Christine Daae

Christine Daae is the main female character in Gaston Leroux's novel "The Phantom of the Opera" (1910), the young singer with whom the main character Erik falls in love.

Character history

According to the novel by Gaston Leroux, Christine Daae was born just outside of Uppsala, Sweden. Her mother died when she was six years old, and she was brought up by her father, traveling to fairs where he played the violin and she sang. They were discovered there by Professor Valérius, who took them to Gothenburg and then to Paris, providing for Christine's education.

Christine was extremely close to her father, who told her Scandinavian fairy tales; a tale of the "Angel of Music" was her favorite. Christine's father passed away, and left her disconsolate, despite the loving care of her "adopted" mother, the bedridden wife of the late Professor Valérius, Madame Valérius. She enters the Paris Conservatory and trains for four years to become a professional singer to please her father and Mamma Valérius, but has lost all passion for singing.

When Christine arrives at the Opera Garnier, she is 18 years of age, one of the numerous singers at the Palais de Garnier. Although considered by many, because of her lack of passion for singing, as "sounding like a rusty hinge," one person finds the beauty still hidden in her tone. When Erik begins to tutor her, he tells her that he is the Angel of Music of whom her father had spoken. She believes him, and he inspires her soul back into her voice. Christine debuts at a gala at the opera, after the singer Carlotta falls ill and she is asked to take her place, her singing is described as "seraphic".

Christine becomes torn between her love for her mentor Erik, and her love for her childhood friend Viscount Raoul de Chagny.

Other Christines

Christina Nilsson

Leroux took much of Christine Daae's childhood background from the opera singer Christina Nilsson. Nilsson was born Kristina Jonasdotter in 1843, in a small village in Sweden. She sang at fairs, where she came to the attention of Madame Adelaide Valerius-Leuhusen, who provided for her education. When she began singing lessons in Paris she changed her name to Christina Nilsson, and went on to become an internationally acclaimed opera star, who sung like a goddessFact|date=February 2007. Her second husband was a Count.

Alternate fictional representations

In the film "Phantom of the Paradise", Christine is replaced by a young woman known as Phoenix. While serving virtually the same purpose in the plot as Christine, Phoenix is more sexually aware and strong-willed.

In Terry Pratchett's parody of "Phantom", "Maskerade", there is a character named Christine who is vain and not very bright. It is not known if her poor singing could have been improved by the Opera Ghost, because Agnes Nitt (who has more in common with the original Christine) takes her place. However, as it is not described as a lack of passion, but of ability, it seems unlikely.

In "Angels of Music" by Kim Newman, published in "Tales of the Shadowmen" Vol. 2 (2006), Erik gathers his own "Charlie's Angels"-like team of female agents, the so-called "Angels of Music", consisting of Christine Daae, Irene Adler and Trilby O'Ferrall.

In a two-part episode of Night Court, Dan Fielding took the part of the Phantom to Markie Post's Christine.

Christine in the Musical

In Andrew Lloyd Webber's stage musical, Christine's character was completely revised. Rather than the young, foolish, romantic-minded girl she is in the novel, she becomes a mature young woman who has reached a difficult and mature situation and has to deal with it as best she can. She becomes the lead character, rather than Raoul.

In the 2004 film, Christine is a naive 16-year-old girl.

Actresses

*Mary Philbin in the 1925 silent version, "The Phantom of the Opera".
*Susanna Foster in the 1943 Technicolor version, "Phantom of the Opera", starring Claude Rains (her last name is changed to DuBois).
*Heather Sears in the 1962 version of "The Phantom of the Opera".
*Jessica Harper in the 1974 rock-musical version of The Phantom of the Opera, Brian DePalma's Phantom of the Paradise.
*Jane Seymour in the 1983 TV movie version.
*Christina Collier in Ken Hill's camp-classical musical version in 1984.
*Sarah Brightman and later Kimilee Bryant in the 1986 Andrew Lloyd Webber musical; "The Phantom of the Opera"
*Glory Crampton in Yeston/Kopit's musical version.
*Teri Polo in the 1990 television miniseries version.
*Elizabeth Walsh in the David Staller musical version.
*Emmy Rossum in the 2004 Andrew Lloyd Webber film, "The Phantom of the Opera"
*Mari Hanafusa in the adopation of the Japanese premiere of Yeston/Kopit's musical version at Takarazuka Revue (2004)
*Ayane Sakurano in the same adopation at Takarazuka Revue (2006)
*Marina Prior, Maree Johnson and Ana Marina, at different times in the Australian production of the 1986 Andrew Lloyd Webber musical; "The Phantom of the Opera".
*Sierra Boggessand Elizabeth Loyacano in the "Phantom of the Opera" Las Vegas Spetacular (2006)

References

*
* [http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/175 The Phantom of the Opera] free e-book, Project Gutenberg
*cite web | title=Phantom Appreciation Society | work=a history of | url=http://www.phantomoftheopera.com/modules/icontent/index.php?page=14 | accessmonthday=March 13 | accessyear=2005