Pit violinist Claudin hopelessly loves rising operatic soprano Christine Dubois (as do baritone Anatole and police inspector Raoul) and covertly aids her career. However, Claudin loses his job along with his touch, murders that a music publisher that is rascally in a fit of insanity, also contains his own face etched with acid. Soon, mysterious crimes irritate the Paris Opera House, blamed a mythical"phantom".