Notes / Prima Donna

Mystery after gala night, it says

Mystery of sopranos 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 '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 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 is 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 then who did?

Where is he?

Ah, welcome back

Your precious patron

Where is he?

What is it now?

I have your letter

A letter that 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 aimnable 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 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.

Christine!

What ever next?

It's all a ploy to help Christine

This is insane

I know who sent this

The Vicomte, her lover

Indeed, can you belive this?

Signora

O tradori!

This is a joke

This changes nothing

O mentitori

You are our star

And always will be

Signora

The man is mad

We don't take orders

Miss Daae will be playing the page boy, the silent role

Carlotta will be playing the lead

It's useless trying to appease me

You're only saying this to please me

Signor, é 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

Sinora, 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 sees, the angel hears

Where did she go?

Abbandonata

Senora sing for us

Disgraziata

Don't be a matyr

What new suprises 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 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 you liken you to an angel

Think of the cry of undying support

We get our Opera

She gets her limelight

Follow where the limelight leads you

Leading ladies are a trial

Prima donna, your song shall never die

Heaven help you ​those who doubt

This miscasting will invite damnation

You'll sing again and to unending ovation

Tears... Oaths... Lunatic ​demands are regular occurrences

Lunatic demands are regular occurences

Think how you'll shine in that final encore

Sing Prima Donna once more

Surely ​there'll be further scenes — Worse than this!

Oh fools, to have flouted his warnings! Think, before ​these demands ​are ​rejected!

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

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

This is a game you cannot hope to win!

But if his curse is on this opera, then ​I fear ​the ​outcome

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!

Christine plays the Pageboy

Carlotta plays the Countess

Prima Donna the world is at your feet

A nation waits, and how it hates to be cheated

Should you dare to

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!

Gentlemen, if you would care to take your seats? I shall be sitting in Box Five

Do you really think that's wise, monsieur?

My dear André, there would appear to be no seats available, other than Box Five

Serafimo, away with this pretence!

You cannot speak, but kiss me in my husband's absence!