The Phantom of the Opera's name is Erik. Erik is a character from the novel The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux, which was first published in 1910. The novel has been adapted into various film and stage productions, most notably Andrew Lloyd Webber's 1986 musical. Erik is the titular character of the novel and musical, a mysterious figure who lives beneath the Paris Opera House and becomes obsessed with the young soprano Christine Daae.