Notes / Prima Donna

"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 'em in the aisles

Damnable

Will they all walk out

This is damnable

Andre please don't shout

It's publicity And the take is vast

Free publicity

But we have no cast

But Andre

Have you seen the queue

Oh it seems you've got one too

"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 "

"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 "

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

It's really not amusing

He's abusing our position

In addition he wants money

He's a funny sort of spectre

To expect a large retainer

Nothing plainer

He is clearly quite insane

Where is she

You mean Carlotta

I mean Miss Daae

Where is she

Well how should we know

I want an answer

I take it that you sent me this note

What's all this nonsense

Of course not

Don't look at us

She's not with you then

Of course not

We're in the dark

Monsieur don't argue

Isn't this the letter you wrote

And what is it

That we're meant to have wrote

Written

"Do not fear for Miss Daae

The Angel of Music has her under his wing

Make no attempt to see her again "

If you didn't write it who did

Where is he

Ah welcome back

Your precious patron

Where is he

What is it now

I have your letter

A letter which I rather resent

And did you send it

Of course not

As if he would

You didn't send it

Of course not

What's going on

You dare to tell me

That this is not the letter you sent

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 "

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

Miss Daae has returned

I trust her midnight oil

Is well and truly burned

Where precisely is she now

I thought it best that she went home

She needed rest

May I see her

No monsieur she will see no-one

Will she sing

Will she sing

Here I have a note

Let me see it

Please

"Gentlemen I have now sent you

Several notes of the

Most amiable nature

Detailing how my theatre is to be run

You have not followed my instructions

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 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

"I remain Gentlemen

Your obedient servant O G "

Christine

Whatever next

It's all a ploy to help Christine

This is insane

I know who sent this:

The Vicomte her lover

Indeed

Can you believe this

Signora

O traditori

This is a joke

This changes nothing

O mentitori

Signora

You are our star

And always will be

Signora

The man is mad

We don't take orders

Miss Daae will be playing the Pageboy

The silent role

Carlotta will be playing the lead

It's useless trying to appease me

You're only saying this to please me

Signori e vero

Non non non voglio udire

Lasciatemi morire

O padre mio

Dio

Who scorn his word

Beware to those

You have reviled me

The angel sees

The angel knows

Why did Christine fly from my arms

You have rebuked me

Signora pardon us

You have replaced me

Please Signora we beseech you

This hour shall see your darkest fears

I must see her

Abbandonata

Deseredata

O sventurata

The angel knows

The angel hears

Where did she go

Abbandonata

Disgraziata

Signora sing for us

Don't be a martyr

What new surprises lie in store

Your public needs you

We need you too

Would you not rather

Have your precious little ingenue

Signora no

The world wants you

Prima donna first lady of the stage

Your devotees are on their

Knees to implore you

Can you bow out

When they're shouting your name

Think of how they all adore you

Prima donna

Enchant us once again

Think of your muse

And of the queues round the theatre

Can you deny us the triumph in store

Sing prima donna once more

Christine spoke of an angel

Prima donna

Your song shall live again

Think of your public

You took a snub

But there's a public who needs you

She has heard the voice

Of the angel of music

Those who hear your voice

Liken you to an angel

Think of their cry

Of undying support

Is this her angel of music

We get our opera

She gets her limelight

Follow where the limelight leads you

Is this ghost an angel or a madman

Angel or madman

Leading ladies are a trial

Heaven help you

Those who doubt

You'll sing again

And to unending ovation

Orders Warnings

Lunatic demands

This miscasting will invite damnation

Tears oaths

Iunatic demands are regular occurrences

Bliss or damnation

Which has claimed her

Think how you'll shine in that final encore

Sing prima donna once more

Oh fools to have flouted his warnings

Surely for her sake

Surely he'll strike back

Surely there'll be further scenes

Worse than this

Think before these demands are rejected

I must see these demands are rejected

If his threats and demands are rejected

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

Christine must be protected

O fortunata

Non ancor abbandonata

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

His game is over

This is a game you cannot hope to win

And in Box Five

A new game will begin

For if his curse is on this opera

But if his curse is on this opera

Prima donna the world is at your feet

A nation waits and how it hates to be cheated

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

Then I fear the outcome

Christine plays the Pageboy

Carlotta plays the Countess

Should you dare to

When you once again

Light up the stage with

That age old rapport

Sing prima donna

Once more

So it is to be war between us

If these demands are not

Met a disaster beyond

Your imagination will occur

Once more