Emmy Rossum picture image

Emmy Rossum

One name that pops up from time to time as a possible casting pick for Esmeralda, especially with regards to musical versions as in Notre Dame de Paris, is Emmy Rossum. Emmy Rossum is most known for her role in the 2004 movie version of The Phantom of the Opera as Christine Daae.

When I first saw the Phantom movie I really dislike it and her performance as I thought she was just weak on the vocals as well as Gerald Butler, however I have since soften on that opinion and I really don’t care. But Christine Daae is a very technically demanding role whereas Esmeralda in Notre Dame de Paris isn’t. Oh don’t get me wrong, you need a good singer but you don’t need someone who can hit that E6. So would Emmy Rossum make a good Notre Dame de Paris Esmeralda?

Emmy Rossum picture image

Emmy Rossum

Well, one thing Rossum has going against her on the looks front is her skin tone, she is pale. However I think musicals are more forgivable for skin tone. I say give her bronzer if she is the best person for the role and there is that pesky little question again. Her other looks fit into the scope of the token look for Esmeralda of Notre Dame de Paris, so she pretty good on the look front.

 

Emmy Rossum as Christine Daae from The Phantom of the Opera picture image

Emmy Rossum as Christine Daae from The Phantom of the Opera

But what about her voice? Like I said Rossum isn’t my favorite Christine Daae, to be honest I don’t have one I have a few but again not the question here. Rossum is often label as a lyric soprano which has warm full quality. Now I’m not going to pretend that I know anything about voice, I couldn’t tell you the difference between was it really means to be a Coloratura Soprano vs a Soubrette vs a Lyric Soprano. However listening to parts of Rossum’s Inside Out and Sentimental Journey I can say I prefer Rossum singing at the lower vocal register which is fine for Esmeralda. I think Rossum could sing to role perfectly well.

Emmy Rossum as Finoa from Shameless picture image

Emmy Rossum as Finoa from Shameless

But then there is acting. Post Phantom Rossum’s movie career took a little bit of a creditable hit as she appeared in some BAD movies. To be fair to Rossum, no actor in the history of humans could have acted well in Dragonball: Evolution, just pick a good actor and imagine them in that movie and they would seem bad. Rossum got some credit back as Fiona in the Showtime show Shameless which I haven’t seen but I saw her in a clip from it and she was good in it.

However like I have said Esmeralda isn’t a technically demanding role but there is some contradictions that a good Esmeralda should keep in balance as she must be sensual while maintaining innocence, she also should have be natural and celestial. Rossum’s role as Christine Daae is a good lead in to these dualities so I think Rossum could handle the role on the acting front.

Emmy Rossum picture image

Emmy Rossum

I think in the same way as I felt about Taylor Swift for the role as Fleur-de-Lys, Emmy Rossum wouldn’t be not my first choice for the role as Esmeralda but if were to happen if wouldn’t be the worst casting.
Actually I kind want Rossum to play Esmerada to Swift’s Fluer-de-Lys. Can we at least get them to sing Beau Comme le Soleil or Shining like the sun as it’s called in English? This is either a great idea or a terrible idea but I want to see it.

Anyway Yay or Nay on Emmy Rossum for Esmeralda from Notre Dame de Paris as like for a movie?

 

Disney Esmeralda and Quasimodo on the Phantom's Boat picture image

Disney Esmeralda and Quasimodo on the Phantom’s Boat

{Esmeralda}
Atop the Cathedral, He’s always there
And rings the Large Big Bells that go Ding-Dong
And do I Dance again for now I find
The Hunchback of the Notre Dame is quite Ugly

{Quasimodo}
Dance once again with me our Strange Chasse
My Tower is quite  nice in the Summer Time
And though you’re quite Shallow to see Beyond
The Hunchback of the Notre Dame is Lovely Inside

{Esmeralda}
Those who have seen your Face draw back in Fear
I’m one of those People

{Quasimodo}
It’s me they Fear

{Together}
Your Face and my Dance in one combine
The Hunchback of the Notre Dame is quite ugly

{Background Vocals}
He’s ugly,  The Hunchback of the Notre Dame

{Quasimodo}
In all you Fantasies, you always knew
You like Men on Horseback

{Esmeralda}
Like my Phoebus

{Together}
And in this Cathedral
That Scraps the Sky
The Hunchback of the Notre Dame is quite ugly

{Quasimodo}
Dance my Lady of Paris

{Esmeralda}
He’s ugly,  The Hunchback of the Notre Dame

(Dances)

{Quasimodo}
Dance, Dance
Dance for me
Dance, My lady of Paris
Dance for me

 

Revised Lyrics by Me,
I used the book as a basis for this but there is a Notre Dame de Paris reference in there, see if you can find it. Also it’s not perfect but try singing these lyrics with the tune of The Phantom Of The Opera.

(Source)
http://www.stlyrics.com/lyrics/thephantomoftheopera/phantomoftheopera.htm