Notes/Prima Donna Lyrics
| Song | Notes/Prima Donna |
| Artist | Original London Cast |
| Album | The Phantom of the Opera (Original 1986 London Cast) |
| Download | Image LRC TXT |
| FIRMIN: | |
| "Mystery after gala night" | |
| It says "Mystery of soprano's flight" | |
| "Mystified", baffled Sûreté say | |
| "We are mystified, we suspect foul play" | |
| Bad news on soprano scene | |
| First Carlotta, now Christine | |
| Still, at least the seats get sold | |
| Gossip's worth its weight in gold | |
| What a way to run a business | |
| Spare me these unending trials | |
| Half your cast disappears but the crowd still cheers | |
| Opera! | |
| To hell with Gluck and Handel | |
| It's a scandal that'll pack them in the aisles! | |
| ANDRE: | |
| Damnable! | |
| Will they all walk out? | |
| This is damnable! | |
| FIRMIN: | |
| Andre, please don't shout | |
| It's publicity, and the take is vast | |
| Free publicity | |
| ANDRE: | |
| But we have no cast! | |
| FIRMIN: | |
| But Andre, have you seen the queue? | |
| Oh, it seems as though you've got one, too | |
| ANDRE: | |
| "Dear Andre, what a charming gala | |
| Christine enjoyed a great success | |
| We were hardly bereft when Carlotta left | |
| Otherwise, the chorus was entrancing | |
| But the dancing was a lamentable mess" | |
| FIRMIN: | |
| "Dear Firmin, just a brief reminder | |
| My salary has not been paid | |
| Send it care of the Ghost by return of post, P.T.O. | |
| No one likes a debtor | |
| So it's better if my orders are obeyed" | |
| ANDRE/FIRMIN: | |
| Who would have the gall to send this? | |
| Someone with a puerile brain | |
| These are both signed "O.G." | |
| ANDRE: | |
| Who the hell is he? | |
| ANDRE/FIRMIN: | |
| Opera Ghost! | |
| ANDRE: | |
| It's really not amusing | |
| FIRMIN: | |
| He's abusing our position | |
| ANDRE: | |
| In addition, he wants money | |
| FIRMIN: | |
| He's a funny sort of spectre | |
| ANDRE/FIRMIN: | |
| To expect a large retainer | |
| Nothing plainer, he is clearly quite insane | |
| RAOUL: | |
| Where is she? | |
| ANDRE: | |
| You mean Carlotta? | |
| RAOUL: | |
| I mean Miss Daae. Where is she? | |
| FIRMIN: | |
| Well, how should we know? | |
| RAOUL | |
| I want an answer | |
| I take it that you sent me this note? | |
| FIRMIN: | |
| What's all this nonsense? | |
| ANDRE: | |
| Of course not! | |
| FIRMIN: | |
| Don't look at us | |
| RAOUL: | |
| She's not with you, then? | |
| ANDRE: | |
| Of course not! | |
| FIRMIN: | |
| We're in the dark | |
| RAOUL: | |
| Monsieur, don't argue | |
| Isn't this the letter you wrote? | |
| FIRMIN: | |
| And what is it that we're meant to have wrote? | |
| Written | |
| ANDRE: | |
| "Do not fear for Miss Daae | |
| The Angel of Music has her under his wing | |
| Make no attempt to see her again" | |
| RAOUL: | |
| If you didn't write it, who did? | |
| CARLOTTA: | |
| Where is he? | |
| ANDRE: | |
| Ah, welcome back! | |
| CARLOTTA: | |
| Your precious patron | |
| Where is he? | |
| RAOUL: | |
| What is it now? | |
| CARLOTTA: | |
| I have your letter | |
| A letter which I rather resent | |
| ANDRE: | |
| And did you send it? | |
| RAOUL: | |
| Of course not! | |
| FIRMIN: | |
| As if he would! | |
| CARLOTTA: | |
| You didn't send it? | |
| RAOUL | |
| Of course not! | |
| ANDRE: | |
| What's going on? | |
| CARLOTTA: | |
| You dare to tell me | |
| That this is not the letter you sent? | |
| RAOUL: | |
| And what is it | |
| That I'm meant to have sent? | |
| "Your days at the Opera Populaire are numbered | |
| Christine Daae will be singing on your behalf tonight | |
| Be prepared for a great misfortune | |
| Should you attempt to take her place" | |
| ANDRE/FIRMIN: | |
| Far too many notes for my taste | |
| And most of them about Christine | |
| All we've heard since we came is Miss Daae's name | |
| GIRY: | |
| Miss Daae has returned | |
| ANDRE: | |
| I trust her midnight oil | |
| Is well and truly burned? | |
| FIRMIN: | |
| Where precisely is she now? | |
| GIRY: | |
