This past April, the musical sanctuary of Broadway saw the grand finale of 'The Phantom of the Opera' after 13,981 performances. Since its Broadway debut in 1988, 'The Phantom of the Opera' has left a remarkable legacy of 35 years and an audience of over 20 million.

 

The allure of 'The Phantom of the Opera' extends beyond Broadway. It has graced the stages of 35 countries and 166 cities, captivating over 140 million viewers and earning more than 6 billion dollars.

Chapter 1

Phantom's Distorted Love 

'The Phantom of the Opera' tells the haunting story of a hidden musical prodigy, the Phantom, residing in the Paris Opera House's catacombs, and his infatuation with the opera singer, Christine Daae. Smitten with Christine's youth and beauty, the Phantom covertly teaches her, while she innocently believes him to be the 'Angel of Music' promised by her late father.

As Christine ascends to the prestigious role of Prima Donna*, she garners the attention of Raoul, a benefactor of the opera house and her childhood companion. Their mutual affection grows, stirring the Phantom's envy. His love turns increasingly possessive and menacing. Christine is torn between fear of the Phantom and pity for his tragic existence, while Raoul endeavors to save her. Their story, a blend of romance, fear, and tragedy, reaches its gripping climax.

* Prima Donna: The lead female singer in an opera.

Chapter 2

Melodies Phantom Left

Originally a novel by French writer Gaston Leroux, published in 1910, 'The Phantom of the Opera' has seen various adaptations over the years. The most renowned is the 1986 musical by composer and producer Andrew Lloyd Webber. 

 

Andrew Lloyd Webber's 'The Phantom of the Opera' wasn't the first musical adaptation of the original work. A musical by stage director Ken Hill debuted in 1976. Inspired by Hill's version, Webber decided to create his own 'The Phantom of the Opera,' composing all-new music to showcase his classical composing skills.

The musical's signature number*, 'The Phantom of the Opera,' is the most famous song from the show. Just hearing the low, ominous intro is enough to recognize it as a song from 'The Phantom of the Opera.' In fact, 'The Phantom of the Opera' was famous even before its Broadway premiere, staying in the 'UK Singles* Top 10' for 10 weeks in 1986 and has achieved over 43 million views on YouTube.

* Number: A song included in a musical production
** UK Singles: Chart for the best-selling single albums in the UK

Christine's 'Think of Me,' performed early in the musical, is another signature song from 'The Phantom of the Opera.' Known for showcasing a soprano's wide vocal range and emotional expression, this song is famously sung by Christine during her pivotal transformation from a chorus girl to a star. Emmy Rossum's rendition of 'Think of Me' in the 2004 film adaptation of 'The Phantom of the Opera' has also surpassed 30 million views on YouTube.

Chapter 3 

The Shades of Phantom 

The familiar image of 'The Phantom of the Opera' largely comes from Webber's musical, which is known for its grand scale, costing about 1 million dollars per week to stage. Each performance involves a cast of 130, 230 costumes, 22 stage sets, and 10 pieces of equipment for fog effects.

Designer Maria Björnson, responsible for these enormous productions over the past 35 years, designed all the costumes and stages, earning two Tony Awards for Best Costume Design and Best Scenic Design.

 

The Phantom's iconic half-mask is a creation of Björnson. While the original novel by Leroux described the Phantom as 'a man with a mask covering his entire face,' Björnson desired a more diverse interpretation. The half-mask represents the Phantom's eerie and terrifying aspect while also revealing his obsessive and perfectionist nature through his slicked-back hair and piercing eyes.

Björnson's intent is also evident in the Phantom's costume. The black cloak, along with the mask, symbolizes the Phantom. It expresses his isolation from the world with a silhouette that covers his entire body. Additionally, the Phantom's 'Red Death' costume from the 'Masquerade' scene in Act 2 visualizes the dark influence he exerts on the opera house. The 'Red Death' is regarded as one of Björnson's most exemplary Phantom costumes.

An opportunity to see 'The Phantom of the Opera' performance and its props has opened in Daegu, South Korea. From January 12, 2024, at Daegu's 83 Tower, 'The Musical: RaRa’s Dream Theatre' will showcase not only props from 'The Phantom of the Opera' musical and movie, but also from other famous musicals. 'The Phantom of the Opera,' the most successful musical in history, will be performed from December 22 at the Daegu Keimyung Art Center. How about embracing this chance to enjoy both the performance and exhibition in Daegu?