Notes .../Prima Donna

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

Gossips 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!

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:

Andre have you seen the queue

Ah, it seems you've got one too

Andre:

"Dear Andre what a charming gala

Christine was in a word sublime

We were hardly bereft when Carlotta left

On that note: The diva's a disaster

Must you cast her when she's seasons past her prime?"

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 debter so it's better if my order 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 & 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 not

Firmin:

What all this nonsense?

Andre:

Of course not

Firmin:

Don't look at us

Raoul:

She's not with you then?

Firmin:

Of course not

Andre:

We're in the dark

Raoul:

Monsieur don't argue

Isn't this the letter you wrote

Firmin:

And what 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 then who did?

Carlotta:

Where is he?

Andre:

Ah, welcome back

Carlotta & Piangi:

Your precious patron

Where is he?

Raoul:

What is it now?

Carlotta:

I have your letter

A letter that which I rather resent

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

That this is not the letter you sent

Raoul:

And what is it that I'm meant to of 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 attempt you 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

Madame Giry:

Miss Daae has returned

Firmin:

I hope no worse for wear as far as we're concerned

Andre:

Where precisely is she now?

Madame Giry:

I thought it best she was alone

Meg:

She needed rest

Raoul:

May I see her?

Madame Giry:

No monsieur she will see no one

Carlotta & Piangi:

Will she sing?

Will she sing?

Madame Giry:

Here I have a note

All (except Madame Giry and Meg):

Let me see it

Firmin:

Please

"Gentlemen, I have now sent you several notes of the most aimnable nature detailing how my theater is to be run

You have ignored my orders...

Phantom:

...I shall give you one last chance

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 page boy

And put Miss Daae in the role of Countess

The role which Miss Daae plays calls for charm and appeal

The role of the page boy is silent which makes my casting in a word, ideal

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 & Piangi:

Christine!

Andre:

What ever next?

Carlotta & Piangi:

It's all a ploy to help Christine

Firmin:

This is insane

Carlotta:

I know who sent this

The Viscount, her lover

Raoul:

Indeed, can you believe this?

Firmin:

Signora

Carlotta:

O tradori!

Andre:

This is a joke

Firmin:

This changes nothing

Carlotta:

O mentitori

Firmin:

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

Piangi:

Appease her!

Carlotta:

You're only saying this to please me

Piangi:

Please her!

Charlotta & Piangi:

Lasciatemi morire!

O padre mio!

Dio!

Madame Giry:

Who scorn his word beware to those

Carlotta:

You have reviled me!

Madame Giry:

The angle sees, the angel knows

Carlotta:

You have rebuked me!

Andre & Firmin:

Signora, pardon us

Carlotta:

You have replaced me

Andre & Firmin:

Please signora we beseech you

Madame Giry:

This hour shall see your darkest fears

Raoul:

I must see her

Carlotta & Piangi:

Abbandonata!

Deseredata!

O, sventurata!

Madame Giry:

The angel sees, the angle hears

Raoul:

Where did she go?

Carlotta & Piangi:

Abbandonata!

Andre & Firmin:

Senora sing for us

Carlotta & Piangi:

Disgraziata!

Andre & Firmin:

Don't be a martyr

Madame Giry, Meg, Raoul:

What new suprises lie in store!?

Admirer:

Could you please give this to Miss Daae?

Miss Daae!

Firmin:

Your public needs you

Andre:

We need you too

Carlotta:

Would you not 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

Raoul:

Christine spoke of an angel

Carlotta:

Prima Donna your song shall live again

Andre & Firmin:

Think of your public

Carlotta:

You took a snub but there's a public who needs you

Madame Giry:

She has heard the voice of the Angel of Music

Andre & Firmin:

Those who hear you liken you to an angel

Carlotta:

Think of the cry of undying support

Andre:

We get her Opera

Firmin:

She gets her limelight

Carlotta:

Follow where the lime light leads you

Andre & Firmin:

Leading ladies are a trial

Carlotta:

Prima Donna your song shall never die

You'll sing again and to unending ovation

Raoul:

Order, warnings lunatic demands!

Andre & Firmin:

Lunatic demands are regular occurences

Carlotta:

Think how you'll sing in that final encore

Andre & Firmin:

Sing Prima Donna once more

Raoul:

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!

Carlotta:

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!

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 raport

Sing Prima Donna

Once more!