Famous Musical Songs

Musical theatre is a performing art that combines music, singing, dancing, and drama. Unlike traditional opera, musicals are closer to popular culture, featuring diverse musical styles—from classical to pop—and often using modern stage technology such as lighting, sound, and special effects to enhance the performance.

Les Misérables is a popular musical based on Victor Hugo’s novel. It tells the story of Jean Valjean, a man seeking redemption, set in 19th-century France. With powerful songs and emotional storytelling, it has become one of the most famous musicals in the world.

The Sound of Music is a beloved musical about Maria, a governess who brings music and love to the seven children of a stoic naval captain in 1930s Austria. As their family unit forms and grows, they are forced to flee their homeland to escape the rising threat of the Nazis. The musical features classic songs like "My Favorite Things" and "Do-Re-Mi."

Notre-Dame de Paris is a French musical based on Victor Hugo's novel. It tells the tragic story of the love triangle between the deformed bell-ringer Quasimodo, his jealous guardian Frollo, and the beautiful Romani dancer Esmeralda in 15th-century Paris. The musical opens with its most famous song, "Le Temps des cathédrales" ("The Age of the Cathedrals"), which sets the scene by describing a new era of art and humanity.

The Phantom of the Opera is a renowned musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber, based on the classic French novel. Set in the Paris Opéra House, it tells the story of a disfigured musical genius—known as the Phantom—who haunts the opera house's catacombs. He becomes obsessed with a young soprano, Christine, whom he tutors and loves from the shadows. The musical explores their dark, romantic triangle as Christine is torn between the Phantom's possessive love and her childhood friend, Raoul.

*Wicked* is a musical that reimagines the story of *The Wizard of Oz* from the perspective of the witches. It follows the unlikely friendship between Elphaba (the future Wicked Witch of the West) and Glinda (the Good Witch), revealing how their rivalry and friendship at university ultimately shape their very different destinies. The story explores themes of good versus evil and how people are perceived versus who they truly are.