Le Fantôme de l’Opéra

Buttercup went to watch Andrew Lloyd Webber's famous musical - The Phantom of the Opera and didn't really quite understand this lovely tale... my favourite love story... And so I thought I should blog about the Le Fantôme de l’Opéra here.

The Phantom of the Opera is a French novel by Gaston Leroux and I had read the translated version by Lowell Bair. I had also read another of Gaston Leroux's earliest work, The Mystery of the Little Yellow Room (translated). My curosity and interest for the Phantom of the Opera started when I first watched NBC's 1990 two-part television series starring Charles Dance and had been smitten to try find all possible information relating to the Phantom of the Opera. Till now, I had strong belief that this story was true and that Erik, the Phantom of the Opera, an eccentric, physically deformed genius who terrorizes the Opera Garnier in Paris, France. He builds his home beneath it and takes the love of his life, a beautiful soprano, Christine Daaé under his wing was true.

Though there is no supporting evidence to support the authentic of Leroux's story but the abduction of Christine Daaé, the disappearance of Viscount Raoul de Chagny, the death of Count Philippe, the crashing chandelier, the existence of the underground lake under Paris opera house and even the rumoured opera ghost did exist during the period. But the story might be beautified under Leurox's hands. The story evolved around the triangle love between Christine Daaé, her childhood sweet heart, Raoul and her music teacher cum Opera ghost, Erik.

The part that I was so much smitten with was the part of Christine's genuine sympathy and love for Erik. Though she had agreed to marry Erik to save Raoul and the Perisian instead of love but she had kept her promise to be his living wife. She displays her love for him by crying with him, not running away when he takes off his mask, and even kisses him on the forehead. This granted 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.

"Oh, daroga, I felt her tears dropping onto my forehead - my forehead! They were warm, they were sweet, they flowed everywhere under my mask. Her tears! They mingled with my own tears in my eyes, they even flowed into my mouth... Ah, her tears, on me! .... ..... We cried together! God in heaven, you gave me all the happiness in the world!"

True love forgives and accepts and sets free... such a lovely story.. *heart melts*