Fact vs Fiction: The True Stories Behind “The Phantom of the Opera”

ByStephanie Rytting Posted on

A white Phantom of the Opera mask.

“The Phantom of the Opera,” an intriguing story of a mysterious masked man haunting the Paris Opera House, has been a beloved musical for decades. The show has dazzled millions of people with its compelling storyline, incredible songs, beautiful costumes, and exciting special effects.

It’s the longest-running musical on Broadway and the second longest-running West End musical (in London), and has been performed in over 15 languages for more than 140 million people around the world.

But did you know that the musical is actually based on numerous real-life events and rumors that took place in the Opera Garnier, the actual opera house of Paris?

I’ve been to the Opera Garnier (sometimes called the Palais Garnier) many times – and it’s a gorgeous, awe-inspiring venue. It’s no stretch to see how such an incredible location could have inspired such a fantastical story.

But what is fact and what is fiction in The Phantom of the Opera? Read on as we separate fact from fiction in this intriguing and compelling tale.

The Original Story

A staircase leading up to different levels with arched balconies and ornate marble pillars with metal statues on either side

First, some important history of how the musical came to be. The Phantom of the Opera musical, written by Andrew Lloyd Webber, is actually based on a book of the same name, written by Gaston Leroux.

Interestingly, the story wasn’t even originally written as a book – it was first published as installments in the Parisian newspaper, Le Gaulois, throughout 1909-1910. Later in 1910, the whole story was published as a book titled The Phantom of the Opera.

When it was released, The New York Evening World named it “the most daring sensation novel of the century.”

While the story is fiction, Leroux took inspiration from real-life events that happened at the Opera Garnier Paris’s prestigious opera house.

The Crashing Chandelier

An opera room with a detailed painting on the ceilings with a tiered chandelier in the middle of the room with push velvet seats on each of the four levels looking at the stage in the opera room

For example, remember the dramatic chandelier crash in the musical that happens at the end of Act 1? The Phantom, spurred by jealousy, causes the crash in the middle of a show and uses the distraction to steal Christine Daaé.

That was inspired by an actual mishap in 1896 with the chandelier in the Opera Garnier, though actual events were much less dramatic. While there is a stunning, 7-ton intricate chandelier in the Opera, in real life, it was one of the counterweights that held up the chandelier that broke and fell through the ceiling.

Even though the chandelier itself didn’t fall, sadly the counterweight did hit and kill someone and injured several others.

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The Underground Lake

A man in a mask rows a woman through a smoky water with candles on either side of them

The underground lake beneath the Opera House is one of the most fascinating elements of The Phantom of the Opera.

In the story, the Phantom’s lair is located by this eerie, subterranean body of water. He kidnaps Christine Daaé twice during the story, and pivotal moments in the plot happen in the underground lair.

This detail wasn’t just a product of Gaston Leroux’s imagination; it has a basis in reality.

During the construction of the Palais Garnier in the 1860s, builders encountered groundwater issues. To manage this, they created a cistern to keep the water away from the opera house’s foundation.

This cistern, often referred to as an underground lake, still exists today and serves a practical purpose. It’s used by firefighters for training exercises and houses a few resident catfish, rather than the Phantom or his boat.

The Opera Ghost

The entrance hall with a grand staircase and small chandeliers on either side with different carvings on the pillars and balconies
The entrance hall of the Opera Garnier

Additionally, the legend of a ghostly presence beneath the Paris Opera is rooted in several real-life events that took on a life of their own.

In 1873, a fire destroyed the original opera house on Rue Lepeletier (not far from the current opera house), resulting in the death of a ballerina and the disfigurement of her pianist fiancé.

While this part is fact, the tragedy led to tales and stories that the now disfigured pianist retreated to the underground of the new Palais Garnier, where he hid in a lair mirroring the Phantom’s. However, there is no evidence to back up these tales.

Additionally, Gaston Leroux discussed the mysterious case of the disappearing Vicomte de Chagny in his prologue. The Vicomte had vanished for fifteen years, only to reappear in Paris and immediately seek a free opera ticket.

This reappearance intrigued Leroux, who delved deeper into the Chagny family’s tragic story. The Vicomte’s brother, Count Philippe, was found dead by the underground lake at the Palais Garnier, adding a layer of real-life mystery to Leroux’s tale.

Moreover, Leroux discovered a witness known as “the Persian,” whose detailed accounts and apparent proof of the phantom’s existence convinced Leroux of the story’s authenticity. In fact, even on his deathbed, Leroux was insistent that the story of Phantom of the Opera was not fiction and did indeed happen.

Who Was Christine Daaé?

There is speculation that multiple women could have served as the inspiration for Gaston Leroux as he wrote the character Christine Daaé, the main female lead in The Phantom of the Opera.

However, Sarah Brightman, a classical soprano and the wife of Andrew Lloyd Weber, was 100% the inspiration for the musical adaptation. Weber essentially wrote the songs for Brightman, composing the melodies to fit her style and range.

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The Opera Garnier

Of course, Gaston Leroux’s story is based on the Paris Opera Garnier, and the 2004 movie adaptation in particular, starring Gerard Butler and Emmy Rossum, based the set heavily on the actual design of the Paris Opera House.

Personally, I love this, as the Opera Garnier is an absolutely stunning location in Paris that I never tire of visiting.

A woman in a red skirt walks up a grand stone staircase with ornate balconies on either side of the two staircases

To start, the actual Opera House has a magnificent grand staircase – the movie adaptation is extremely similar.

The theater hall itself in the movie is also almost exactly like the real thing – the floor is filled with seating, and 4 levels of boxes covered in luxurious red velvet fill the perimeter of the theater.

A hall with people looking at the rows of hanging chandeliers, ornate pillars, and paintings on the ceilings.

While this isn’t portrayed in the film, I also have to shout out the insanely gorgeous Grand Foyer in the Opera Garnier, an opulent room designed to be a mingling room for Parisian high society. The Foyer opens to a loggia overlooking the Avenue de l’Opera below.

A woman in a red skirt walks on the marble floors with tall stone pillars on either side of her

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Wrap Up

And there you have it – the fascinating blend of fact and fiction that makes The Phantom of the Opera such a compelling tale. From real-life tragedies and spooky legends to the magnificent backdrop of the Opera Garnier, it’s no wonder Gaston Leroux’s story has captivated audiences for over a century.

And next time you’re in Paris, make sure to visit the Opera Garnier and wander its magnificent halls to feel the magic yourself!

Stephanie is obsessed with everything having to do with France, and she's visited the country 10 times (including a 3 month stint when she lived in Paris). She draws on her extensive knowledge of the country to bring you detailed and helpful guides, from the perspective of a fellow traveler.