| I thought it best if she went home | |
| MEG: | |
| She needed rest | |
| RAOUL: | |
| May I see her? | |
| GIRY: | |
| No, monsieur, she will see no one | |
| CARLOTTA: | |
| Will she sing? | |
| Will she sing? | |
| GIRY: | |
| Here, I have a note | |
| ANDRE/FIRMIN/RAOUL/CARLOTTA: | |
| Let me see it! | |
| FIRMIN: | |
| Please! | |
| " | |
| Gentlemen, I have now sent you several notes of the most amiable nature, detailing how my theater is be to run. You have not followed my instructions. | |
| " | |
| FIRMIN/THE PHANTOM: | |
| " | |
| I shall give you one last chance... | |
| " | |
| THE PHANTOM: | |
| Christine Daae has returned to you | |
| And I am anxious her career should progress | |
| In the new production of "Il Muto" | |
| You will therefore cast Carlotta as the pageboy | |
| And put Miss Daae in the role of countess | |
| The role which Miss Daae plays | |
| Calls for charm and appeal | |
| The role of the pageboy is silent | |
| Which makes my casting in a word, ideal | |
| (I shall watch the performance from my normal seat in Box Five, which will be kept empty for me. Should these commands be ignored, a disaster beyond your imagination will occur.) | |
| FIRMIN: | |
| " | |
| I remain, gentlemen, your obedient servant. O.G. | |
| " | |
| CARLOTTA: | |
| Christine! | |
| FIRMIN: | |
| Whatever next? | |
| CARLOTTA: | |
| It's all a ploy to help Christine | |
| FIRMIN: | |
| This is insane | |
| CARLOTTA: | |
| I know who sent this | |
| The Vicomte, her lover | |
| RAOUL: | |
| (scoffing) | |
| Indeed! | |
| Can you believe this? | |
| ANDRE: | |
| Signora! | |
| This is a joke | |
| This changes nothing | |
| FIRMIN: | |
| Signora! You are our star! | |
| ANDRE: | |
| And always will be! | |
| FIRMIN: | |
| Signora, the man is mad! | |
| ANDRE: | |
| We don't take orders | |
| FIRMIN: | |
| Miss Daae will be playing the pageboy! | |
| The silent role | |
| ANDRE/FIRMIN: | |
| Carlotta will be playing the lead! | |
| CARLOTTA: | |
| It's useless trying to appease me | |
| You're only saying this to please me | |
| ANDRE: | |
| Your public needs you! | |
| FIRMIN: | |
| We need you, too! | |
| CARLOTTA: | |
| (unassuaged) Would you not | |
| rather have your | |
| precious little | |
| ingenue? | |
| ANDRE/FIRMIN: | |
| Signora, no! | |
| the world wants you! | |
| (The MANAGERS adopt their most persuasive attitudes) | |
| ANDRE/FIRMIN: | |
| Prima donna | |
| first lady of the stage! | |
| Your devotees | |
| are on their knees | |
| to implore you ! | |
| ANDRE: | |
| Can you bow out | |
| when they're shouting | |
| your name? | |
| FIRMIN: | |
| Think of how they all | |
| adore you! | |
| BOTH: | |
| Prima donna, | |
| enchant us once again! | |
| ANDRE: | |
| Think of your muse... | |
| FIRMIN: | |
| And of the queues | |
| round the theatre! | |
| BOTH: | |
| Can you deny us the triumph | |
| in store? | |
| Sing, prima donna, once more! | |
| (CARLOTTA registers her acceptance as the MANAGERS continue to cajole and the OTHERS reflect variously on the situation) | |
| RAOUL: | |
| Christine spoke of an angel... | |
| CARLOTTA: | |
| (to herself, in triumph) | |
| Prima donna | |
| your song shall live again! | |
| ANDRE/FIRMIN: | |
| (to CARLOTTA) | |
| Think of your public! | |
| CARLOTTA: | |
| You took a snub | |
| but there's a public | |
| who needs you! | |
| GIRY: | |
| (referring to CHRISTINE) | |
| She has heard the voice | |
| of the angel of music... | |
| ANDRE/FIRMIN: | |
| (to CARLOTTA) | |
| Those who hear your voice | |
| liken you to an angel! | |
| CARLOTTA: | |
| Think of their cry | |
| of undying | |
| support ! | |
| RAOUL: | |
| Is this her angel of music...? | |
| ANDRE: | |
| (to FIRMlN) | |
| We get our opera... | |
| FIRMIN: | |
| (to ANDRE) | |
| She gets her limelight! | |
| CARLOTTA: | |
| Follow where the limelight | |
| leads you! | |
| MEG: | |
| Is this ghost | |
| an angel or a madman...? | |
| RAOUL: | |
| Angel or madman...? | |
| ANDRE/FIRMIN: | |
| (aside) Leading ladies are a trial! | |
| GIRY: | |
