Show Synopsis:
Christine, a ballet dancer at the Paris Opera House, learns to sing from the Opera Ghost who appears at night, who Christine believes is her dead father. One night she has the chance to perform a starring role, and her childhood friend Raoul rediscovers her and begins to court her. Christine learns that the Opera Ghost is not a ghost, but a man with a deformed face who lives in the sewers underneath the opera house. The Opera Ghost is in love with Christine and wreaks havoc around the Opera House when the diva Carlotta is given chances to perform instead of her. Raoul and Christine become engaged as the Opera Ghost plots to steal Christine away and the patrons of the Opera House plot to capture the ghost once and for all. The Opera Ghost captures Raoul and tells Christine that he will let him go if she promises to stay with him. Christine kisses the Opera Ghost to comfort him, and he lets them both go. A mob invades his lair, but the Opera Ghost has disappeared and left his mask behind.

Character:
The Phantom of the Opera, a man with severe physical defects that labeled him a freak at a young age and caused him to live in the sewers of Paris; loves music and has become infatuated with Christine during their private voice lessons; passionate and well aware of the fear everyone has of him; loathes society.

Song Context:
The Phantom has brought Christine to his underground lair and begins to put her in a trance with his music, with the intention of claiming her as his bride.

Fun Facts:
1) Phantom of the Opera is the longest running Broadway musical.
2) The musical is based on Gaston Leroux's novel The Phantom of the Opera.
3) Sarah Brightman, who went on to originate the role of Christine, claimed in 1997 that Webber had written the song for her, as a version originally titled ?Married Man.?