NotesPrima 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,
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!
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 orders are obeyed!"

Andre & Firmin
Who would have the gall to send this?
Someone with a puerile brain
These are both signed O.G
Who the hell is he?
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 note

Andre
What all this nonsense?
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 is that we're meant to have wrote?
...Written!

Andre
D"o 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
Where is he?
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 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

Madame Giry
Miss Daae has returned

Firmin
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 Opera House 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 belive 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 made

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

Charlotta
It's useless trying to appease me

Piangi
Appease her!

Carlotta
You're only saying this to please me

Piangi
Please her!

Carlotta & Piangi
Lasciatemi morire!
O padre mio!
Dio!

Madame Giry
Who scorn his word beware to those

Carlotta
You have reviled me!

Madame Giry
The angel sees, the angel knows

Raoul
Why did Christine fly from my arms?

Carlotta
You have rebuked me!

Andre & Firmin
Sinora, pardon us

Carlotta
You have replaced me

Aandre & 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 angel hears

Raoul
Where did she go?

Carlotta & Piangi
Abbandonata!

Andre & Firmin
Senora sing for us

Carlotta & Piangi
Disgraziata!

Andre & Firmin
Don't be a matyr

All
What new suprises lie in store

Firmin
Your public needs you

Andre
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

Raoul
Christine spoke of an angel

Charlotta
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!

Andre & Firmin
This misacating will invite damnation
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!
Still, the dryest throat will reach the highest note
Sing Prima Donna
Once more!