[00:00.53]NOTES-PRIMA DONNA - Andrew Lloyd Webber
[00:08.27]"Mystery after gala night"
[00:09.77]
[00:10.39]It says "mystery of sopranos flight"
[00:12.39]
[00:12.95]"mystified" all the papers say
[00:15.57]"we are mystified we suspect foul play"
[00:17.75]
[00:18.50]Bad news on soprano scene -
[00:20.75]first Carlotta, now Christine!
[00:22.80]
[00:23.44]Still, at least the seats get sold
[00:26.05]gossip's worth its weight in gold . . .
[00:30.81]
[00:32.17]What a way to run a business!
[00:34.23]Spare me these unending trials!
[00:36.48]
[00:37.10]Half your cast disappears,
[00:38.48]but the crowd still cheers!
[00:40.29]Opera!
[00:40.98]
[00:41.66]To hell with Gluck and Handel -
[00:43.23]It's a scandal that'll pack 'em in the aisles!
[00:45.18]Damnable!
[00:45.86]Will they all walk out?
[00:47.37]This is damnable!
[00:48.30]Andre, please don't shout . . .
[00:50.23]It's publicity! And the take is vast!
[00:52.55]Free publicity!
[00:53.98]But we have no cast . . .
[00:55.79]But Andre,
[00:56.41]have you seen the queue?
[00:57.97]Oh, it seems you've got one too . . .
[01:02.22]
[01:04.27]"Dear Andre what a charming gala!
[01:06.33]Christine enjoyed a great success!
[01:08.79]
[01:09.72]We were hardly bereft when Carlotta left -
[01:11.64]
[01:12.33]Otherwise the chorus was entrancing,
[01:15.89]but the dancing was a lamentable mess!"
[01:18.33]"Dear Firmin, just a brief reminder:
[01:19.67]
[01:20.43]my salary has not been paid.
[01:22.37]
[01:23.23]Send it care of the ghost, by return of post.
[01:26.17]P.T.O.:
[01:27.23]
[01:27.73]No-one likes a debtor,
[01:29.04]so it's better if my orders are obeyed!"
[01:30.68]
[01:32.55]Who would have the gall to send this?
[01:34.68]Someone with a puerile brain!
[01:36.99]
[01:37.73]These are both signed "O.G." . . .
[01:39.61]Who the hell is he?
[01:40.79]Opera ghost!
[01:42.23]It's really not amusing!
[01:43.48]He's abusing our position!
[01:44.78]In addition he wants money!
[01:46.29]He's a funny sort of spectre . . .
[01:48.03]. . . to expect a large retainer!
[01:49.47]Nothing plainer -
[01:50.22]he is clearly quite insane!
[01:51.15]Where is she?
[01:52.09]You mean Carlotta?
[01:52.65]I mean Miss Daae -
[01:53.77]where is she?
[01:54.53]Well, how should we know?
[01:55.46]I want an answer -
[01:56.64]I take it that you sent me this note?
[01:58.20]What's all this nonsense?
[01:58.86]Of course not!
[02:00.36]Don't look at us!
[02:01.04]She's not with you, then?
[02:02.04]Of course not!
[02:02.85]We're in the dark . . .
[02:04.47]Monsieur, don't argue -
[02:05.91]Isn't this the letter you wrote?
[02:07.16]And what is it, that we're meant to have wrote?
[02:08.58]
[02:10.52]"Do not fear for Miss Daae.
[02:12.28]
[02:12.96]The Angel of Music has her under his wing.
[02:16.89]Make no attempt to see her again."
[02:20.81]
[02:22.06]If you didn't write it, who did?
[02:23.69]
[02:24.31]Where is he?
[02:25.24]
[02:25.86]Ah, welcome back!
[02:26.73]Your precious patron -
[02:27.49]where is he?
[02:28.54]What is it now?
[02:29.35]I have your letter -
[02:30.30]a letter which I rather resent!
[02:31.67]And did you send it?
[02:33.16]Of course not!
[02:34.34]As if he would!
[02:35.03]You didn't send it?
[02:36.03]Of course not!
[02:37.09]What's going on . . .?
[02:38.15]You dare to tell me,
[02:39.22]that this is not the letter you sent ? !
[02:41.21]And what is it that I'm
[02:42.32]meant to have sent?
[02:43.39]"Your days
[02:44.64]
[02:45.43]at the Opera Populaire are numbered.
[02:47.37]
[02:48.49]Christine Daae will be singing on your behalf tonight.
