Plot

France, 1900. As a young girl, Christine is told by her father of the 'Spirit of the Music' - a guardian angel who comes to a select few with the gift of 'perfect music'. Ten years later, Christine - now a promising singer at the Paris Opera House - is finally visited by the "Spirit" of her father's story, who promises to give her the greatest voice the world has ever known. Meanwhile, a series of increasingly bizarre accidents terrify the Opera's cast and staff, attributed to a legendary Phantom who supposedly haunts the theater. When these strange events eventually scare the company's prima donna away, it's up to Christine to take her part. After her debut, the Spirit of Music whisks Christine away into his realm behind the mirror, where it is revealed that both Spirit and Phantom are in fact one and the same - not a supernatural creature, but a man, Erik. A musical prodigy who hides his horribly disfigured face under a mask, Erik believes Christine to be his match in perfect music, and thus plans to keep her in his underworld forever. Raoul, Christine's childhood sweetheart, aided by a mysterious Persian detective, ventures into the dark catacombs beneath the Opera House to rescue her from the Phantom's clutch.—anonymous

Calais, 1901. Christine, a young girl, plays around with her scarf on the beach while her father, a violinist, tells her of the "Spirit of Music" - a guardian angel who comes to a select few with the gift of 'perfect music'. Christine's scarf is blown away in the wind, but is rescued from the sea by an aristocratic young boy - Raoul - who becomes immediately smitten with Christine. She leaves abruptly, leaving a love-struck Raoul behind, hoping that one day he'll find her again.

Paris, 1910. Christine, now a promising young singer at the Paris Opera House, is finally visited by the Spirit of her father's tale - a disembodied voice who calls to her from the mirror in her dressing room, promising to coach her singing, and make the greatest voice the world has ever known. Christine is advised by Madame Giry, the ballet mistress, to be careful of the Spirit - for such heavenly gifts there might be Hell to pay. Meanwhile, a series of increasingly freaky mishaps terrorize the opera's cast and staff. The girls from the corps de ballet speak of a shape-shifting Phantom, who kills whomever crosses his path. Both the Phantom and Christine's guardian angel are, in fact, one and the same - a mysterious masked figure who plans to make Christine a star by whatever means necessary (including blackmailing the managers as well as the company's diva, Carlotta). Carlotta does not believe in ghosts, and is determined to perform regardless of the warnings. However, during a gala performance, the Phantom consistently tries to sabotage her - first by dropping a sandbag from the rafters, almost killing her; then by sending a terrified stagehands - Joseph Buquet - screaming across the stage during Carlotta's aria. Having had enough, Carlotta finally storms off the stage, leaving the managers no option but to put Christine in her place. Raoul, now a dashing young man and one of the theater's principal patrons, watches Christine perform and immediately recognizes her as his childhood sweetheart. After the show, Raoul goes backstage to meet Christine. While Christine is too tired to entertain guests, she is eager to see him, and accepts his invitation to attend a masked ball with him at midnight. As soon as Raoul leaves, the Phantom materializes through the mirror, and whisks Christine away into his secret realm bellow the opera house. In his palatial underground home, the Phantom is revealed to be no supernatural creature, but a man, Erik - an artist, architect, scholar, and musical prodigy, who hides his horribly disfigured face behind a mask. The Phantom believes Christine to be his match in 'perfect music', and tries to convince her to stay with him in his 'perfect world' so that they can create the world's greatest music together - an opera he's been working on, called "Don Juan Triumphant". Christine is tempted by his offerings, but is also weary of his obsessive, dangerous nature. He allows her to leave to the ball, but only as long as she doesn't meet Raoul within the limits of the opera house.

At midnight, cast and patrons mingle together at a masked ball in the foyer. Christine takes Raoul away from the party to tell him about what happened, right before the Phantom makes his entrance. Carlotta, who has decided to return feeling her career might be in jeopardy due to her age, is immediately entranced by the Phantom, who proceeds to waltz with her. He then poisons her drink just before she's about to make a performance for the guests. As she's singing the Queen of the Night aria from Mozart's The Magic Flute, her voice croaks, and she runs off mid-song in embarrassment. As the Phantom departs the scene, Joseph Buquet's body is uncovered, with a bloody axe attached to his back.

Meanwhile, in the rooftop, Christine and Raoul profess their love for each other, and plan to run off together. However, their romantic idyll is interrupted by the Phantom, who knocks out Raoul then whisks Christine away. Daroga, a mysterious Persian detective, rushes to Raoul's aid. Daroga has been on the Phantom's track for quite a while, having met Erik in person before, and helps Raoul down into the catacombs to rescue Christine. After narrowly surviving the Phantom's traps, Raoul finally makes it to the lair, where Christine is performing his "Don Juan". The Phantom doesn't fell threatened by Raoul's appearance, being certain that Christine will stay with him. Much to his surprise however, Christine eagerly runs off into Raoul's arms. Alone and heartbroken, Erik tears off his mask and rips his music to shreds - now feeling reduced to the lonely, abused child that he really is. Erik's moment of solitude is disrupted by Daroga, who tries to capture him. Erik escapes through a secret passageway before Daroga is able to get to him.

In the world above, just as Raoul and Christine leave to a world far from Erik's promises of 'perfect music, perfect love', the 'Spirit of Music' returns once more - this time coaching a young ballerina as she practices her moves after hours. "Who are you?", she asks as the Phantom magically emerges from the shadows. "I am whatever you want me to be", he replies with a maniacal, ghostly grin.