Notes .../Prima Donna (Live)-Michael Reed/Original London Cast

[00:00.53]NOTES-PRIMA DONNA - Andrew Lloyd Webber [00:08.27]"Mystery after gala night" [00:09.77] [00:10.39]It says "mystery of sopranos flight" [00:12.39] [00:12.95]"mystified" all the papers say [00:15.57]"we are mystified we suspect foul play" [00:17.75] [00:18.50]Bad news on soprano scene - [00:20.75]first Carlotta, now Christine! [00:22.80] [00:23.44]Still, at least the seats get sold [00:26.05]gossip's worth its weight in gold . . . [00:30.81] [00:32.17]What a way to run a business! [00:34.23]Spare me these unending trials! [00:36.48] [00:37.10]Half your cast disappears, [00:38.48]but the crowd still cheers! [00:40.29]Opera! [00:40.98] [00:41.66]To hell with Gluck and Handel - [00:43.23]It's a scandal that'll pack 'em in the aisles! [00:45.18]Damnable! [00:45.86]Will they all walk out? [00:47.37]This is damnable! [00:48.30]Andre, please don't shout . . . [00:50.23]It's publicity! And the take is vast! [00:52.55]Free publicity! [00:53.98]But we have no cast . . . [00:55.79]But Andre, [00:56.41]have you seen the queue? [00:57.97]Oh, it seems you've got one too . . . [01:02.22] [01:04.27]"Dear Andre what a charming gala! [01:06.33]Christine enjoyed a great success! [01:08.79] [01:09.72]We were hardly bereft when Carlotta left - [01:11.64] [01:12.33]Otherwise the chorus was entrancing, [01:15.89]but the dancing was a lamentable mess!" [01:18.33]"Dear Firmin, just a brief reminder: [01:19.67] [01:20.43]my salary has not been paid. [01:22.37] [01:23.23]Send it care of the ghost, by return of post. [01:26.17]P.T.O.: [01:27.23] [01:27.73]No-one likes a debtor, [01:29.04]so it's better if my orders are obeyed!" [01:30.68] [01:32.55]Who would have the gall to send this? [01:34.68]Someone with a puerile brain! [01:36.99] [01:37.73]These are both signed "O.G." . . . [01:39.61]Who the hell is he? [01:40.79]Opera ghost! [01:42.23]It's really not amusing! [01:43.48]He's abusing our position! [01:44.78]In addition he wants money! [01:46.29]He's a funny sort of spectre . . . [01:48.03]. . . to expect a large retainer! [01:49.47]Nothing plainer - [01:50.22]he is clearly quite insane! [01:51.15]Where is she? [01:52.09]You mean Carlotta? [01:52.65]I mean Miss Daae - [01:53.77]where is she? [01:54.53]Well, how should we know? [01:55.46]I want an answer - [01:56.64]I take it that you sent me this note? [01:58.20]What's all this nonsense? [01:58.86]Of course not! [02:00.36]Don't look at us! [02:01.04]She's not with you, then? [02:02.04]Of course not! [02:02.85]We're in the dark . . . [02:04.47]Monsieur, don't argue - [02:05.91]Isn't this the letter you wrote? [02:07.16]And what is it, that we're meant to have wrote? [02:08.58] [02:10.52]"Do not fear for Miss Daae. [02:12.28] [02:12.96]The Angel of Music has her under his wing. [02:16.89]Make no attempt to see her again." [02:20.81] [02:22.06]If you didn't write it, who did? [02:23.69] [02:24.31]Where is he? [02:25.24] [02:25.86]Ah, welcome back! [02:26.73]Your precious patron - [02:27.49]where is he? [02:28.54]What is it now? [02:29.35]I have your letter - [02:30.30]a letter which I rather resent! [02:31.67]And did you send it? [02:33.16]Of course not! [02:34.34]As if he would! [02:35.03]You didn't send it? [02:36.03]Of course not! [02:37.09]What's going on . . .? [02:38.15]You dare to tell me, [02:39.22]that this is not the letter you sent ? ! [02:41.21]And what is it that I'm [02:42.32]meant to have sent? [02:43.39]"Your days [02:44.64] [02:45.43]at the Opera Populaire are numbered. [02:47.37] [02:48.49]Christine Daae will be singing on your behalf tonight. [02:51.30] [02:52.05]Be prepared for a great misfortune, [02:53.73] [02:54.92]should you