Phantom of the Opera

Author: (French) Gaston Leroux / Zhao Wenwei
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-04-01
Features: The Phantom of the Opera, this typical and touching romantic story about a mysterious ghost who roams the opera house, hiding his ugly face behind a mask, falling in love with a soprano singer, is an excellent choice for composers like Andrew Lloyd Webber. It features complex character emotions, dramatic tension, and the unique mysterious fear and personality repression of the 19th-century social elite. The grand opera house, the eerie and terrifying underground world, the sensitive and passionate noble youth, the vulnerable and pitiful young actress, and the face behind the mask—the、、 hidden beneath the wooden terror mask—all elements that can stir the audience's emotions are condensed in Gaston Leroux's original work. Like Pandora's Box filled with desires from ancient Greek mythology, it awaits like Andrew Lloyd Webber to wipe away the dust and let it bloom anew. Lloyd Webber said, "It wasn't until I found Leroux's original work that I realized how touching the plot is." The great success of the musical The Phantom of the Opera sparked renewed interest in reading the original novel. The Phantom of the Opera readers were surprised to find that the original plot is even richer, the theme of good versus evil is more prominent, and some characters omitted from the stage adaptation, such as the Count Philip, the brother of Vicomte de Chagny, and the mysterious and righteous "Persian," hold significant positions in the novel. Meanwhile, the life and works of the author, Gaston Leroux, once again attract the attention of readers. The Phantom of the Opera tells a mysterious and tragic love story set in the Paris Opera House in the 19th century. Christine was originally an unknown actress in the troupe. By chance, she replaced the troupe's leading actress on stage. Her angelic voice immediately won the audience's acclaim and caught the attention of her childhood friend, the handsome and wealthy Vicomte Raoul. It turned out that a mysterious teacher had secretly been teaching Christine how to sing. This teacher, whom Christine calls the "Angel of Music," is actually the "Phantom of the Opera," a figure feared by everyone in the Paris Opera House. The Phantom's real name is Erik, a genius who is both a musician, architect, and magician. However, unfortunately, his disfigured face has made him the target of public disdain, forcing him to wear a mask and live in the labyrinthine basement of the Paris Opera House, becoming the legendary Phantom who is both human and ghost.