The Phantom of the Opera: The Exit Music
The Exit Music (The Phantom of the Opera) is a song from the 1986 Andrew Lloyd Webber musical The Phantom of the Opera.
Introduction
The phantom of the opera is a novel by Gaston Leroux. The novel was first published in serial form in the French newspaper Le Gaulois from September 23, 1909 to January 8, 1910. The novel was also published in book form in 1910.
The phantom of the opera is about a ghost who lives in the Opera Garnier in Paris. The ghost, who is called Erik, falls in love with a singer named Christine Daaé. Christine is also being pursued by a man named Raoul de Chagny.
The phantom of the opera has been adapted into numerous stage productions, films, and television programs. The most famous adaptation of the novel is the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical, which debuted on Broadway in 1988.
The Plot
The story is set in the late 19th century, and revolves around a young soprano named Christine Daaé, who becomes the obsession of a disfigured musical genius named Erik, known as “The Phantom of the Opera”. When Erik takes control of the Paris Opera House, where Christine is scheduled to perform, he forces the cancellation of her debut and demands that she be given the lead role in the new opera he is composing.
The Characters
The Phantom of the Opera is a novel by Gaston Leroux. The novel tells the story of a phantom who lives in an opera house, using his talents as an engineer and architect to make sure that the opera runs smoothly. He falls in love with one of the opera singers, Christine, and becomes obsessed with her. When she starts falling for another man, Raoul, the phantom becomes jealous and tries to stop them from leaving together. He kidnap Christine and takes her to his underground lair, where he reveals his true identity: Erik, a man who was horribly disfigured in a fire. Erik tells Christine that he loves her and wants her to stay with him forever, but she rejects him. In the end, Erik kills himself and Christine leaves with Raoul.
The Settings
The story of The Phantom of the Opera is set in Paris, France in the late 1800s. The action takes place in and around the Opera Garnier, which was built in the 1860s. The garnier is a grand, old building with many hidden passageways and secret rooms. It is said to be haunted by the spirit of a composer who died there long ago.
The novel opens with a brief history of the Opera Garnier and the legend of the Phantom. We are introduced to Christine Daaé, a young soprano who has come to Paris to audition for a role in the opera. She is discovered by the Phantom, who lives in a secret room beneath the opera house. The Phantom is fascinated by Christine and begins to teach her how to sing.
As Christine’s career begins to take off, she starts to fall in love with Raoul de Chagny, a young nobleman who also attends the opera. The Phantom is jealous of Raoul and does everything he can to keep them apart. He even kidnaps Christine and takes her to his secret underground lair.
In the end, Raoul rescues Christine from the Phantom’s clutches and they live happily ever after. The Phantom is left alone in his dark kingdom beneath the opera house, his only companions being his memories of Christine.
The Music
Themes
There are several themes in The Phantom of the Opera: The Exit Music, including love, obsession, and loss. The story centers around the relationship between the Phantom and Christine, two characters who are obsessed with one another. The Phantom is a tragic figure who is driven by his need for love and attention, while Christine is a more hopeful character who tries to find love and acceptance despite her difficult circumstances. The Exit Music explores the idea of what happens when two people who are obsessed with each other are forced to part ways. It is a sad and haunting story that will stay with readers long after they have finished it.
The Score
The score for The Phantom of the Opera was composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber, with lyrics by Charles Hart and additional lyrics by Richard Stilgoe. It was recorded in 1986 and released by Polydor Records. The title of the Exit Music (what is playing as the curtain falls) is “The Point of No Return”.
The Legacy
When The Phantom of the Opera debuted on Broadway in 1988, it was an instant success, and has since gone on to become one of the most popular musicals of all time. The story of the Phantom, a masked man who lives in the catacombs beneath a Paris opera house, and his obsession with the young soprano Christine, has captivated audiences for over a century.
The original novel by Gaston Leroux was published in 1909 and has been adapted for film and television numerous times. The most famous adaptation is Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical, which debuted in London’s West End in 1986 and opened on Broadway two years later. The musical has been seen by over 140 million people worldwide and is the longest-running show in Broadway history.
The Exit Music, also known as “The Phantom’s Desire”, is a song from the musical that is sung by the Phantom as he contemplates his love for Christine and his decision to let her go. The lyrics are written by Charles Hart and Richard Stilgoe, and the music is composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber.
The song begins with the Phantom asking Christine if she will love him if he lets her go, and whether she can ever forgive him for all the pain he has caused her. He then tells her that he will always love her, even though she can never love him back. The song ends with the Phantom’s regretful decision to let Christine go, knowing that it is best for both of them.
Conclusion
The final few minutes of The Phantom of the Opera are some of the most intense in the entire musical. In “The Exit Music,” the Phantom has been cornered by the police and is about to be captured. He knows that his only chance to escape is to set fire to the opera house, but he also knows that this will kill everyone inside. The music reflects his dilemma, as it starts out sounding hopeful but then becomes increasingly frantic and desperate. In the end, the Phantom makes his decision and escapes, leaving the burning opera house behind.
