What is the phantom of the opera story about?

Answer 1

In originally written by Gaston Leroux and first published as a novel in 1909. It's a story about a man named Erik, who is a musical genius but whose face is horribly disfigured ever since his birth and because of that he has been shunned, hated and abused by the society and his mother feared and loathed him. In the original novel his face looks like a skull. And as he is also very skinny, it results him looking like a corpse. In the Andrew Lloyd Webber stage musical adaptation and the 2004 film based on it, only half of his face is deformed. Eventually he went to hiding from the world, ending up living deep underground in the cellar dungeons of the Paris Opera House and with his multi-talent genius, he has created the imago of a ghost haunting the opera house. As the ghost he makes his living by stealing and demanding from the managers his share of the profit the opera house makes.

He falls in love with a young singer, Christine Daaè and starts to coach her to become a perfect singer. He appeared to her as the Angel of Music, who her recently passed away father had promised to send her and she believed in - so he is nothing but a echoing voice in her dressing room and she keeps him secret. When Christine's childhood friend and sweetheart, vicount Raoul de Chagny suddenly appears back into her life, the Phanrom/Erik - known to Christine as the Angel of Music - becomes jealous. As the Phantom/Erik has already fallen obsessively in love with Christine and his violent and utterly lonely life has made him horribly deranged and insane, the love triangle increases into a nightmare. In the original novel he's killed before and he still kills in means to get Christine. The fact that Christine tries to escape with Raoul and engages him, doesn't help at all. In the end of the original story, he kidnaps Christine and attempts to drown Raoul and another man in a torture chamber, if Christine didn't agree to marry him.

In the Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical adaptation, she shows it by putting the engagment ring on and kissing him twice full on the lips. In the original novel, she just wears the ring and the wedding dress and he sees his living wife in her eyes. She does kiss his forehead and lets him kiss hers in the end of the original story but it's a bit later for a different reason. In both endings, her sacrifice and commitment leads to Erik/the Phantom making a redeeming act of love by letting her go with Raoul. In the original novel's end, Erik/the Phantom dies. In the Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical, he just disappears somewhere. In the ALW musical version he threatens to kill only Raoul who came alone to try and save Christine and the Phantom threatens to kill him by hanging or strangling instead of drowning.

The Andrew Lloyd Webber stage musical and the film based on it is a romanticized version of Leroux's original story which is much more of a Horror genre. But both versions have the same essence and basically the same essential characteristics for the main characters that are the same ones. The essential differences are in how deformed the Phantom's face is, and the musical has the Phantom feel sexual desire towards Christine whereas in the novel he does feel sexual toward Christine in chapter 12, he write Don Juan the Triumph in the expression of his love for her , he even tells her she will burn if he played it for her directly. In Gaston Leroux's novel it is written in sexual suppression of the Victorian age. In the musical she feels some nature of more romantic/mature love for the Phantom whereas in the novel Christine loves the Phantom only as a father figure and a teacher who taught her music, she loved his voice but she was in love with only Raoul.

Answer 2

A man lives in the catacombs of the Paris Opera house. In the book he was part of the construction of the opera. He made the catacombs so he could live in it, building an apartment across the lake that all the extra water from the pipes and whatnot leak into. He is extremely skeletal and ugly. He is childish and obsessive and alone in the world besides Daroga, who is a man who vaguely visits him. He is a police officer in... ugh, I can't remember the country. Erik (the Phantom) saved him somehow and in turn, Daroga broke Erik out of jail, and now are grudging friends.

Anyway, Erik has a beautiful voice, but wears a full mask to cover his ugly face. He becomes obsessed with Fifteen year old prima-donna Christine Daae. He taught her to sing himself through the walls of her room. He ends up falling in love with her and the story begins right about there.

Oh, Erik is also in charge of the operas. He demands money and poses as the opera ghost to get it. He knows secret passages and he knows how to throw his voice. He causes trouble for fun and also kills people in his way. He manipulates people to get the things he wants, and even visits the crowds without his mask to scare people.

Answer 3

It is about a girl called Christine who is a really good singer that lives in the opera house because her famous father died. Because of the Ballet co-ordinator Madame Jury when she was little saved a young boy from being tourtured (being abused), a man haunts the opera house that is madly in love with christine. Yet Christne meets her childhood lover, Roal (can't spell it) she falls in love with him. The Phantom trys everything to get Christine including killing people with his 'magical lasso'(hanging people), Getting a main character to leave the Opera house so Christine can be the lead role and almost killing Roal twice! Eventually The Phantom kidnappes Christine so Roal comes to save her but the Phantom make her choose between him and Roal and if she chooses Roal, Roal dies. She picks the Phantom so Roal doesn't die but the Phantom feels so much guilt he lets them go.

