Character guide
Christine Daaé
Christine Daae is the young soprano whose voice and heart are fought over in The Phantom of the Opera, Andrew Lloyd Webber's 1988 musical set in the depths of the Paris Opera House.
- Show
- The Phantom of the Opera
- Broadway premiere
- 1988
- Role
- Lead
- Music by
- Andrew Lloyd Webber
Christine Daaé on stage vs screen
Broadway compared with the 2004 film
Sarah Brightman, Andrew Lloyd Webber's wife at the time, created Christine: she sang an early version called Kristin at a 1985 preview at his Sydmonton home and then originated the role in London in 1986 and on Broadway in 1988. In the 2004 film, the part went to Emmy Rossum after Anne Hathaway was replaced, and Rossum earned a Golden Globe nomination.
The film moves the main story from the stage show's 1881 to 1870 and adds screen moments around Christine, including a cameo by future West End Phantom Ramin Karimloo as the portrait of her father, Gustave Daae. It ends in 1919 at Christine's grave, where Raoul leaves the Phantom's music box.
Who is Christine Daae?
Christine is a chorus girl turned star soprano, mentored in secret by the mysterious, masked Phantom who lives beneath the opera house. Her story is one of a woman caught between two very different kinds of devotion: the obsessive, controlling passion of the Phantom and the more grounded, protective love offered by her childhood friend Raoul. Christine's journey through the show is as much about finding her own voice and agency as it is about the men who pursue her.
Her connection to her late father, who she believes sent the Phantom to her as an angel of music, adds an emotional undercurrent that makes her more than a passive object of desire in the story.
Playing Christine on stage
Christine is a lead role and one of the most demanding soprano parts in the Broadway canon, requiring a wide vocal range, controlled belting, and the stamina to sing extended, emotionally intense sequences across a long performance. Beyond the vocal challenge, the role calls for an actress who can portray innocence transforming into strength and self possession.
Audiences have been drawn to Christine for decades because her dilemma, choosing between fear tinged fascination and genuine love, taps into something timeless about desire, danger, and the pull of an all consuming mentor figure.
Christine Daaé: frequently asked questions
What show is Christine Daae from?
Christine Daae is the female lead of The Phantom of the Opera, which opened on Broadway in 1988.
Is Christine a lead or supporting role?
Christine is a lead role, considered one of the most demanding soprano parts in musical theatre.
Who wrote the music for The Phantom of the Opera?
Andrew Lloyd Webber composed the music for The Phantom of the Opera.
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