The Phantom of the Opera (Le Fantôme de l’Opéra), by French writer Gaston Leroux, was first published as a novel in 1910. It was based on the belief that the Palais Garnie opera house in Paris, France, was haunted by a ghost. Leroux was convinced that the Phantom was real and even includes research to prove the truth of the ghost in the prologue to his book—a claim which he upheld throughout his life, until his death in 1927.

In 1986, The Phantom of the Opera opened in London’s West End, followed by a 1988 Broadway release. Phantom has become the second-longest-running West End musical behind Les Misérables. Broadway critics gave the musical mostly positive reviews, and it has become the longest-running show in Broadway history, surpassing Cats in 2006. The music was composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber, with lyrics by Charles Hart and Richard Stilgoe.

During the Halloween season of 2018, GENTRI teamed up with principal Tabernacle organist Richard Elliott to create an unforgettable medley from The Phantom of the Opera. The eerily beautiful video was filmed at Cathedral Church of St. Mark in Salt Lake City, Utah, and highlights the individual and collective voices of GENTRI as well as the organ wizardry of Richard Elliott.

Elliott has been performing as a Tabernacle organist since 1991, and his organ solos have become synonymous with The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square’s Christmas concerts. Prior to his video, Elliott starred in his own Halloween video for Johann Sebastian Bach’s Toccata in D Minor.

According to gentrimusic.com, “GENTRI, which is short for ‘The Gentlemen Trio’ was established in June 2014 and is comprised of three dynamic tenors: Brad Robins, Casey Elliott, and Bradley Quinn Lever. Pioneering a signature sound they call ‘Cinematic Pop,’ the music of GENTRI is transfused with lush, epic orchestrations and rich, dynamic three-part harmonies all composed by the group’s producer Stephen Nelson.”

In 2016, GENTRI appeared on the Choir’s weekly broadcast of Music & the Spoken Word, performing “Guide Me to Thee,” “Let There Be Peace on Earth,” and “Home.” Watch the full episode »

Watch GENTRI featuring Richard Elliott performing a medley from The Phantom of the Opera above.