The Phantom of the Opera

The Phantom of The Opera is a gothic novel, combining romance, horror, mystery and tragedy, which is, according to Leroux, based on a true story. Leroux's original 1910 novel is set in late 19th century Paris at the Opera Garnier (The Paris Opera aka The National Academy of Music), which was built between 1857 and 1874. During building it became necessary to pump underground water from the foundation pit of the building, creating a huge subterranean river. The employees claim that the opera house is haunted by a mysterious ghost who wreaks chaos and destruction when displeased. Erik, a horribly deformed musical genius known as the "Opera Ghost", uses this facade to send the managers of the Opera Garnier repeated threats of catastrophe should they not pay him a monthly salary of 20,000 francs and perpetually reserve Box Five for him at every show. This arrangement, unbroken during the many years of the manager's tenure, is abruptly terminated when two new proprietors, Armand Moncharmin and Firmin Richard, take over the opera house and refuse to give in to what they view as the empty threats, thinking that it is a practical joke by former managers.

Meanwhile, Erik has taken on a protégée, Christine Daaé. He explains to her that he is the "Angel of Music," a heavenly spirit sent by her dead father to help her, and proceeds to give her regular voice lessons through the wall of her remote dressing room. Under the tutelage of her new teacher, Christine makes rapid progress in her vocal studies and mysteriously achieves sudden prominence on stage when she is selected to replace Carlotta, who was suddenly ill that day. Christine stuns the audience with her seemingly new vocal talent when she performed selections from Faust. During the performance she faints on stage, which deeply troubles her childhood friend Raoul, Viscount de Chagny.

Erik becomes envious of Christine's relationship with Raoul and finally appears to her in person, wearing a mask to hide his features. He takes her to his dark world beneath the opera house. Christine quickly finds that there is nothing angelic about Erik; she learns with disappointment that he is "neither an angel nor a genius," only that he and the ghost are one and the same - just a man. And comes to know him as malicious, volatile, dangerous and somewhat bitter, yet also brilliant and pitiful. She is infuriated at having been deceived and demands to be set free. Erik promises to release her after five days.