Notes / Prima Donna

'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 -
It's a scandal that'll pack'em in the aisles!

Damnable! Will they all walk out?
This is damnable!

André, please don't shout...
It's publicity! And the take is vast!
Free publicity!

But we have no cast...

But André, have you seen the queue?
Oh, it seems you've got one too...

'Dear André, 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 Daaé -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 Daaé.
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 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.'

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...

Miss Daaé 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 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 rôle of Countess.
The rôle which Miss Daaé plays
Calls for charm and appeal.
The rôle 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 Daaé will be playing
The Pageboy - the silent rôle...
Carlotta will be playing the lead!

It's useless trying to appease me!
You're only saying this to please me!
Signori, è 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 need you!

We need you, too!

Would you not rather have your
Precious little ingénue?

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!

Prima donna,
Your song shall never die!

Voice of hell, or of heaven...?

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...
Lunatic 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 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 driest 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!

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!