I know Weber later started adding more and more of a rock sound to the title song, but I preferred the more traditional sound for the original recording with Michael Crawford and and Sarah Brightman. I think he even later termed it a "rock opera," which I never suspected of the original. So I think he's actually been apprenticing at this for some time.
Didn't even know there was a sequel. Sometimes a story just is better without a sequel. Okay, often.