| Heaven help you, | |
| those who doubt... | |
| CARLOTTA: | |
| You'll sing again, | |
| and to unending | |
| ovation! | |
| RAOUL: | |
| Orders! Warnings! | |
| Lunatic demands! | |
| GIRY: | |
| This miscasting | |
| will invite damnation... | |
| ANDRE/FIRMIN: | |
| Tears...oaths... | |
| Iunatic demands | |
| are regular occurrences! | |
| MEG: | |
| Bliss or damnation? | |
| Which has claimed her...? | |
| CARLOTTA: | |
| Think how you'll shine | |
| in that final encore! | |
| Sing, prima donna, | |
| once more! | |
| GIRY: | |
| Oh fools, to have flouted his warnings! | |
| RAOUL: | |
| Surely, for her sake... | |
| MEG: | |
| Surely he'll strike back... | |
| ANDRE/FIRMIN: | |
| Surely there'll be further scenes - | |
| worse than this! | |
| GIRY: | |
| Think, before | |
| these demands are rejected! | |
| RAOUL: | |
| ...I must see | |
| these demands are rejected! | |
| MEG: | |
| ...if his threats | |
| and demands are rejected! | |
| ANDRE/FIRMIN: | |
| Who'd believe a diva | |
| happy to relieve a chorus girl, | |
| who's gone and slept with the patron? | |
| Raoul and the soubrette, | |
| entwined in love's duet! | |
| Although he may demur, | |
| he must have been with her! | |
| MEG/RAOUL: | |
| Christine must be protected! | |
| CARLOTTA: | |
| O, fortunata! | |
| Non ancor | |
| abbandonata! | |
| ANDRE/FIRMIN: | |
| You'd never get away | |
| with all this in a play, | |
| but if it's loudly sung | |
| and in a foreign tongue | |
| it's just the sort of story | |
| audiences adore, | |
| in fact a perfect opera! | |
| RAOUL: | |
| His game is over! | |
| GIRY: | |
| This is a game | |
| you cannot hope to win! | |
| RAOUL: | |
| And in Box Five | |
| a new game will begin... | |
| GIRY: | |
| For, if his curse is on this opera... | |
| MEG: | |
| But if his curse is on this opera... | |
| ANDRE/FIRMIN: | |
| Prima donna | |
| the world is at your feet! | |
| A nation waits, | |
| and how it hates | |
| to be cheated! | |
| CARLOTTA: | |
| The stress that falls upon a | |
| famous prima donna! | |
| Terrible diseases, | |
| coughs and colds and sneezes! | |
| Still, the dryest throat | |
| will reach the highest note, | |
| in search of perfect | |
| opera! | |
| MEG/GIRY: | |
| ...then I fear the outcome... | |
| RAOUL: | |
| Christine plays the Pageboy, | |
| Carlotta plays the Countess... | |
| GIRY: | |
| ...should you dare to... | |
| MEG: | |
| ...when you once again... | |
| ALL: | |
| Light up the stage | |
| with that age old | |
| rapport! | |
| Sing, prima donna, | |
| once more! | |
| PHANTOM'S VOICE: | |
| So, it is to be war between us! If these demands are not | |
| met, a disaster beyond your imagination will occur! | |
| ALL: | |
| Once more! |
| FIRMIN: | |
| " Mystery after gala night" | |
| It says " Mystery of soprano' s flight" | |
| " Mystified", baffled S ret say | |
| " We are mystified, we suspect foul play" | |
| Bad news on soprano scene | |
| First Carlotta, now Christine | |
| Still, at least the seats get sold | |
| Gossip' s worth its weight in gold | |
| What a way to run a business | |
| Spare me these unending trials | |
| Half your cast disappears but the crowd still cheers | |
| Opera! | |
| To hell with Gluck and Handel | |
| It' s a scandal that' ll pack them in the aisles! | |
| ANDRE: | |
| Damnable! | |
| Will they all walk out? | |
| This is damnable! | |
| FIRMIN: | |
| Andre, please don' t shout | |
| It' s publicity, and the take is vast | |
| Free publicity | |
| ANDRE: | |
| But we have no cast! | |
| FIRMIN: | |
| But Andre, have you seen the queue? | |
| Oh, it seems as though you' ve got one, too | |
| ANDRE: | |
| " Dear Andre, what a charming gala | |
| Christine enjoyed a great success | |
| We were hardly bereft when Carlotta left | |
| Otherwise, the chorus was entrancing | |
| But the dancing was a lamentable mess" | |
| FIRMIN: | |
| " Dear Firmin, just a brief reminder | |
| My salary has not been paid | |
| Send it care of the Ghost by return of post, P. T. O. | |
