventually being certified Silver, as well as hitting the top spot on the Irish and South African national charts.
The music for “All I Ask of You” was written by Andrew Lloyd Webber, with Charles Hart and Richard Stilgoe providing the lyrics. However, a dispute about the origin of the music later landed Webber in the courtroom.
The estate of Italian composer Giacomo Puccini sued Webber in the early 2000s over the latter’s song “The Music of the Night”, which is featured in The Phantom of the Opera, and shares a melody also used in “All I Ask of You”. Puccini’s estate alleged the melody took inspiration from “Quello che tacete” from the composer’s 1910 opera La fanciulla del West. The two parties subsequently settled out of court soon after the lawsuit was reported on.