attempt to take her place." [02:57.55] [02:59.86]Far too many notes for my taste - [03:02.30]and most of them about Christine! [03:04.66] [03:05.36]All we've heard since we came [03:06.79]is Miss Daae's name . . . [03:09.90] [03:10.53]Miss Daae has returned. [03:11.78] [03:12.40]I trust her midnight oil [03:13.46]is well and truly burned. [03:15.46]Where precisely is she now? [03:16.59] [03:17.15]I thought it best that she went home . . . [03:19.46]She needed rest. [03:20.02]May I see her? [03:21.54] [03:22.22]No, monsieur, she will see no-one. [03:23.54]Will she sing? [03:24.96]Will she sing? [03:25.99]Here, I have a note . . . [03:27.62]Let me see it! [03:28.49] [03:28.99]Please! [03:31.55]"Gentlemen, I have now sent you several notes of the [03:35.03]most amiable nature, detailing how my theatre is to be [03:41.32]run. You have not followed my instructions. [03:44.58] [03:45.51]I shall give you one last chance . . ." [03:49.94] [03:50.95]. . . Christine Daae has returned to you, [03:54.99] [03:56.43]and I am anxious her career should progress. [04:01.19] [04:03.44]In the new production of "Il Muto", [04:08.26]you will therefore cast Carlotta as the Pageboy, [04:13.43] [04:15.74]and put Miss Daae in the role of Countess. [04:20.73] [04:23.35]The role which Miss Daae plays calls for charm and appeal. [04:30.16] [04:32.09]The role of the Pageboy is silent - [04:36.02] [04:36.58]which makes my casting, in a word . . . ideal. [04:43.07] [04:45.75]I shall watch the performance from my normal seat in [04:49.25]Box Five, which will be kept empty for me. Should [04:53.99]these commands be ignored, a disaster beyond your [04:58.92]imagination will occur. [05:00.17] [05:01.67]"I remain, Gentlemen, Your obedient servant, O.G." [05:06.16] [05:08.59]Christine! [05:09.57]Whatever next . . .? [05:10.64]It's all a ploy to help Christine! [05:12.82]This is insane . . . [05:13.82]I know who sent this: [05:14.63]The Vicomte - her lover! [05:15.43]Indeed? [05:15.94]Can you believe this? [05:17.49]Signora! [05:18.09] [05:19.08]O traditori! [05:19.92]This is a joke! [05:21.85]This changes nothing! [05:22.42]O mentitori! [05:23.16]Signora! [05:23.34]You are our star! [05:24.40]And always will be! [05:25.78]Signora . . . [05:26.65]The man is mad! [05:27.39]We don't take orders! [05:28.42]Miss Daae will be playing the Pageboy- [05:29.61]the silent role . . . [05:31.16]Carlotta will be playing the lead! [05:32.54] [05:33.29]It's useless trying to appease me! [05:36.98] [05:37.98]You're only saying this to please me! [05:40.91] [05:41.73]Signori, e vero? [05:43.10]Non, non, non voglio udire ! [05:45.84]Lasciatemi morire! [05:46.90] [05:47.52]O padre mio! [05:49.26] [05:50.20]Dio! [05:50.83] [05:52.14]Who scorn his word, [05:53.14]beware to those . . . [05:54.40]You have reviled me! [05:55.10]The angel sees, [05:55.53]the angel knows . . . [05:57.40]Why did Christine fly from my arms . . .? [05:59.96]You have rebuked me! [06:01.21]Signora, pardon us . . . [06:03.14]You have replaced me! [06:04.15]Please, Signora, we beseech you . . . [06:06.39]This hour shall see your darkest fears . . . [06:08.20]I must see her . . . [06:09.51]Abbandonata! [06:09.70]Deseredata! [06:09.95]O, sventurata! [06:10.57]The angel knows, [06:11.39]the angel hears . . . [06:12.69]Where did she go . . .? [06:14.06]Abbandonata! [06:14.32]Disgraziata! [06:14.51]Signora, sing for us! [06:15.43]Don't be a martyr . . . [06:17.40]What new surprises lie in store . . .? [06:19.27]Our star . . .! [06:20.83]Non vo' cantar! [06:22.52] [06:30.82]Your public needs you! [06:32.56] [06:33.56]We need you, too! [06:35.93]Would you not rather have your precious little ingenue? [06:39.54] [06:41.42]Signora, no! [06:42.94] [06:43.56]The