| No one likes a debtor | |
| So it' s better if my orders are obeyed" | |
| ANDRE FIRMIN: | |
| Who would have the gall to send this? | |
| Someone with a puerile brain | |
| These are both signed " O. G. " | |
| ANDRE: | |
| Who the hell is he? | |
| ANDRE FIRMIN: | |
| Opera Ghost! | |
| ANDRE: | |
| It' s really not amusing | |
| FIRMIN: | |
| He' s abusing our position | |
| ANDRE: | |
| In addition, he wants money | |
| FIRMIN: | |
| He' s a funny sort of spectre | |
| ANDRE FIRMIN: | |
| To expect a large retainer | |
| Nothing plainer, he is clearly quite insane | |
| RAOUL: | |
| Where is she? | |
| ANDRE: | |
| You mean Carlotta? | |
| RAOUL: | |
| I mean Miss Daae. Where is she? | |
| FIRMIN: | |
| Well, how should we know? | |
| RAOUL | |
| I want an answer | |
| I take it that you sent me this note? | |
| FIRMIN: | |
| What' s all this nonsense? | |
| ANDRE: | |
| Of course not! | |
| FIRMIN: | |
| Don' t look at us | |
| RAOUL: | |
| She' s not with you, then? | |
| ANDRE: | |
| Of course not! | |
| FIRMIN: | |
| We' re in the dark | |
| RAOUL: | |
| Monsieur, don' t argue | |
| Isn' t this the letter you wrote? | |
| FIRMIN: | |
| And what is it that we' re meant to have wrote? | |
| Written | |
| ANDRE: | |
| " Do not fear for Miss Daae | |
| The Angel of Music has her under his wing | |
| Make no attempt to see her again" | |
| RAOUL: | |
| If you didn' t write it, who did? | |
| CARLOTTA: | |
| Where is he? | |
| ANDRE: | |
| Ah, welcome back! | |
| CARLOTTA: | |
| Your precious patron | |
| Where is he? | |
| RAOUL: | |
| What is it now? | |
| CARLOTTA: | |
| I have your letter | |
| A letter which I rather resent | |
| ANDRE: | |
| And did you send it? | |
| RAOUL: | |
| Of course not! | |
| FIRMIN: | |
| As if he would! | |
| CARLOTTA: | |
| You didn' t send it? | |
| RAOUL | |
| Of course not! | |
| ANDRE: | |
| What' s going on? | |
| CARLOTTA: | |
| You dare to tell me | |
| That this is not the letter you sent? | |
| RAOUL: | |
| And what is it | |
| That I' m meant to have sent? | |
| " Your days at the Opera Populaire are numbered | |
| Christine Daae will be singing on your behalf tonight | |
| Be prepared for a great misfortune | |
| Should you attempt to take her place" | |
| ANDRE FIRMIN: | |
| Far too many notes for my taste | |
| And most of them about Christine | |
| All we' ve heard since we came is Miss Daae' s name | |
| GIRY: | |
| Miss Daae has returned | |
| ANDRE: | |
| I trust her midnight oil | |
| Is well and truly burned? | |
| FIRMIN: | |
| Where precisely is she now? | |
| GIRY: | |
| I thought it best if she went home | |
| MEG: | |
| She needed rest | |
| RAOUL: | |
| May I see her? | |
| GIRY: | |
| No, monsieur, she will see no one | |
| CARLOTTA: | |
| Will she sing? | |
| Will she sing? | |
| GIRY: | |
| Here, I have a note | |
| ANDRE FIRMIN RAOUL CARLOTTA: | |
| Let me see it! | |
| FIRMIN: | |
| Please! | |
| " | |
| Gentlemen, I have now sent you several notes of the most amiable nature, detailing how my theater is be to run. You have not followed my instructions. | |
| " | |
| FIRMIN THE PHANTOM: | |
| " | |
| I shall give you one last chance. . . | |
| " | |
| THE PHANTOM: | |
| Christine Daae has returned to you | |
| And I am anxious her career should progress | |
| In the new production of " Il Muto" | |
| You will therefore cast Carlotta as the pageboy | |
| And put Miss Daae in the role of countess | |
| The role which Miss Daae plays | |
| Calls for charm and appeal | |
| The role of the pageboy is silent | |
| Which makes my casting in a word, ideal | |
| I shall watch the performance from my normal seat in Box Five, which will be kept empty for me. Should these commands be ignored, a disaster beyond your imagination will occur. | |
| FIRMIN: | |
| " | |
| I remain, gentlemen, your obedient servant. O. G. | |
| " | |
| CARLOTTA: | |
| Christine! | |
| FIRMIN: | |
| Whatever next? | |
| CARLOTTA: | |
| It' s all a ploy to help Christine | |
| FIRMIN: | |
| This is insane | |
| CARLOTTA: | |
