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The Phantom of the Opera (in French, Le Fantôme de l'Opéra) is a French novel by Gaston Leroux. It was first published as a serialization in Le Gaulois from September 23, 1909 to January 8, 1910. Initially, the novel sold very poorly and was even out of print several times during the twentieth century. Today, it is considered to be a classic of French literature, though it is overshadowed by its many subsequent adaptations.
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Quotations
For pity's sake, Christine, say no! Don't throw your life away for my sake!
Finale
Here in this room, he calls me softly - somewhere inside, hiding... Somehow I know he's always with me, he the unseen genius!
"Angel of music"
Let me be your shelter, let me be your light! You're safe - no one will find you. Your fears are far behind you!
All I Ask of You
Masquerade, paper faces on parade! Masquerade- Hide your face so the world will never find you.
Finale
No more memories, no more silent tears. No more gazing across the wasted years... Help me say goodbye.
Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again
The Angel sees, the Angel knows.
"Notes / Prima Donna"
Encyclopedia
The Phantom of the Opera (in French, Le Fantôme de l'Opéra) is a French novel by Gaston Leroux. It was first published as a serialization in Le Gaulois from September 23, 1909 to January 8, 1910. Initially, the novel sold very poorly and was even out of print several times during the twentieth century. Today, it is considered to be a classic of French literature, though it is overshadowed by its many subsequent adaptations. The novel was translated into English in 1911. It has since been adapted many times into film and stage productions, the most notable of which were the 1925 film depiction and Andrew Lloyd Webber's 1986 musical. The Phantom of the Opera musical is now the longest running Broadway show in history, and the most lucrative entertainment enterprise of all time, its worldwide box office over the past 20 years has outgrossed even the former highest grossing film in history, 1997's Titanic.
Plot summary
The Phantom of the Opera is a gothic novel, combining romance, horror, mystery and tragedy, which is, according to the author, based on a true story.
Leroux's original 1910 novel is set in late 19th-century Paris at the Opéra Garnier, which was built between 1857 and 1874. During construction 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. Joseph Buquet, the lead scene shifter of the opera house, continually tells stories of how he has seen the "Opera Ghost" (which was partially a trick played on him by other opera house workers) to the ballet girls who are very frightened of this "so-called" ghost who haunts the opera. Joseph Buquet goes on later to say that "The ghost had Death's head", and changes his story to say that "The ghost had a head of fire, but with no body attached to it", but later described the body as being "a dress suit that covered a skeleton", and later in the chapter "Is it the Ghost?". Joseph Buquet dies a mysterious death, which the opera ballet girls immediately blame on the opera ghost. "The Opera Ghost", is actually a horribly deformed musical genius named Erik. He uses the "Ghost" façade to send the managers of the Opéra 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 managers' 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 empty threats, thinking that it is a practical joke by former manager.
Meanwhile, Erik has taken on a protégé, Christine Daae. 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 performs selections from Faust. During the performance she faints on stage, which deeply troubles her good childhood friend Raoul, Vicomte 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. She 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. After some awkward moments (dining by herself while he watches, being shown his room which looks like a death chamber, his bed a coffin), Erik and Christine eventually begin a duet from Othello, and Christine rips off his mask, dying of curiosity. "If I live to be one hundred, I should always hear that superhuman cry of grief and rage which he uttered before that terrible sight reached my eyes", Christine later tells Raoul. Erik is furious at having his deformity exposed to someone who, he thinks, could love him. He threatens to keep her in his home forever, but later changes his mind. Christine is released, but only after promising to return by her own will and swearing never to give her love to anyone else. Christine returns several times out of pity and fear.
However, Erik isn't the only one with an envious nature. After Christine's debut performance, Raoul overhears her succumbing to a tyrannical, yet supernaturally beautiful, disembodied voice in her dressing room (Erik). He becomes suspicious that another man is taking advantage of her innocent belief in an "Angel of Music" in order to seduce her. He starts spying on her in an attempt to find the mysterious seducer. Christine suddenly becomes aware of this and is very angry but, after Erik reveals himself to be the Ghost (and after Raoul's threat of leaving Paris on a suicidal polar expedition), she decides to tell Raoul, on the roof of the Opera Garnier, everything that has happened between her and Erik. The two of them plan to run away from Paris and the "horror of Erik".