world wants you! [06:45.61] [06:50.49]Prima donna first lady of the stage! [06:56.03] [06:56.84]Your devotees are on their knees to implore you ! [07:02.90] [07:04.46]Can you bow out when they're shouting your name? [07:10.51] [07:11.95]Think of how they all adore you! [07:17.16] [07:19.22]Prima donna, [07:21.65]enchant us once again! [07:24.33] [07:25.14]Think of your muse . . . [07:27.32]And of the queues round the theatre! [07:29.69] [07:32.94]Can you deny us the triumph in store? [07:38.56] [07:39.37]Sing, prima donna, once more! [07:44.36] [07:45.79]Christine spoke of an angel . . . [07:48.41]Prima donna, your song shall live again! [07:52.60] [07:53.29]Think of your public! [07:55.36]You took a snub, [07:56.42]but there's a public who needs you! [07:58.72]She has heard the voice of the angel of music . . . [08:02.60]Those who hear your voice, [08:03.66]liken you to an angel! [08:05.03]Think of their cry, [08:06.65]of undying support ! [08:07.84]Is this her angel of music . . .? [08:09.83]We get our opera . . . [08:11.71]She gets her limelight! [08:12.58]Follow where the limelight leads you! [08:14.83]Is this ghost an angel or a madman . . .? [08:17.07]Angel or madman . . .? [08:18.44]Leading ladies are a trial! [08:19.63]Heaven help you, [08:20.25]those who doubt . . . [08:21.44]You'll sing again, [08:22.01]and to unending ovation! [08:22.82]Orders! Warnings! [08:23.32]Lunatic demands! [08:24.93]This miscasting will invite damnation . . . [08:27.75]Tears . . . oaths . . . [08:29.62]Iunatic demands are regular occurrences! [08:31.67]Bliss or damnation? [08:34.23]Which has claimed her . . .? [08:36.55]Think how you'll shine in that final encore! [08:39.29]Sing, prima donna, once more! [08:41.79]Oh fools, to have flouted his warnings! [08:42.48]Surely, for her sake . . . [08:42.73]Surely he'll strike back . . . [08:42.97]Surely there'll be further scenes - [08:43.17]worse than this! [08:43.22]Think, before these demands are rejected! [08:43.48]. . .I must see these demands are rejected! [08:43.72]. . . if his threats and demands are rejected! [08:44.10]Who'd believe a diva happy to relieve a chorus girl, [08:44.41]who's gone and slept with the patron? [08:44.66]Raoul and the soubrette, entwined in love's duet! [08:44.91]Although he may demur, he must have been with her! [08:45.22]Christine must be protected! [08:45.35]O, fortunata! [08:45.41]Non ancor abbandonata! [08:45.54]You'd never get away with all this in a play, [08:46.16]but if it's loudly sung and in a foreign tongue; [08:48.03]it's just the sort of story audiences adore, [08:49.47]in fact a perfect opera! [08:50.41]His game is over! [08:51.21]This is a game you cannot hope to win! [08:52.77]And in Box Five, [08:53.46]a new game will begin . . . [08:54.83]For, if his curse is on this opera . . . [08:56.70]But if his curse is on this opera . . . [08:58.72]Prima donna, the world is at your feet! [09:00.10]A nation waits, and how it hates to be cheated! [09:01.90]The stress that falls upon a famous prima donna! [09:03.52]Terrible diseases, coughs and colds and sneezes! [09:05.15]Still, the dryest throat will reach the highest note, [09:07.02]in search of perfect opera! [09:08.07]. . . then I fear the outcome . . . [09:10.19]Christine plays the Pageboy, [09:10.90]Carlotta plays the Countess . . . [09:12.27] [09:12.98]. . . should you dare to . . [09:17.28]. . . when you once again . . . [09:23.52] [09:24.08]Light up the stage with that age old rapport! [09:30.89] [09:33.13]Sing, prima donna, once more! [09:46.10] [09:50.41]So, it is to be war between us! If these demands are not [09:56.64]met, a disaster beyond your imagination will occur! [10:01.70] [10:02.39]Once more!