The phrase “The Phantom of the Opera” can mean either the original novel or the famous stage musical, and each has a different creator.

Original novel

  • The original The Phantom of the Opera is a Gothic horror novel written by French author Gaston Leroux.
  • It was first published in 1909–1910 (in serial form) and later as a book in 1910, telling the story of a mysterious “phantom” haunting the Paris Opera House.

Famous stage musical

  • The world‑famous stage musical The Phantom of the Opera was created by Andrew Lloyd Webber , who composed the music.
  • The musical’s lyrics are mainly by Charles Hart , with additional lyrics and the libretto contributed by Richard Stilgoe , and it is based directly on Gaston Leroux’s novel.

Quick recap

  • Created the original story: Gaston Leroux (1910 novel).
  • Created the best‑known musical adaptation: Andrew Lloyd Webber (composer), with Charles Hart and Richard Stilgoe as key collaborators.

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