A Shallow Study of Three French Novels and Their Enduring Legacy

Kobbé’s Opera Guide is widely regarded as the best book on opera, listing 200 operas by 80 composers. Many of these operas are based on folklore, legends, and classic literature. Interestingly, some of the most famous operas and musicals of all time originated as French novels, transforming through various artistic adaptations into powerful and enduring works.

From Tragedy to Opera: La Dame aux Camélias

In the 1840s, Alexandre Dumas, fils, son of the renowned author of The Three Musketeers and The Count of Monte Cristo, suffered a personal tragedy when his lover passed away from tuberculosis. In his grief, he wrote La Dame aux Camélias, a novel that became a bestseller and was later adapted into a successful play. The story’s emotional depth caught the attention of Italian composer Giuseppe Verdi, who turned it into the opera La Traviata in 1853. This opera, with its hauntingly beautiful arias and heartbreaking narrative, remains one of the most frequently performed operas worldwide.

From Japan to Broadway: Madame Chrysanthemum

In 1887, French author Pierre Loti wrote Madame Chrysanthemum, a novel depicting a tragic romance set in Japan. The book became a bestseller and was translated into English in 1898 by John Luther Long. The English adaptation and its subsequent play were widely acclaimed, inspiring Italian composer Giacomo Puccini to create the opera Madame Butterfly in 1904. This masterpiece has since been a staple at the New York Metropolitan Opera House, except during World War II (1942–1945).

America’s fascination with the story extended beyond opera. In the 1980s, Madame Butterfly inspired the Broadway musical Miss Saigon, composed by Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg. The setting was changed from Japan to Vietnam, transforming Cio-Cio San into a Saigon bar girl and Pinkerton into an American Marine. The tragic themes of love, sacrifice, and betrayal continued to captivate audiences.

A Phantom’s Legacy: The Phantom of the Opera

In 1909, French journalist Gaston Leroux published a serialized novel about mysterious events in the Paris Garnier Opera House. The novel, Le Fantôme de l’Opéra, gained immense popularity and was adapted into a play. In 1925, Universal Pictures produced a silent black-and-white film starring Lon Chaney, further cementing the story’s legacy.

The most famous adaptation, however, came in 1986, when Andrew Lloyd Webber composed The Phantom of the Opera. Produced by Cameron Mackintosh, the musical debuted in London and became an unprecedented success, running continuously for nearly four decades. The Broadway production, which began in 1988, became the longest-running musical in history before finally closing in 2023. Despite its end on Broadway, the London production continues, making Phantom the longest-running musical ever.

Common Threads in Tragedy and Art

These three masterpieces—La Traviata, Madame Butterfly, and The Phantom of the Opera—share striking similarities. Each originated as a French novel, was adapted into a successful stage play, and later became an iconic opera (La Traviata and Madame Butterfly) or musical (Phantom). Each tells a deeply emotional tale of love, sacrifice, and heartbreak, leaving audiences moved and, at times, devastated.

In La Traviata, Camille, the dying heroine, is persuaded by her lover’s father to leave him for the sake of his future. Heartbroken, she departs, only for her lover, Armand, to find her in a dark, dingy room during her final moments. As they embrace, Camille dies in his arms, finally at peace.

In Madame Butterfly, Pinkerton unknowingly leaves Cio-Cio San pregnant when he returns to America. Years later, he returns to Japan with his new wife, only to find that Cio-Cio San, unable to endure the shame, has taken her life, leaving behind their child.

In The Phantom of the Opera, Erik, the deformed genius, loves Christine and teaches her to sing, but his jealousy over her love for Raoul consumes him. When he realizes Christine’s fear and sadness, he chooses to let her go, resigning himself to a life of loneliness and regret.

Why Do We Pay to Cry?

One might ask: Why should I spend money on an opera that will only make me cry? After all, people seek entertainment to escape tragedy, not to immerse themselves in sorrow. And yet, the enduring power of these works lies in their ability to stir the soul. French novelists had a gift for crafting stories that pierce the heart, making us weep for characters who embody love, loss, and sacrifice.

Merde! C’est la vie!