Answer 4

Our story begins with Opera Populaire's manager, Lefevre, leaving. His successors, Andre and Firmin, take over the opera, and bring with them their new patron, le Victome Raoul de Changy. To celebrate their new managers, the opera throws a gala, at which the leading diva refuses to perform, due to the mysterious 'Opera Ghost' who seems determined to have the screeching diva leave. Without a diva, Andre and Firmin are strong-minded to find a new leading lady, so they invoke the talents of a young, chorus-singer named Christine Daae, who has been taking lessons from a mysterious tutor. Raoul, Christine's old childhood sweetheart, who recognizes her at her triumphant gala performance, wants to bring Christine back into his life. But, suddenly, Christine's mysterious tutor reveals himself to her... Now, will Christine ask everything of Raoul or listen to the Music of the Night?

Answer 5

Here is a full synopsis for the film:

The movie starts with an auction being held in the Paris Opera House. The Opera has been shut down and they are auctioning off props to make some money. One of the items is a stuffed monkey dressed in Persian robes and playing the cymbals sitting on top of a music box. An older gentleman in a wheelchair buys the monkey and holds on to it tightly. The next item is a chandelier that was broken but has been repaired. When the chandelier is revealed, we are whisked back to 1870 ("Overture") where we see the opera house in full swing for it's performance of Hannibal by Chalemau. Rehearsals are under way when the Opera manager informs the cast and crew that he is leaving for Australia and that the Opera House is now under the command of Gilles Andre and Richard Firmin (Simon Callow and Cirian Hinds).

When they resume rehearsal, a stage prop falls on the lead diva, Carlotta (Minnie Driver). After she storms out refusing to sing, Madame Giry (Miranda Richardson), the ballet instructor, convinces the new owners to let Christine Daaé (Emmy Rossum), one of the dancers, to take Carlotta's part. After a stunning performance ("Think of Me"), Christine goes down to the small chapel under the Opera House to pray for her father who died long ago. Meg (Jennifer Ellison) one of the ballet dancers and Christine's best friend comes to find her inquiring of her singing prowess ("Angel of Music").

Later, Christine's childhood friend Raoul, the Vicomte de Changy and patron of the Opera House, comes to visit her in her dressing room. He had been in the audience and had recognized her. After inviting her to a party and leaving to prepare for the ride, Christine is locked in her room and hears singing. The Phantom (Gerard Butler) is mad at Raoul for taking credit in his work in training Christine to sing. He then lures Christine to a mirror where she sees him then follows him to his lair under the Opera House ("The Phantom of the Opera"). Once there the Phantom expresses his feelings for Christine and tries to convince her to stay with him ("Music of the Night"). Later she unmasks him and the Phantom is furious with her. Although he is raging and angry, he becomes vunerable and begins crying. He wishes he didn't have a loathsome gargoyle face ("I Remember/Stranger Than You Dreamt It"). He then returns her to the surface.

While Christine is gone, Andre and Firmin are upset because Christine has disappeared and they no longer have a lead to play in the operas. After receiving a series of notes all signed O.G. (Opera Ghost) they find out that Christine has returned and they have been instructed by the Phantom to put Christine in the lead role of the upcoming opera II Muto. They refuse and put Carlotta in the lead part after convincing her to return ("Prima Donna") and give Christine a silent role, which infuriates the Phantom. He then disables Carlotta's voice giving her the voice of a toad, which forces the Opera managers to put Christine in the lead role. While Christine is getting ready, Joseph Buquet (Kevin McNally) finds the Phantom in the rafters and after trying to escape is caught and hung from the rafters on stage in full view of everyone. This frightens Christine and she runs to the roof with Raoul pursuing her where he comforts her telling her that he loves her and will never leave her ("All I Ask of You") The Phantom overhears and is now in a state of shock because Christine loves Raoul and not him.

3 months later, we see that the Opera House is in full swing without any appearance from the Phantom since he disabled Carlotta's voice. The Opera House is holding a Masquerade to celebrate ("Masquerade"). During the Masquerade the Phantom interrupts and presents the managers with a new Opera he has written called Don Juan. He then gives them an ultimatum. Follow his instructions or bad things will happen. Christine visits the graveyard where her father is buried ("Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again"). The Phantom is also there and tries to lure her to him but Raoul arrives and fights off the Phantom in a sword battle. They then leave the Phantom there and he swears to get revenge.