| I know who sent this | |
| The Vicomte, her lover | |
| RAOUL: | |
| scoffing | |
| Indeed! | |
| Can you believe this? | |
| ANDRE: | |
| Signora! | |
| This is a joke | |
| This changes nothing | |
| FIRMIN: | |
| Signora! You are our star! | |
| ANDRE: | |
| And always will be! | |
| FIRMIN: | |
| Signora, the man is mad! | |
| ANDRE: | |
| We don' t take orders | |
| FIRMIN: | |
| Miss Daae will be playing the pageboy! | |
| The silent role | |
| ANDRE FIRMIN: | |
| Carlotta will be playing the lead! | |
| CARLOTTA: | |
| It' s useless trying to appease me | |
| You' re only saying this to please me | |
| ANDRE: | |
| Your public needs you! | |
| FIRMIN: | |
| We need you, too! | |
| CARLOTTA: | |
| unassuaged Would you not | |
| rather have your | |
| precious little | |
| ingenue? | |
| ANDRE FIRMIN: | |
| Signora, no! | |
| the world wants you! | |
| The MANAGERS adopt their most persuasive attitudes | |
| ANDRE FIRMIN: | |
| Prima donna | |
| first lady of the stage! | |
| Your devotees | |
| are on their knees | |
| to implore you! | |
| ANDRE: | |
| Can you bow out | |
| when they' re shouting | |
| your name? | |
| FIRMIN: | |
| Think of how they all | |
| adore you! | |
| BOTH: | |
| Prima donna, | |
| enchant us once again! | |
| ANDRE: | |
| Think of your muse. . . | |
| FIRMIN: | |
| And of the queues | |
| round the theatre! | |
| BOTH: | |
| Can you deny us the triumph | |
| in store? | |
| Sing, prima donna, once more! | |
| CARLOTTA registers her acceptance as the MANAGERS continue to cajole and the OTHERS reflect variously on the situation | |
| RAOUL: | |
| Christine spoke of an angel. . . | |
| CARLOTTA: | |
| to herself, in triumph | |
| Prima donna | |
| your song shall live again! | |
| ANDRE FIRMIN: | |
| to CARLOTTA | |
| Think of your public! | |
| CARLOTTA: | |
| You took a snub | |
| but there' s a public | |
| who needs you! | |
| GIRY: | |
| referring to CHRISTINE | |
| She has heard the voice | |
| of the angel of music. . . | |
| ANDRE FIRMIN: | |
| to CARLOTTA | |
| Those who hear your voice | |
| liken you to an angel! | |
| CARLOTTA: | |
| Think of their cry | |
| of undying | |
| support! | |
| RAOUL: | |
| Is this her angel of music. . . ? | |
| ANDRE: | |
| to FIRMlN | |
| We get our opera. . . | |
| FIRMIN: | |
| to ANDRE | |
| She gets her limelight! | |
| CARLOTTA: | |
| Follow where the limelight | |
| leads you! | |
| MEG: | |
| Is this ghost | |
| an angel or a madman. . . ? | |
| RAOUL: | |
| Angel or madman. . . ? | |
| ANDRE FIRMIN: | |
| aside Leading ladies are a trial! | |
| GIRY: | |
| Heaven help you, | |
| those who doubt. . . | |
| CARLOTTA: | |
| You' ll sing again, | |
| and to unending | |
| ovation! | |
| RAOUL: | |
| Orders! Warnings! | |
| Lunatic demands! | |
| GIRY: | |
| This miscasting | |
| will invite damnation. . . | |
| ANDRE FIRMIN: | |
| Tears. . . oaths. . . | |
| Iunatic demands | |
| are regular occurrences! | |
| MEG: | |
| Bliss or damnation? | |
| Which has claimed her. . . ? | |
| CARLOTTA: | |
| Think how you' ll shine | |
| in that final encore! | |
| Sing, prima donna, | |
| once more! | |
| GIRY: | |
| Oh fools, to have flouted his warnings! | |
| RAOUL: | |
| Surely, for her sake. . . | |
| MEG: | |
| Surely he' ll strike back. . . | |
| ANDRE FIRMIN: | |
| Surely there' ll be further scenes - | |
| worse than this! | |
| GIRY: | |
| Think, before | |
| these demands are rejected! | |
| RAOUL: | |
| . . . I must see | |
| these demands are rejected! | |
| MEG: | |
| . . . if his threats | |
| and demands are rejected! | |
| ANDRE FIRMIN: | |
| Who' d believe a diva | |
| happy to relieve a chorus girl, | |
| who' s gone and slept with the patron? | |
| Raoul and the soubrette, | |
| entwined in love' s duet! | |
| Although he may demur, | |
| he must have been with her! | |
| MEG RAOUL: | |
| Christine must be protected! | |
| CARLOTTA: | |
| O, fortunata! | |
| Non ancor | |
| abbandonata! | |
| ANDRE FIRMIN: | |
| You' d never get away | |
| with all this in a play, | |
