Ramin Karimloo fled with his parents from Iran to Canada, landed the lead in "The Phantom of the Opera" in Great Britain and is touring the United States behind his CD, "Human Heart," including a concert, 7:30 p.m. Sept. 12, Musikfest Cafe, Bethehem.

Let's get the geopolitical question out of the way right away.

"It's one of those things. I think it's very scary about what goes on [in Iran]. What we see is not what really goes on over there. Anyone killing for any religion is not a spokesperson for that religion," Karimloo says in a phone interview from Toronto before a Sept. 7 concert which began his tour.

In addition to Bethlehem, his tour includes stops in Chicago, Pittsburgh, New York City (B.B. King's), Atlanta and Philadelphia (World Cafe).

Karimloo may be most familiar to American music fans for his performance as the Phantom in "The Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall," telecast in March on PBS, including PBS39, for the musical's 25th anniversary,

In concert, expect to hear Karimloo sing "Music of the Night" from "The Phantom Of The Opera" and "'Til I Hear You Sing" from its sequel, "Love Never Dies," as well as songs from his CD.

"For me, the songs I sing I just like how it feels to sing these songs. I like the way people react to it. I think they're beautiful melodies. The message, if you believe in being a good person, it's there. It strikes a chord with people.

"It has to be a balance. You can't just sing a song because people like it. You have to like it, too."

On tour, Karimloo is backed by six musicians on piano, guitars, bass, drums, with himself on banjo-guitar.

He encourages the musicians to put their own twist on the songs. Karimloo says he tells them: "'I don't want you to replicate them. I want you to play them how you want to hear them.'

"No two shows are the same," he continues. "We just amp it up a bit for fun."

Karimloo wanted to become an entertainer from the moment he saw "The Phantom of the Opera" at age 12.

"I always wanted to be an actor. I didn't know the difference between music theater and acting. When I saw 'Phantom,' I just thought I want to act that role and to be able to sing, even better."

At first, he was wary of studying music too much.

"I didn't necessarily train in the beginning, but I train now more than ever.

"I've always wanted to learn my craft. I think that intuition is the way to go. Now I just want to be part of something to take me out of my comfort zone because that's the only way you're going to learn.

"Instincts can only take you so far. Technique I thought it would freeze you up. But, actually, it's the opposite."

Karimloo's raw talent landed him the role in "Phantom."

"I met a guy [agent Michael Garrett], who was brought in when I was singing theater songs. The agent looked at me. He liked what I did. He didn't guarantee me anything. I owe definitely the start and growth of my career to him."

Roles in productions of Shakespeare and a touring of "Sunset Boulevard" followed. In addition to playing The Phantom in London, Karimloo played Jean Valjean in Cameron Mackintosh's West End production of "Les Misérables." In 2010, he originated the lead role in "Love Never Dies," sequel to "Phantom of the Opera," for which he received an Olivier Award nomination.

Karimloo downplays the many superlatives for his concerts, music videos and recordings.

"Once I'm on stage, I try not to listen to myself. I don't think of myself as good. It's like Johnny Cash. I don't think he ever sat back and said, 'I'm a good singer.'

"Are you a good singer?" Karimloo asks rhetorically. "I think Joe Cocker is a good singer. Like the last note of 'You Are So Beautiful' is barely audible. But it's devastating.

"I take the pressure off of being voice-perfect."

Concerning the eclectic nature of his concerts, Karimloo observes, "On paper, it shouldn't work. How do you go from 'Coming Home' into a bluegrass song? It shouldn't work, but it does."