[02:51.30]
[02:52.05]Be prepared for a great misfortune,
[02:53.73]
[02:54.92]should you attempt to take her place."
[02:57.55]
[02:59.86]Far too many notes for my taste -
[03:02.30]and most of them about Christine!
[03:04.66]
[03:05.36]All we've heard since we came
[03:06.79]is Miss Daae's name . . .
[03:09.90]
[03:10.53]Miss Daae has returned.
[03:11.78]
[03:12.40]I trust her midnight oil
[03:13.46]is well and truly burned.
[03:15.46]Where precisely is she now?
[03:16.59]
[03:17.15]I thought it best that she went home . . .
[03:19.46]She needed rest.
[03:20.02]May I see her?
[03:21.54]
[03:22.22]No, monsieur, she will see no-one.
[03:23.54]Will she sing?
[03:24.96]Will she sing?
[03:25.99]Here, I have a note . . .
[03:27.62]Let me see it!
[03:28.49]
[03:28.99]Please!
[03:31.55]"Gentlemen, I have now sent you several notes of the
[03:35.03]most amiable nature, detailing how my theatre is to be
[03:41.32]run. You have not followed my instructions.
[03:44.58]
[03:45.51]I shall give you one last chance . . ."
[03:49.94]
[03:50.95]. . . Christine Daae has returned to you,
[03:54.99]
[03:56.43]and I am anxious her career should progress.
[04:01.19]
[04:03.44]In the new production of "Il Muto",
[04:08.26]you will therefore cast Carlotta as the Pageboy,
[04:13.43]
[04:15.74]and put Miss Daae in the role of Countess.
[04:20.73]
[04:23.35]The role which Miss Daae plays calls for charm and appeal.
[04:30.16]
[04:32.09]The role of the Pageboy is silent -
[04:36.02]
[04:36.58]which makes my casting, in a word . . . ideal.
[04:43.07]
[04:45.75]I shall watch the performance from my normal seat in
[04:49.25]Box Five, which will be kept empty for me. Should
[04:53.99]these commands be ignored, a disaster beyond your
[04:58.92]imagination will occur.
[05:00.17]
[05:01.67]"I remain, Gentlemen, Your obedient servant, O.G."
[05:06.16]
[05:08.59]Christine!
[05:09.57]Whatever next . . .?
[05:10.64]It's all a ploy to help Christine!
[05:12.82]This is insane . . .
[05:13.82]I know who sent this:
[05:14.63]The Vicomte - her lover!
[05:15.43]Indeed?
[05:15.94]Can you believe this?
[05:17.49]Signora!
[05:18.09]
[05:19.08]O traditori!
[05:19.92]This is a joke!
[05:21.85]This changes nothing!
[05:22.42]O mentitori!
[05:23.16]Signora!
[05:23.34]You are our star!
[05:24.40]And always will be!
[05:25.78]Signora . . .
[05:26.65]The man is mad!
[05:27.39]We don't take orders!
[05:28.42]Miss Daae will be playing the Pageboy-
[05:29.61]the silent role . . .
[05:31.16]Carlotta will be playing the lead!
[05:32.54]
[05:33.29]It's useless trying to appease me!
[05:36.98]
[05:37.98]You're only saying this to please me!
[05:40.91]
[05:41.73]Signori, e vero?
[05:43.10]Non, non, non voglio udire !
[05:45.84]Lasciatemi morire!
[05:46.90]
[05:47.52]O padre mio!
[05:49.26]
[05:50.20]Dio!
[05:50.83]
[05:52.14]Who scorn his word,
[05:53.14]beware to those . . .
[05:54.40]You have reviled me!
[05:55.10]The angel sees,
[05:55.53]the angel knows . . .
[05:57.40]Why did Christine fly from my arms . . .?
[05:59.96]You have rebuked me!
[06:01.21]Signora, pardon us . . .
[06:03.14]You have replaced me!
[06:04.15]Please, Signora, we beseech you . . .
[06:06.39]This hour shall see your darkest fears . . .
[06:08.20]I must see her . . .
[06:09.51]Abbandonata!
[06:09.70]Deseredata!
[06:09.95]O, sventurata!
[06:10.57]The angel knows,
[06:11.39]the angel hears . . .
[06:12.69]Where did she go . . .?
[06:14.06]Abbandonata!
[06:14.32]Disgraziata!
[06:14.51]Signora, sing for us!
[06:15.43]Don't be a martyr . . .
[06:17.40]What new surprises lie in store . . .?
[06:19.27]Our star . . .!
[06:20.83]Non vo' cantar!
[06:22.52]
[06:30.82]Your public needs you!