| but if it' s loudly sung | |
| and in a foreign tongue | |
| it' s just the sort of story | |
| audiences adore, | |
| in fact a perfect opera! | |
| RAOUL: | |
| His game is over! | |
| GIRY: | |
| This is a game | |
| you cannot hope to win! | |
| RAOUL: | |
| And in Box Five | |
| a new game will begin. . . | |
| GIRY: | |
| For, if his curse is on this opera. . . | |
| MEG: | |
| But if his curse is on this opera. . . | |
| ANDRE FIRMIN: | |
| Prima donna | |
| the world is at your feet! | |
| A nation waits, | |
| and how it hates | |
| to be cheated! | |
| CARLOTTA: | |
| The stress that falls upon a | |
| famous prima donna! | |
| Terrible diseases, | |
| coughs and colds and sneezes! | |
| Still, the dryest throat | |
| will reach the highest note, | |
| in search of perfect | |
| opera! | |
| MEG GIRY: | |
| . . . then I fear the outcome. . . | |
| RAOUL: | |
| Christine plays the Pageboy, | |
| Carlotta plays the Countess. . . | |
| GIRY: | |
| . . . should you dare to. . . | |
| MEG: | |
| . . . when you once again. . . | |
| ALL: | |
| Light up the stage | |
| with that age old | |
| rapport! | |
| Sing, prima donna, | |
| once more! | |
| PHANTOM' S VOICE: | |
| So, it is to be war between us! If these demands are not | |
| met, a disaster beyond your imagination will occur! | |
| ALL: | |
| Once more! |
| FIRMIN: | |
| " Mystery after gala night" | |
| It says " Mystery of soprano' s flight" | |
| " Mystified", baffled S ret say | |
| " We are mystified, we suspect foul play" | |
| Bad news on soprano scene | |
| First Carlotta, now Christine | |
| Still, at least the seats get sold | |
| Gossip' s worth its weight in gold | |
| What a way to run a business | |
| Spare me these unending trials | |
| Half your cast disappears but the crowd still cheers | |
| Opera! | |
| To hell with Gluck and Handel | |
| It' s a scandal that' ll pack them in the aisles! | |
| ANDRE: | |
| Damnable! | |
| Will they all walk out? | |
| This is damnable! | |
| FIRMIN: | |
| Andre, please don' t shout | |
| It' s publicity, and the take is vast | |
| Free publicity | |
| ANDRE: | |
| But we have no cast! | |
| FIRMIN: | |
| But Andre, have you seen the queue? | |
| Oh, it seems as though you' ve got one, too | |
| ANDRE: | |
| " Dear Andre, what a charming gala | |
| Christine enjoyed a great success | |
| We were hardly bereft when Carlotta left | |
| Otherwise, the chorus was entrancing | |
| But the dancing was a lamentable mess" | |
| FIRMIN: | |
| " Dear Firmin, just a brief reminder | |
| My salary has not been paid | |
| Send it care of the Ghost by return of post, P. T. O. | |
| No one likes a debtor | |
| So it' s better if my orders are obeyed" | |
| ANDRE FIRMIN: | |
| Who would have the gall to send this? | |
| Someone with a puerile brain | |
| These are both signed " O. G. " | |
| ANDRE: | |
| Who the hell is he? | |
| ANDRE FIRMIN: | |
| Opera Ghost! | |
| ANDRE: | |
| It' s really not amusing | |
| FIRMIN: | |
| He' s abusing our position | |
| ANDRE: | |
| In addition, he wants money | |
| FIRMIN: | |
| He' s a funny sort of spectre | |
| ANDRE FIRMIN: | |
| To expect a large retainer | |
| Nothing plainer, he is clearly quite insane | |
| RAOUL: | |
| Where is she? | |
| ANDRE: | |
| You mean Carlotta? | |
| RAOUL: | |
| I mean Miss Daae. Where is she? | |
| FIRMIN: | |
| Well, how should we know? | |
| RAOUL | |
| I want an answer | |
| I take it that you sent me this note? | |
| FIRMIN: | |
| What' s all this nonsense? | |
| ANDRE: | |
| Of course not! | |
| FIRMIN: | |
| Don' t look at us | |
| RAOUL: | |
| She' s not with you, then? | |
| ANDRE: | |
| Of course not! | |
| FIRMIN: | |
| We' re in the dark | |
| RAOUL: | |
| Monsieur, don' t argue | |
| Isn' t this the letter you wrote? | |
| FIRMIN: | |
| And what is it that we' re meant to have wrote? | |
| Written | |
| ANDRE: | |
| " Do not fear for Miss Daae | |
| The Angel of Music has her under his wing | |
| Make no attempt to see her again" | |
| RAOUL: | |
| If you didn' t write it, who did? | |