Erik eavesdrops on their conversation, and comes up with another one of his ingenious plans of action. He abducts Christine from the stage during her final performance at the Opéra Garnier as Marguerite in Gounod's Faust, at the point where Christine, as Marguerite, is appealing to the angels to carry her soul to heaven (the aria is best known as "Anges purs, anges radieux"). Raoul follows them down into the depths of the cavern beneath the opera house, and is guided to Erik's house by a character known as the Persian. Unfortunately for both of them, the route they take to Erik's house leads instead to a torture chamber (a catoptric cistula), where they are captured by Erik. Raoul and the Persian listen helplessly as Erik rages at Christine, accusing her of lying to him and betraying him. He threatens that should Christine not marry him, he will destroy the Opera Garnier. Christine, already on the brink of suicide, sadly accepts his proposal at 11pm the next night, Erik's "deadline".
Eventually, Christine shows Erik genuine sympathy and displays her love for him by being kind to him despite his extreme ugliness, not running away when he takes off his mask, and even kisses him on the forehead. This grants Erik a happiness he never thought possible. In despair, Erik releases Raoul and Christine and gives them his blessings to marry. He asks only that Christine come back after his death, and bury him with the ring he gave her. Erik dies three weeks after he lets Christine and Raoul go.
Right before his death, Erik delivers a dramatic monologue expressing his grief, in which he describes how Christine was the only woman to let him kiss her, his brief euphoria when she kissed him, his despair at having the love of his life betrothed to another, and his gratitude to the Persian daroga (Persian for "chief of police"), who once saved his life.
Characters
- Erik — The deformed man (believed to be a ghost), who lives in the catacombs of the opera house and love interest.
- Christine Daae — A young, Swedish soprano.
- Raoul, Viscount de Chagny — Christine's childhood friend and love interest.
- The Persian — A mysterious man from Erik's past.
- Count Philippe de Chagny — Raoul's elder brother.
- Moncharmin and Richard — The managers of the opera house.
- Madame Giry — Erik's loyal box-keeper.
- Meg Giry — Madame Giry's only daughter, a ballet girl.
- Carlotta — The spoiled prima donna.
- Joseph Buquet — The chief scene-shifter.
- Debienne and Poligny — The previous managers of the opera house.
- La Sorelli — The lead ballet dancer.
- Little Jammes — A friend of Meg, also a ballet girl.
- Remy — The manager's secretary.
- Mercier — The acting-manager.
- Gabriel — The superstitous chorus-master.
- Mme. la Baronne de Castelot-Barbezac — Meg as an adult.
- Mifroid — The commissary of police called in for Christine's disappearance.
Illustrations
- The original French book publication of 1910 was illustrated with five oil paintings by André Castaigne. The paintings served as an inspiration for the 1925 film, and have appeared in many subsequent reprintings and translations.
An adaptation by Shannon Donnelly was illustrated by Robert Schoolcraft.
An adaptation of the French original by Kate McMullan was illustrated by Paul Jennis.
The Essential Phantom of the Opera translated and annotated by Leonard Wolf was illustrated by Max Douglas.
An adaptation by Doris Dickens was illustrated by Wayne Anderson.
An adaptation by Peter F. Neumeyer was illustrated by Don Weller.
A Leather-Bound Collectors Edition translation by Alexander Teixeira de Mattos published after the success of Webber's was illustrated by Rick Daskam.
Greg Hildebrandt's illustrated version was published by Unicorn Publishing House.
Rachel Perkins's illustrations were published in the 2007 Barnes & Noble Classics edition.
A children's adaptation by Jenny Dooley was illustrated by Nathan.
1987 The Complete Phantom of the Opera written by George Perry and published in 1987, covered the opera house, the original Phantom, the author Gaston Leroux, many of the film versions, Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical version, and included the libretto (the complete script) for the Lloyd Webber's musical version with photos and illustrations from the films and the musical (c. 1986).
In 2004, the Portuguese newspaper "Público" sold a version of "The Phantom of the Opera" (under the Portuguese name of "O Fantasma da Ópera") illustrated by Isabel Alves.
Editions of the original novel
- 1911 The Phantom of the Opera (1911 translation) translated by Alexander Teixeira de Mattos. Published by Bobbs-Merrill (America) and Mills and Boon (Britain). Contains 5 color plates by André Castaigne. Hard cover.
- 1926 Operaens Hemmelighed translated into Norwegian/Danish by Anna Høyer. Published by V. Pios Boghandel (Norway) - Povl Branner (Denmark). Front cover with Norman Kerry and Marry Philiben from the motion picture from 1925 with Lon Chaney on the cover with red background. No illustrations. Hard Cover.
