The term 'Phantom of the Opera' refers to the title character in the novel by Gaston Leroux, first published in 1910. The novel follows the story of Erik, a mysterious figure who lives beneath the Paris Opera House and is known as the Phantom. Erik is a musical genius and a master of disguise, but he is also a tragic figure who is disfigured and tormented by his past. He falls in love with Christine, a young soprano, and attempts to win her affections by using his powers of manipulation and terror.