| CARLOTTA: | |
| Where is he? | |
| ANDRE: | |
| Ah, welcome back! | |
| CARLOTTA: | |
| Your precious patron | |
| Where is he? | |
| RAOUL: | |
| What is it now? | |
| CARLOTTA: | |
| I have your letter | |
| A letter which I rather resent | |
| ANDRE: | |
| And did you send it? | |
| RAOUL: | |
| Of course not! | |
| FIRMIN: | |
| As if he would! | |
| CARLOTTA: | |
| You didn' t send it? | |
| RAOUL | |
| Of course not! | |
| ANDRE: | |
| What' s going on? | |
| CARLOTTA: | |
| You dare to tell me | |
| That this is not the letter you sent? | |
| RAOUL: | |
| And what is it | |
| That I' m meant to have sent? | |
| " Your days at the Opera Populaire are numbered | |
| Christine Daae will be singing on your behalf tonight | |
| Be prepared for a great misfortune | |
| Should you attempt to take her place" | |
| ANDRE FIRMIN: | |
| Far too many notes for my taste | |
| And most of them about Christine | |
| All we' ve heard since we came is Miss Daae' s name | |
| GIRY: | |
| Miss Daae has returned | |
| ANDRE: | |
| I trust her midnight oil | |
| Is well and truly burned? | |
| FIRMIN: | |
| Where precisely is she now? | |
| GIRY: | |
| I thought it best if she went home | |
| MEG: | |
| She needed rest | |
| RAOUL: | |
| May I see her? | |
| GIRY: | |
| No, monsieur, she will see no one | |
| CARLOTTA: | |
| Will she sing? | |
| Will she sing? | |
| GIRY: | |
| Here, I have a note | |
| ANDRE FIRMIN RAOUL CARLOTTA: | |
| Let me see it! | |
| FIRMIN: | |
| Please! | |
| " | |
| Gentlemen, I have now sent you several notes of the most amiable nature, detailing how my theater is be to run. You have not followed my instructions. | |
| " | |
| FIRMIN THE PHANTOM: | |
| " | |
| I shall give you one last chance. . . | |
| " | |
| THE PHANTOM: | |
| Christine Daae has returned to you | |
| And I am anxious her career should progress | |
| In the new production of " Il Muto" | |
| You will therefore cast Carlotta as the pageboy | |
| And put Miss Daae in the role of countess | |
| The role which Miss Daae plays | |
| Calls for charm and appeal | |
| The role of the pageboy is silent | |
| Which makes my casting in a word, ideal | |
| I shall watch the performance from my normal seat in Box Five, which will be kept empty for me. Should these commands be ignored, a disaster beyond your imagination will occur. | |
| FIRMIN: | |
| " | |
| I remain, gentlemen, your obedient servant. O. G. | |
| " | |
| CARLOTTA: | |
| Christine! | |
| FIRMIN: | |
| Whatever next? | |
| CARLOTTA: | |
| It' s all a ploy to help Christine | |
| FIRMIN: | |
| This is insane | |
| CARLOTTA: | |
| I know who sent this | |
| The Vicomte, her lover | |
| RAOUL: | |
| scoffing | |
| Indeed! | |
| Can you believe this? | |
| ANDRE: | |
| Signora! | |
| This is a joke | |
| This changes nothing | |
| FIRMIN: | |
| Signora! You are our star! | |
| ANDRE: | |
| And always will be! | |
| FIRMIN: | |
| Signora, the man is mad! | |
| ANDRE: | |
| We don' t take orders | |
| FIRMIN: | |
| Miss Daae will be playing the pageboy! | |
| The silent role | |
| ANDRE FIRMIN: | |
| Carlotta will be playing the lead! | |
| CARLOTTA: | |
| It' s useless trying to appease me | |
| You' re only saying this to please me | |
| ANDRE: | |
| Your public needs you! | |
| FIRMIN: | |
| We need you, too! | |
| CARLOTTA: | |
| unassuaged Would you not | |
| rather have your | |
| precious little | |
| ingenue? | |
| ANDRE FIRMIN: | |
| Signora, no! | |
| the world wants you! | |
| The MANAGERS adopt their most persuasive attitudes | |
| ANDRE FIRMIN: | |
| Prima donna | |
| first lady of the stage! | |
| Your devotees | |
| are on their knees | |
| to implore you! | |
| ANDRE: | |
| Can you bow out | |
| when they' re shouting | |
| your name? | |
| FIRMIN: | |
| Think of how they all | |
| adore you! | |
| BOTH: | |
| Prima donna, | |
| enchant us once again! | |
| ANDRE: | |
| Think of your muse. . . | |
| FIRMIN: | |
| And of the queues | |
| round the theatre! | |
| BOTH: | |
| Can you deny us the triumph | |