The performance of Don Juan has finally come and everyone is nervous. Raoul, Andre, and Firmin are positive the Phantom will make an appearance so they set a trap. Christine is torn. She explains that she can't be a part of the trap without the Phantom taking her back. The play starts and Christine comes on stage singing. Backstage, Piangi (Victor McGuire) is getting ready for his next scene when the Phantom kills him and takes his place on stage. Christine sings with the Phantom, expressing her love for him. Raoul, who is in the audience, sadly realizes that Christine loves the Phantom ("The Point of No Return"). The Phantom then sings passionately to Christine who takes his mask off, revealing to the audience the distortion of his face. He takes her once again down to his lair, causing the opera theatre to catch on fire in the progress after bringing down the chandelier ("Down Once More/Track Down This Murderer"). The Phantom gives Christine the ring that he took from her at the masquerade ball, and asks her to stay with him. Meanwhile, Raoul gets Madame Giry to take him to the Phantom's lair. She leaves Raoul halfway through their journey, and Raoul goes the rest of the way alone. After nearly drowning, he shows up in the Phantom's lair to save Christine. The Phantom then gives Christine the difficult desicion: she can either stay with the Phantom and Raoul (who has been tied up by the Phantom) goes free, or she refuses the Phantom and Raoul dies but Christine goes free. Christine decides to stay with the Phantom and tells him that he is not alone. She kisses him passionately. At this the Phantom realizes that Christine truly loves him, but his horrible actions have ruined any chance they have together. In an act of selflessness, he frees both Christine and Raoul. Christine gives the ring back to the Phantom who sadly tells Christine that he loves her. Christine forces herself to leave with Raoul in the boat. She looks back at the Phantom sadly, knowing that she loves him. Heartbroken, the Phantom destroys the mirrors and escapes through a secret passage just before the mob shows up. Meg Giry finds only his mask.

The scene then switches back to 1919. The elderly gentleman now known to be Raoul leaves the monkey music box on Christine's grave. He looks down and sees that the Phantom has left a rose tied with a black ribbon (his trademark) and the ring that he gave to Christine: the Phantom still loves her. Raoul sadly looks at it knowing that Christine truly loved the Phantom.

Answer 6

In 1919, the Paris Opera House is holding an auction. Raoul, Vicomte de Chagny (Patrick Wilson), an elderly wheelchair-bound man, purchases a music box in a form of a monkey in Persian robes clapping cymbals when it operates. He spots a familiar figure, Madame Giry (Miranda Richardson) the former ballet mistress. Their attention is drawn to "Lot 666, a chandelier in pieces", partially restored for the auction. As the chandelier is revealed and raised to the ceiling, the film

shifts to 1870 when the opera house was in its prime.

The Phantom (Butler), a disfigured musical genius, haunts the Opera House. Tormented by his deformed face due to his memories of being abused in his youth, he hides in its catacombs. He falls in love with a young soprano, Christine Daaé (Rossum), and secretly tutors her singing. Christine believes he is the "Angel of Music", sent by her deceased father from heaven to guide her. The Phantom devotes himself to making Christine the new opera star. After he drives off the opera's current lead soprano, Carlotta Giudecelli (Driver), Christine replaces her, making herself a huge success. Raoul, Christine's childhood friend, recognises her and is very impressed. In her dressing room, Christine tells him that the Angel of Music has visited her. Raoul insists they go to dinner but she refuses, saying that the Angel would disapprove. Once Raoul leaves, The Phantom, under the guise of the Angel of Music, speaks to Christine and expresses his dislike for Raoul. Christine pleads for him to show himself and he reveals himself in her mirror and takes her to his lair. There he beseeches her to sing for him and shows a life-size doll resembling her in a wedding dress. Christine faints and The Phantom carries her to a bed.

The next morning, Christine awakens, sneaks up behind The Phantom, and out of curiosity, takes off his mask. He rages at her but later calms down, explaining that he only wants to be normal like everybody else and hopes that she'll learn to love him despite his deformity. Meanwhile, the stage hand, Joseph Buquet (McNally), scares the ballet girls by telling them tales of the Opera Ghost only to be scolded by Madame Giry. The managers Firmin and Andre (Hinds and Callow), Raoul, and Carlotta are puzzled by several notes from The Phantom whom they all accuse each other of being. Madame Giry delivers one more demanding that Christine play the lead role of the countess and Carlotta be placed in the secondary role of the mute pageboy in the next opera II Muto. The managers assure an enraged Carlotta that she will be in the lead role despite Madame Giry's warnings. The performance goes well at first, until The Phantom angrily booms out that they did not leave box 5 empty for his use as he ordered. They nervously continue with the performance until The Phantom reduces Carlotta's voice to frog-like croak. The managers apologise and promise to continue the performance in ten minutes with Christine in the lead role. Meanwhile they perform the ballet of Act III to entertain the waiting audience until The Phantom kills Buquet with The Punjab Lasso and his corpse drops from the rafters.

