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

Christine Daaé was born in just outside 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, one of which was her favourite as the tale of the "Angel of Music." Christine's father passes away, and leaves her disconsolate, despite the loving care of her "adopted" mother, wife of the late Professor Valérius, Madame Valérius (whom is now bed-ridden). She enters the Paris Conservatory and trains for 4 years to become a professional singer, to please her father and Mamma Valérius, but she has lost all passion for singing. By the time she 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, naturally because of her lack of passion and will for singing, as "sounding like a rusty hinge" - one person still finds the hidden beauty in her tone still. When Erik (the Phantom) begins to tutor her, she believes that he is the Angel of Music her father had spoken of, and he inspires her soul back into her voice. When she debuts at a Gala at the opera, after the main prima donna La Carlotta falls ill and she is asked to take her place, her singing is described as "seraphic".

Christine becomes torn by the Phantom's love for her and hold over her, and her love for Raoul, Vicomte de Chagny, a childhood friend from a summer spent in Bretagne.

Other Christines

Christine Nilsson

Leroux took much of Christine Daaé's childhood background from the opera singer Christine 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, said to have sung like a goddess. 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 orginal Christine) takes her place. However, as it is not described as a lack of passion, but of ability, it seems unlikely.

References

Actresses

External links

Characters in The Phantom of the Opera | Fictional singers

 

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the "Christine Daaé".

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