Show Synopsis:
Christine, a ballet dancer at the Paris Opera House, learns to sing from the Opera Ghost who appears at night, whom 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.

Characters:
Raoul, a kindhearted and brave viscount, and Christine Daee, a naïve performer

Song Context:
Christine and Raoul have just escaped from a disaster-ridden performance in the opera house, and Christine has confessed her meetings with and suspicions about the Opera Ghost to Raoul. Raoul is not quite sure what to believe, but he vows to love and protect Christine. Neither of them know that they are being watched by the Opera Ghost, who is determined to have Christine for himself. 

Fun Fact:
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) Some historians believe the character of Christine was based on the Swedish opera star Christina Nilsson.