- 1943 The Phantom of the Opera translated by Alexander Teixeira de Mattos. Published by Dell Publishing.
- 1970 Fantóm Opery translated into Czech by J.V. Svoboda. Published by Ivo Železný.
- 1974 Phantom of the Paradise rock version film of the novel directed by Brian DePalma.
- 1985 The Phantom of the Opera with foreword by Peter Haining. Published by Dorset Press, New York.
- 1987 The Phantom of the Opera translated into English by Alexander Teixeira de Mattos. Published HarperPerennial, a division of HarperCollins Publishers. The front cover shows the title in broken glass and a red rose next to it and a white mask (both trademarks of Really Useful Group) with a black background. No illustrations. Soft Cover. ISBN 0-06-080924-8. Includes a bonus chapter about the Paris Opera written by Alexander Teixeira de Mattos.
- 1988 Fantomen på Operan translated into Swedish by Ulla Hornborg. (Translated from the English translation by Alexander Teixeira de Mattos). Published by Trevi
- 1990 Fantomen på Operan translated into Swedish by Ulla Hornborg. Published by Trevi (Translated from the English translation by Alexander Teixeira de Mattos). Black cover with a painted half-mask on the cover and an eye on the opposite side of the mask. No illustrations. Hard cover. ISBN 91-7160-938-5
- 1990 February The Phantom of the Opera translated into English by Lowell Bair. Published by Bantam Books. Front cover shows Erik taking Christine over the underground lake with a blue background. No illustrations. Soft Cover. ISBN 0-553-21376-8. Forgets the ^ over the o in Le Fantôme.
- 1995 The Phantom of the Opera (Wordsworth Collection) translation by Alexander Teixeira de Mattos. Published by NTC/Contemporary Publishing Company
- 1995 The Phantom of the Opera translated into English by Alexander Teixiera de Mattos. Published by Penguin Books. On the front cover by James Pryde is Lumber: A Silhouette. Soft Cover. ISBN 0-14-062174-1. Includes a bonus chapter about the Paris Opera written by Alexander Teixeira de Mattos.
- 1996 The Essential Phantom of the Opera translated into English by Leonard Wolf. Published by Plume.
- 2000 Fantomet i Operaen translated into Danish by Lea Brems. Published by Klim. Front cover is black with Erik's silhouette.
- 2001 Fantomet i Operaen translated into Danish by Lea Brems. Published for book clubs
- 2004 The Essential Phantom of the Opera translated into English by Leonard Wolf. Published by ibooks. Front cover by Sergio Matinez shows Erik taking Christine over the underground lake. Illustrations by Max Douglas. Soft Cover. ISBN 0-7434-9836-4. Includes an introduction and footnotes by Wolf. And lists of Leroux's works in English and French, and of some Phantom adaptations.
- 2004 October The Phantom of the Opera adapted into English by Jean-Marc Lofficier and Randy Lofficier. Published by Black Coat Press . Front cover red/black with Erik's face as depicted in the original novel barely visible. Illustrated by 48 different illustrations by 48 different artists depicting anything from Lon Chaney, Andrew Lloyd Webber's Phantom, Gaston Leroux or original concepts. Soft Cover. ISBN 1-932983-13-9. Also includes the original short story "His Father's Eyes" by the Lofficiers themselves.
- 2005 Fantomet i Operaet translated into Danish by Lea Brems. Published by Klim. Front cover is a picture from Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera. Where Gerard Butler is taking Emmy Rossum to his lair. Only illustration is a picture from the opening night of the Paris Opera. Soft Cover. ISBN 87-7955-384-2. Afterword by Peter Haning, original published 1985. Wrongfully says that Le Fantôme was published in 1911.
Adaptations
- See: The Phantom of the Opera (adaptations)
There have been numerous literary and dramatic works based on The Phantom of the Opera, ranging from light operas to films to children's books. The best known stage and screen adaptations of the novel are probably the 1925 silent film version starring Lon Chaney, Sr. and the 1986 Andrew Lloyd Webber musical. Among novels, Susan Kay's 1990 Phantom is one of the best known and most beloved by fans, particularly for its in-depth study of Erik's life and experiences. More recently Big Finish released an audio adaptation of the story with success. The most recent movie adaptation was in 2004, directed by Joel Schumacher.
External links
- Phantom on Broadway
- – Official website of the Musical
- – The Phantom of the Opera at Lyric Theatre, Queensland Performing Arts Centre, Australia
- - English Pantomime adaptation
- - Production and Cast Listings at BroadwayWorld.com
- Lyrics from the West End musical
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