[FIRMIN]
"Mystery after gala night,"
It says, "Mystery of sopranos flight!"
"Mystified," all the papers 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 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
[FIRMIN]
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
[ANDRE]
You mean Carlotta?
[FIRMIN]
Well, how should we know?
[RAOUL]
Where is she?
I mean Miss Daaé
Where is she?
I want an answer [RAOUL]
I take it that you sent me this note
[ANDRE]
What all this nonsense?
Of course not
[FIRMIN]
Don't look at us She's not with you then?
Monsieur don't argue
Isn't this the letter you wrote? [FIRMIN]
Of course not!
[ANDRE]
We're in the dark [FIRMIN]
And what is is 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?
[CARLOTTA]
Your precious patron
Where is he?
[CARLOTTA]
I have your letter
A letter which I rather resent
[ANDRE]
Ah, welcome back!
[RAOUL]
What is it now? [FIRMIN]
And did you send it? [RAOUL]
Of course not!
[ANDRE]
As if he would
[CARLOTTA]
You didn't send it? [RAOUL]
Of course not!
[FIRMIN]
What going on?
[CARLOTTA]
You dare to tell me [CARLOTTA]
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 Daaé 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 Daaé's name
[MME GIRY]
Miss Daaé 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?
[MME GIRY]
No monsieur, she will see no one
[CARLOTTA & PIANGI]
Will she sing?
Will she sing?
[MME GIRY]
Here I have a note
[ALL (except Mme Giry and Meg)]
Let me see it
[FIRMIN]
Please!
"Gentlemen, I have now sent you several notes of the most amiable nature detailing how my theater is to be run
You have not followed my instructions..."
[PHANTOM'S VOICE, spoken]
"...I shall give you one last chance
(sung)
Christine Daaé 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 Daaé in the role of Countess
The role which Miss Daaé plays
Calls for charm and appeal
The role of the pageboy is silent which makes
My casting, in a word, ideal
(spoken)
I shall watch the performance from my normal seat in box 5, 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!
It's all a ploy to help Christine
I know who sent this
The Vicomte, her lover
[FIRMIN]
What ever next?
This is insane
[RAOUL]
Indeed!
Can you believe this? [ANDRE]
Signora!
This is a joke
This changes nothing
[CARLOTTA]
O tradori!
O mentitori!
[FIRMIN]
Signora! You are our star!
Signora, the man is mad! Signora! [ANDRE]
You are our star
[FIRMIN]
And always will be [ANDRE]
Signora
[FIRMIN]
The man is mad
[ANDRE]
We don't take orders [FIRMIN]
Miss Daae will be playing the page boy
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
Signer ribero, no no no
Lasciatemi morire!
O padre mio!
Dio!
[PIANGI]
Appease her!
Please her!
Signer ribero, no no no
Lasciatemi morire!
O padre mio!
Dio! [MME GIRY]
Who scorn his word beware to those
The angel sees, the angel knows
[ANDRE & FIRMIN]
Signora, pardon us
Please Signora we beseech you [CARLOTTA]
You have reviled me!
You have rebuked me!
You have replaced me! [MME GIRY]
This hour shall see your darkest fears
The angel sees, the angel hears [CARLOTTA & PIANGI]
Abbandonata!
Deseredata!
[?] [RAOUL]
I must see her
Where did she go? [ANDRE & FIRMIN]
Signora, sing for us
Don't be a matyr
O, sventurata!
Disgraziata!
[MEG & RAOUL]
What new surprises [ALL]
Lie in store?
[FANS]
Could you please give this to Miss Daae?
Miss Daae?
[ANDRE]
Your public needs you
[FIRMIN]
We need you too
[CARLOTTA]
Wouldn't you rather have your precious little ingenue?
[ANDRE & FIRMIN]
Signora no! The world wants you
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
[ANDRE & FIRMIN]
Prima donna, enchant us once again
[ANDRE]
Think of your muse
[FIRMIN]
And all your queues 'round the theatre!
[ANDRE & FIRMIN]
Can you deny us the triumph in store? [ANDRE, FIRMIN
& PIANGI]
Sing Prima Donna once more
Think of your public
Those who hear you liken you to an angel
[ANDRE]
We get her Opera
[ANDRE & FIRMIN]
Leading ladies are a trial
Tears...
Oaths...
Lunatic demands are regular occurrences
Surely there'll be further scenes -
Worse than this!
[CARLOTTA]
Prima Donna
Your song shall live again
You took a snub
But there's a public who needs you
Think of the cry of undying support
Follow
Where the
Limelight
Leads you
Prima Donna
Your song shall never die
You'll sing again
And to unending ovation
Think how you'll shine in that final encore
Sing Prima Donna once more
[RAOUL]
Christine spoke of an angel
[MME GIRY]
She has heard the voice of the Angel of Music
[FIRMIN]
She gets her limelight
[PIANGI]
You'll[sing to me sweet heaven?]
