Sarah Brightman sings the beauty of Christmas in Phoenix concert

Sarah Brightman was just 26 when she originated the role of Christine Daae in Andrew Lloyd Webber's blockbuster musical "The Phantom of the Opera." (Webber was her husband at the time, though the couple split in 1990.)

Nearly 40 years later, the soprano is still singing, still acting and still touring — most recently in a run of Webber's "Sunset Boulevard" musical in Australia, and in "A Christmas Symphony," her touring show that stops at Arizona Financial Theatre on Monday, Dec. 9.

We recently spoke with Brightman, who told us about the Phoenix show, what she's working on and why the music of Andrew Lloyd Webber speaks to audiences.

Phoenix New Times: What can people expect at "A Christmas Symphony"?
Sarah Brightman: You know, when I started this, I asked myself: What is it that I enjoy if I go to see a Christmas concert. And first of all, it’s very important the music you listen to, because I enjoy real variety in things. I love some classical pieces, some Christmas hits, I love all of those sort of different textures in a show. I like to be moved and I like to come out very fulfilled. So when I was going through this, I thought, what I want to put in there is a choir, because people always love choirs at Christmas. So I put a big choir. And I love an orchestra. I love Christmas bells. I love beautiful lights and things like that and I want to see a person twirling around on a round platform that looks like a snowglobe or suggests that. So that’s what really gets me. And it’s very lovely. I’ve taken it different places in the world and people really, really enjoy it.

How do you prepare for a tour like this, both musically and in terms of heading out on the road?
It’s the usual thing. I’m always working on my voice. I work two hours a day on my voice. And it’s really just getting familiar with the words, because I’ve just come off a show in Australia, a musical theater show. So it’s just getting my head back into people coming to see me rather than a character, again, which will be lovely. And getting myself into the mode of this show, which I’ve done many times.

How was your Australian run of "Sunset Boulevard"?
It was great. I had a bit of a difficult start. I caught COVID while I was in rehearsals, which really set me back. So that was quite difficult to get through. And then I hurt my leg and split the muscle in my calf, so I was out in Melbourne for about five weeks. But once I got to Sydney, everything was perfect. And performing in the Sydney Opera House was just divine. And it’s an amazing part to play. But of course, some of the music was sort of written off my voice by the composer because he composed a lot of it a long time ago. So it’s very familiar to me.

Why do you think the work of Andrew Lloyd Webber has remained popular?
His subjects are really good that he’s interested in working on. People love a good idea, a good story. They love a love story, to see conflict within human beings, all these kinds of things. He understands that. He’s very able to write music to it. I always think that people want to be moved. They want an emotional experience when they go to shows. Even "Starlight Express," which is doing very well back here in London again – that was an emotional experience because it’s about these trains and a journey and their relationships and that kind of it. It’s very textured. There’s a lot of color and meaning in them all — even in the lighter subjects, they’re all sort of deep underneath. There’s a lot for people to feast on there, I think.

What else are you working on these days?
I’ve got all sorts of ideas at the moment. I do think I need to do a new album. I’ve got three or four ideas about what that’s going to be. Once this section’s over, I’ll be getting back into that.

Is there a particular kind of music you like to sing, whether that's classical, holiday, Broadway or contemporary?
I love beautiful, atmospheric music. I love to sing that. I sing a piece by Vince Gill called “Colder Than Winter.” Beautiful piece – very atmospheric, textured. And then on the other hand I love to sing beautiful, classical music. So they’re probably my two favorite things.

"A Christmas Symphony." 7:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 9. Arizona Financial Theatre, 400 W. Washington St. Tickets start at $69.50.