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 Charlotta now Christine
Still at least the seats get sold
Gossips worth it's 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!

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
Andre have you seen the cue
Ah, it seems you've got one too.

Dear Andre what a charming gala
Christine was in a word sublime
We were hardly bereffed when Charlotta left
On that note: The diva's a disaster
Must you cast her when she sees she past her prime.

Dear Firmin just a breif reminder
My salary has not been payed
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.

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 is nothing short of shocking
He is mocking our position
In addition he wants money
What a funny apparition.

To expect a large retainer
Nothing plainer
He is clearly quite insane.

Where is she
You mean Charlotta
I mean Miss Daae
Where is she
Well how should we know
I want an answer
I take it that you sent me this not
What all this nonsense
Of course not
Don't look at us
She's mot 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 Musice 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
Where is he
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 going on
You dare to tell me
That this is not the letter you sent.

And what is it that I'm meant to of sent
Your days at the Opra Populaire are numbered
Christine Daae will be singing on your behalf tonight
Be prepared fpr 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
No worse for wear as far as we're concerned
Where precisely is she now
I thought it best she was alone.

She needed rest
May I see her
No monsiuer 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 Opera House is to be run
You have ignored my orders...

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 Charlotta 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 Viscount, her lover
Indeed an you belive this
Senora
O tradori!
This is a joke
This changes nothing
O mentitori
Sinora!
You are our star
And always will be
Sinora
The man is made
We don't take order
Miss Daae will be playing the page boy
The silent role.

Charlotta will be playing the lead
It's useless trying to appease me
Appease her
You're only saying this to please me
Please her
Lasciatemi morire
O padre mio
Dio
Who scorn his worde beware to those.

You have reviled me
The angle sees the angel knows
Why did Christine fly from my arms?

You have rebuked me
Sinora, pardon us
You have replaced me
Please Sinora we beseech you
This hour shall see your darkest fears
I must see her
Abbandonata
Deseredata
O, sventurata!

The angel sees the angle 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.

Wouldn't you rather have your precious little ingenue
Senora 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 their shouting your name
Think of how they all adore you
Prima donna enchant us one again
Think of your muse.

Firmin
And all your cues 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 as 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 her Opera
She gets her limelight
Follow where the lime light leads you
Leading ladies are a trial
Prima Donna your song shall never die
You'll sing again and to unending ovation
Order, warnings lunatic!

Andre & Firmin
This misacating will invite damnation
Lunatic demands are regular occurences
Think how you'll sing in that final encore
Sing Prima Donna once more
I must see 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!

Charlotta
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
For 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
Still, the dryest throat will reach the highest note
Sing Prima Donna
Once more!