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.