The Phantom of the OperaGaston Leroux's novel The Phantom of the Opera, first published in 1910, remained a perennial favorite throughout the twentieth century and into the early 2000s. It was adapted to several popular motion pictures and into one of the most successful stage musicals of all time. Its main character, Erik, is a romantic figure whose appeal reaches across different cultures and times. He is a sensitive soul, an accomplished composer and musician whose great unfinished work, Don Juan Triumphant, is described as breathtakingly beautiful by the one person he allows to hear it; he is an object of pity, whose face has been disfigured from birth, causing him to hide behind a silk mask; and he is hopelessly in love with a young woman whom he can never seriously hope will love him back. At the same time, he a dangerous, menacing figure, lurking in the hidden catacombs beneath the opera house and blackmailing those who will not bow to his whims. He can hear things said in privacy and can create catastrophes that might or might not be the accidents that they seem to be. |
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acting-manager Angel of Music arms asked ballet began Box Five Carlotta Chris Christine Daaé Christine's commissary cried Daaé's dark daroga dead dear death death's head Debienne and Poligny disappeared Don Juan Triumphant door dressing-room envelope Erik Erik's eyes face Firmin Richard foyer Gabriel Gaston Leroux gave girl hand hear heard Jammes Joseph Buquet knew Lachenel Lahore lake laugh listen little Meg looked Louis-Philippe Mame Giry Mamma Valérius managers mask Mazenderan Meg Giry Mercier Mifroid mirror monster mysterious never night once opened Opera ghost Paris Perros Perros-Guirec Persian poor Punjab lasso Rémy replied safety-pin scene scorpion seemed seen silence singing Sorelli stage story suddenly tell terrible thing third cellar thought tine told took torture-chamber trap-door turned twenty-thousand francs Vicomte de Chagny viscount voice wait wall word young