Christine and Raoul flee to the roof of the Opera House where she tells him about her encounter with The Phantom. Although Raoul doesn't believe her, he promises to love and protect her. The Phantom, having overheard them, is heartbroken and vows revenge on Raoul.

Three months later at the Masquerade Ball, Christine and Raoul are now engaged and The Phantom has not appeared since the performance disaster. The celebration is then interrupted when he suddenly appears. He insults the managers, Carlotta, and her lover, Piangi (McGuire). He then announces that he has written an Opera, "Don Juan Triumphant," and demands they perform it and Christine be put in the lead. Afterwards, he snatches her engagement ring from around her neck, saying she belongs to him before he vanishes down a trap door. Raoul attempts to follow him but is saved by Madame Giry. He demands she tell him about The Phantom. She reluctantly tells him he is a magician and a musical genius born with a deformed face whom she helped escape from a traveling fair where he was abused as the "devil's child" and hide in the Opera House when he was a child.

Christine, troubled, visits her father's tomb, wishing he were alive and longing for his support. Unbeknownst to her, The Phantom has taken her to the cemetery. Again under the guise of the Angel of Music, he attempts to lure her back to him. Christine easily succumbs but Raoul brings her back to reality. A vicious sword fight breaks out between the two men. Raoul is about to kill The Phantom when Christine begs him not to and they escape back to the opera. The Phantom glares after them saying: "Now, let it be war upon you BOTH!"

Raoul and the managers hatch a plan to capture The Phantom during "Don Juan Triumphant," knowing that if Christine sings, he is certain to attend. However, Christine is caught between her love for Raoul and her feelings for The Phantom and does not want to go through with the Opera because she is afraid The Phantom will capture her.

During the performance, Christine realises she is not singing with Piangi, the lead tenor, but with The Phantom. The Phantom expresses his love for her, but Christine suddenly takes off his mask and wig, reavealing his deformed face to a horrified audience. The Phantom angrily sends the chandelier plummeting down to the audience--setting the Opera House on fire--and abducts Christine by escaping down a shaft through the stage. Carlotta bursts into tears when Piangi is found dead backstage; the audience flees the Opera House and Madame Giry leads Raoul to The Phantom's lair. Raoul falls into a death trap and nearly drowns but manages to escape.

Forced to put on the wedding dress, Christine asks The Phantom if he wants to rape her but he says his face prevents him from hurting her. Christine tells him she's not afraid of his face but of his soul. Raoul arrives and begs him to let her go. The Phantom allows him entry but snares him in the Punjab Lasso. He then gives Christine a choice: if she chooses The Phantom, he will let Raoul go but Christine must stay with him; if she refuses, he will let her go but Raoul will die. Conflicted, Christine passionately kisses The Phantom. Having experienced kindness for the first time, he lets both Christine and Raoul go. They leave together in his boat but Christine shortly returns to give his ring back. He tells her he loves her and she forces herself to turn away. She and Raoul leave singing to each other. Heartbroken, The Phantom grabs a candelabra and smashes a mirror then disappears through the frame into a secret tunnel. When the mob arrives, Meg (Jennifer Ellison), Christine's friend and Madame Giry's daughter, finds only his mask as she enters the tunnel.

The scene then shifts back to 1919, the music box fades to black and white. Raoul places it on Christine's tombstone, on which he sees a red rose tied with a black ribbon (The Phantom's trademark) and also the engagement ring that the Phantom gave her indicating that he still and always will love Christine.

Answer 7

An architect and designer, a composer and magician. He's a genius who must hide his facial disfigurement behind a mask and in the catacombs beneath Paris's Opera Populaire, known as Erik/Opera Ghost/Angel of Music. His only companion is a yonge soprano named Christine Daae who is drawn to and mystified, but at the same time terrified of Erik who gives her vioice lessons. Everyone at the opera house is used to the Opera Ghost's deadly pranks when his demands are not met, but when a canopy falls on top of the opera's leading diva, Carlotta, she resigns. With no understudy, the mangers turn to Christine who at the time was no more than a chorus girl. The show makes her instantly famous, but when Christine, whom the Phantom is in love with, accepts a marriage proposal from Raoul de Changy, the Phantom's heart gets torn. His despair quickly turns to furious rage and is willing to do anything to win her back, even if it means raising the stakes to the ultimate level. This causes Christine to choose between her love for Raoul and her strange attraction to the Phantom.

Answer 8

The movie 'Phantom of the Opera' focuses on a disfigured musical genius, hiding in the Paris Opera house. He terrorizes the opera company for the benefit of his young female protegee whom he trains and loves.

Answer 9

A disfigured musical genius, hidden away in the Paris Opera House, terrorizes the opera company for the unwitting benefit of a young protégée whom he trains and loves.