[06:32.56]
[06:33.56]We need you, too!
[06:35.93]Would you not rather have your precious little ingenue?
[06:39.54]
[06:41.42]Signora, no!
[06:42.94]
[06:43.56]The world wants you!
[06:45.61]
[06:50.49]Prima donna first lady of the stage!
[06:56.03]
[06:56.84]Your devotees are on their knees to implore you !
[07:02.90]
[07:04.46]Can you bow out when they're shouting your name?
[07:10.51]
[07:11.95]Think of how they all adore you!
[07:17.16]
[07:19.22]Prima donna,
[07:21.65]enchant us once again!
[07:24.33]
[07:25.14]Think of your muse . . .
[07:27.32]And of the queues round the theatre!
[07:29.69]
[07:32.94]Can you deny us the triumph in store?
[07:38.56]
[07:39.37]Sing, prima donna, once more!
[07:44.36]
[07:45.79]Christine spoke of an angel . . .
[07:48.41]Prima donna, your song shall live again!
[07:52.60]
[07:53.29]Think of your public!
[07:55.36]You took a snub,
[07:56.42]but there's a public who needs you!
[07:58.72]She has heard the voice of the angel of music . . .
[08:02.60]Those who hear your voice,
[08:03.66]liken you to an angel!
[08:05.03]Think of their cry,
[08:06.65]of undying support !
[08:07.84]Is this her angel of music . . .?
[08:09.83]We get our opera . . .
[08:11.71]She gets her limelight!
[08:12.58]Follow where the limelight leads you!
[08:14.83]Is this ghost an angel or a madman . . .?
[08:17.07]Angel or madman . . .?
[08:18.44]Leading ladies are a trial!
[08:19.63]Heaven help you,
[08:20.25]those who doubt . . .
[08:21.44]You'll sing again,
[08:22.01]and to unending ovation!
[08:22.82]Orders! Warnings!
[08:23.32]Lunatic demands!
[08:24.93]This miscasting will invite damnation . . .
[08:27.75]Tears . . . oaths . . .
[08:29.62]Iunatic demands are regular occurrences!
[08:31.67]Bliss or damnation?
[08:34.23]Which has claimed her . . .?
[08:36.55]Think how you'll shine in that final encore!
[08:39.29]Sing, prima donna, once more!
[08:41.79]Oh fools, to have flouted his warnings!
[08:42.48]Surely, for her sake . . .
[08:42.73]Surely he'll strike back . . .
[08:42.97]Surely there'll be further scenes -
[08:43.17]worse than this!
[08:43.22]Think, before these demands are rejected!
[08:43.48]. . .I must see these demands are rejected!
[08:43.72]. . . if his threats and demands are rejected!
[08:44.10]Who'd believe a diva happy to relieve a chorus girl,
[08:44.41]who's gone and slept with the patron?
[08:44.66]Raoul and the soubrette, entwined in love's duet!
[08:44.91]Although he may demur, he must have been with her!
[08:45.22]Christine must be protected!
[08:45.35]O, fortunata!
[08:45.41]Non ancor abbandonata!
[08:45.54]You'd never get away with all this in a play,
[08:46.16]but if it's loudly sung and in a foreign tongue;
[08:48.03]it's just the sort of story audiences adore,
[08:49.47]in fact a perfect opera!
[08:50.41]His game is over!
[08:51.21]This is a game you cannot hope to win!
[08:52.77]And in Box Five,
[08:53.46]a new game will begin . . .
[08:54.83]For, if his curse is on this opera . . .
[08:56.70]But if his curse is on this opera . . .
[08:58.72]Prima donna, the world is at your feet!
[09:00.10]A nation waits, and how it hates to be cheated!
[09:01.90]The stress that falls upon a famous prima donna!
[09:03.52]Terrible diseases, coughs and colds and sneezes!
[09:05.15]Still, the dryest throat will reach the highest note,
[09:07.02]in search of perfect opera!
[09:08.07]. . . then I fear the outcome . . .
[09:10.19]Christine plays the Pageboy,
[09:10.90]Carlotta plays the Countess . . .
[09:12.27]
[09:12.98]. . . should you dare to . .
[09:17.28]. . . when you once again . . .
[09:23.52]
[09:24.08]Light up the stage with that age old rapport!
[09:30.89]
[09:33.13]Sing, prima donna, once more!
[09:46.10]
[09:50.41]So, it is to be war between us! If these demands are not
[09:56.64]met, a disaster beyond your imagination will occur!
[10:01.70]
[10:02.39]Once more!