[RAOUL]
Orders, warnings
Lunatic!
I must see these demands are rejected! [ANDRE & FIRMIN]
Who'd believe a diva
Happy to relieve a
Chorus girl whose 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!
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!
[CARLOTTA]
O!
[?]
Fortunata!
Non ancor
Abbandonata
[MEG & CHRISTINE]
For if his curse
Is on this Opera... [ALL]
Prima Donna the world is at your feet
A nation waits, and how it hates to be cheated!
Light up the stage with that age-old rapport
Sing Prima Donna
Once more! 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
Have a scandal and you're sure to have a hit!
[ANDRE]
Damnable!
[FIRMIN] Will they all walk out?
This is damnable! Andre please don't shout
It's publicity and the take is vast
Free publicity
[ANDRE]
But we have no cast! 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! [FIRMIN]
It is nothing short of shocking
[ANDRE] He is mocking our position [FIRMIN]
In addition he wants money
[ANDRE] What a funny apparition 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 Daaé. Where is she?
FIRMIN:
Well, how should we know?
RAOUL
I want an answer [RAOUL]
I take it that you sent me this note
[ANDRE]
What all this nonsense?
Of course not
[FIRMIN]
Don't look at us She's not with you then?
Monsieur don't argue
Isn't this the letter you wrote? [FIRMIN]
Of course not!
[ANDRE]
We're in the dark [FIRMIN]
And what is is 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?
[CARLOTTA & PIANGI]
Your precious patron
Where is he?
[CARLOTTA]
I have your letter
A letter which I rather resent
[ANDRE]
Ah, welcome back!
[RAOUL]
What is it now? [FIRMIN]
And did you send it? [RAOUL]
Of course not!
[ANDRE]
As if he would
[CARLOTTA & PIANGI]
You didn't send it? [RAOUL]
Of course not!
[FIRMIN]
What going on?
[CARLOTTA]
You dare to tell me [CARLOTTA]
That this is not the letter you sent?
[RAOUL]
And what is it that I'm meant to have sent?
"Your days at the Opéra Populaire are numbered
Christine Daaé 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 Daaé's name
GIRY:
Miss Daaé has returned
[FIRMIN]
No worse for wear as far as we're concerned
[ANDRE]
Where precisely is she now?
[MMME GIRY]
I thought it best she was alone
MEG:
She needed rest
RAOUL:
May I see her?
GIRY:
No, monsieur, she will see no one
[CARLOTTA & PIANGI]
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 to be run
You have not followed my instructions...
[PHANTOM]
...You have not followed my instructions
I shall give you one last chance PHANTOM'S VOICE (Sung):
Christine Daaé 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 Daaé in the role of Countess
The role which Miss Daaé plays
Calls for charm and appeal
The role of the page boy is silent which makes
My casting, in a word, ideal
PHANTOM'S VOICE (Spoken):
I shall watch the performance from my normal seat in box 5, which will be kept empty for me. Should these commands be ignored, a disaster beyond your imagination will occur. I remain, gentlemen, your obedient servant
O.G [CARLOTTA]
Christine!
[CARLOTTA & PIANGI]
It's all a ploy to help Christine
[CARLOTTA]
I know who sent this
The Viscount, her lover
[ANDRE]
What ever next?
[FIRMIN]
This is insane
[RAOUL]
Indeed
Can you believe this? [FIRMIN]
Signora
[CARLOTTA]
O tradori!
O mentitori!
[ANDRE]
This is a joke
This changes nothing Signora! [ANDRE]
You are our star
[FIRMIN]
And always will be [ANDRE]
Signora
[FIRMIN]
The man is mad
[ANDRE]
We don't take orders 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 Daaé 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
Signer ribero, no no no
Lasciatemi morire!
O padre mio!
Dio!
GIRY:
Who scorn his word beware to those
The angel sees, the angel knows
RAOUL:
Why did Christine
Fly from my arms?
ANDRE/FIRMIN:
Signora, pardon us!
Signora, we beseech you!
RAOUL:
I must see her
Where did she go?
RAOUL:
What new surprises
ALL:
Lie in store?
ANDRE:
Your public needs you!
FIRMIN:
We need you, too!
CARLOTTA:
Would you not
Rather have your
Precious little
Ingenue?
ANDRE/FIRMIN:
Signora, no!
The world wants you!
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!
ANDRE/FIRMIN:
Prima donna
Enchant us once again!
ANDRE:
Think of your muse...
FIRMIN:
And of the queues
Round the theatre!
ANDRE/FIRMIN:
Can you deny us the triumph
In store?
Sing, prima donna, once more!
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!
RAOUL:
Angel or madman...?
ANDRE/FIRMIN:
(aside) Leading ladies are a trial!
CARLOTTA:
Prima donna
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 driest 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!