| in store? | |
| Sing, prima donna, once more! | |
| CARLOTTA registers her acceptance as the MANAGERS continue to cajole and the OTHERS reflect variously on the situation | |
| RAOUL: | |
| Christine spoke of an angel. . . | |
| CARLOTTA: | |
| to herself, in triumph | |
| Prima donna | |
| your song shall live again! | |
| ANDRE FIRMIN: | |
| to CARLOTTA | |
| Think of your public! | |
| CARLOTTA: | |
| You took a snub | |
| but there' s a public | |
| who needs you! | |
| GIRY: | |
| referring to CHRISTINE | |
| She has heard the voice | |
| of the angel of music. . . | |
| ANDRE FIRMIN: | |
| to CARLOTTA | |
| Those who hear your voice | |
| liken you to an angel! | |
| CARLOTTA: | |
| Think of their cry | |
| of undying | |
| support! | |
| RAOUL: | |
| Is this her angel of music. . . ? | |
| ANDRE: | |
| to FIRMlN | |
| We get our opera. . . | |
| FIRMIN: | |
| to ANDRE | |
| She gets her limelight! | |
| CARLOTTA: | |
| Follow where the limelight | |
| leads you! | |
| MEG: | |
| Is this ghost | |
| an angel or a madman. . . ? | |
| RAOUL: | |
| Angel or madman. . . ? | |
| ANDRE FIRMIN: | |
| aside Leading ladies are a trial! | |
| GIRY: | |
| Heaven help you, | |
| those who doubt. . . | |
| CARLOTTA: | |
| You' ll sing again, | |
| and to unending | |
| ovation! | |
| RAOUL: | |
| Orders! Warnings! | |
| Lunatic demands! | |
| GIRY: | |
| This miscasting | |
| will invite damnation. . . | |
| ANDRE FIRMIN: | |
| Tears. . . oaths. . . | |
| Iunatic demands | |
| are regular occurrences! | |
| MEG: | |
| Bliss or damnation? | |
| Which has claimed her. . . ? | |
| CARLOTTA: | |
| Think how you' ll shine | |
| in that final encore! | |
| Sing, prima donna, | |
| once more! | |
| GIRY: | |
| Oh fools, to have flouted his warnings! | |
| RAOUL: | |
| Surely, for her sake. . . | |
| MEG: | |
| Surely he' ll strike back. . . | |
| ANDRE FIRMIN: | |
| Surely there' ll be further scenes - | |
| worse than this! | |
| GIRY: | |
| Think, before | |
| these demands are rejected! | |
| RAOUL: | |
| . . . I must see | |
| these demands are rejected! | |
| MEG: | |
| . . . if his threats | |
| and demands are rejected! | |
| ANDRE FIRMIN: | |
| Who' d believe a diva | |
| happy to relieve a chorus girl, | |
| who' s gone and slept with the patron? | |
| Raoul and the soubrette, | |
| entwined in love' s duet! | |
| Although he may demur, | |
| he must have been with her! | |
| MEG RAOUL: | |
| Christine must be protected! | |
| CARLOTTA: | |
| O, fortunata! | |
| Non ancor | |
| abbandonata! | |
| ANDRE FIRMIN: | |
| You' d never get away | |
| with all this in a play, | |
| but if it' s loudly sung | |
| and in a foreign tongue | |
| it' s just the sort of story | |
| audiences adore, | |
| in fact a perfect opera! | |
| RAOUL: | |
| His game is over! | |
| GIRY: | |
| This is a game | |
| you cannot hope to win! | |
| RAOUL: | |
| And in Box Five | |
| a new game will begin. . . | |
| GIRY: | |
| For, if his curse is on this opera. . . | |
| MEG: | |
| But if his curse is on this opera. . . | |
| ANDRE FIRMIN: | |
| Prima donna | |
| the world is at your feet! | |
| A nation waits, | |
| and how it hates | |
| to be cheated! | |
| CARLOTTA: | |
| The stress that falls upon a | |
| famous prima donna! | |
| Terrible diseases, | |
| coughs and colds and sneezes! | |
| Still, the dryest throat | |
| will reach the highest note, | |
| in search of perfect | |
| opera! | |
| MEG GIRY: | |
| . . . then I fear the outcome. . . | |
| RAOUL: | |
| Christine plays the Pageboy, | |
| Carlotta plays the Countess. . . | |
| GIRY: | |
| . . . should you dare to. . . | |
| MEG: | |
| . . . when you once again. . . | |
| ALL: | |
| Light up the stage | |
| with that age old | |
| rapport! | |
| Sing, prima donna, | |
| once more! | |
| PHANTOM' S VOICE: | |
| So, it is to be war between us! If these demands are not | |
| met, a disaster beyond your imagination will occur! | |
| ALL: | |
| Once more! |
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