Prima Donna
Firmin Andre Raoul Carlotta Giry Meg and Phantom Lyrics
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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
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 is 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 theater 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 role of Countess
The role which Miss Daaé 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, o mentitori) (this is a joke)
This changes nothing
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 role
Carlotta will be playing the lead
It's useless trying to appease me
You're only saying this to please me
Signor, è vero?
No, no, non voglio udire
Lasciatemi morire
O padre mio
Dio
Who scorn his word beware to those
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
I must see her (this hour shall see your darkest fears)
Where did she go? (o sventurata) (the angel knows, the angel hears)
Signora, sing for us
Don't be a martyr (disgraziata)
What new surprises lie in store? (ah)
Your public needs 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? (Follow where the limelight leads you)
We get our opera
She gets her limelight
Angel or madman? (Leading ladies are a trial)
Prima Donna your song shall never die (voice of hell, or of heaven)
You'll sing again (heaven help you, those who doubt)
Orders! Warnings! (And to unending ovation!) (This miscasting)
Lunatic demands are regular occurrences! (Will invite damnation)
Think how you'll shine in that final encore! (Oh fools, to have flouted his warnings!)
Surely, for her sake (sing, prima donna, once more!)
Surely there'll be further scenes
Worse than this!
To see these demands are rejected (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? (Christine must be protected)
Raoul and the soubrette (o, fortunata)
Entwined in love's duet
Although he may demur (non ancor, abbandonata)
He must have been with her
You'd never get away
With all this in a play
But if it's loudly sung (this is a game you cannot hope to win)
And in a foreign tongue
It's just the sort of story
Audiences adore
In fact a perfect opera
Prima donna, the world is at your feet
A nation waits
And how it hates to be cheated
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 pretense
You cannot speak, but kiss me in my husband's absence
The song "Notes/Prima Donna" is a fast-paced and chaotic scene where the management of the Opéra Populaire receives notes from the mysterious and threatening Opera Ghost. The first verse speaks of his latest scheme, the disappearance of a soprano on the night of a gala, leaving the Surete (French police) mystified and suspecting foul play. The next verse shows a growing frustration among the managers and the chorus reeling from a string of bad news―first, the diva Carlotta's disappearance, then Christine Dae's return, and the interference of the Opera Ghost. The song then swings to the conflict between the management, the lover, and the Phantom over the casting of "Il Muto" - a new production where the Phantom's new notes demand Christine be given the lead role instead of Carlotta, and the ensuing chaos from the impossible demands.
The whole song is sung in various parts with multiple performers, which builds up increasing tension and confusion. The Opera Ghost's letter acts as a catalyst that magnifies the strife already present in the Opera house. The characters, some of whom might or might not be sympathetic to the Ghost, try to find a way out of their impossible situation―a phantom who controls their actions from the shadows, and the conflict only gets worse as Christine and her lover, Raoul, become more and more involved in the Phantom's plan. The song highlights the strained relationships between the characters and the tension that is felt deep within the Opéra Populaire.
Line by Line Meaning
Mystery after gala night
The disappearance of the soprano after the gala performance
It says, 'Mystery of sopranos flight'
It implies that the soprano's disappearance is a mystery
Mystified, baffled, Sûreté say
The police are perplexed and suspect foul play
We are mystified, we suspect foul play
We are confused and suspect that something malicious has occurred
Bad news on soprano scene
Unfortunate events involving sopranos
First Carlotta, now Christine
First Carlotta's departure, now Christine's
Still at least the seats get sold
At least the performances are still attracting an audience
Gossip's worth its weight in gold
Rumors and gossip are valuable and generate interest
What a way to run a business
This is a terrible way to manage a company
Spare me these unending trials
I am tired of dealing with constant problems and challenges
Half your cast disappears
Half of the cast members go missing
But the crowd still cheers
However, the audience continues to applaud
Opera
The world of opera
To hell with Gluck and Handel
Forget about classical composers like Gluck and Handel
It's a scandal that'll pack 'em in the aisles
This scandal will attract even more people to the theater
Damnable
Unfortunate and condemnable
Will they all walk out?
Will the audience leave the theater in protest?
This is damnable
This situation is unacceptable
André, please don't shout
André, please don't raise your voice
It's publicity, and the take is vast
It's a form of publicity, and it generates a significant profit
Free publicity
We are getting publicity without paying for it
But we have no cast
But we don't have a complete cast
But André, have you seen the queue?
But André, have you seen the long line of people waiting?
Oh, it seems you've got one, too
Oh, it seems you also have a line of people waiting
Dear André, what a charming gala
Dear André, what a delightful gala performance
Christine enjoyed a great success
Christine had a triumphant performance
We were hardly bereft when Carlotta left
We were not disappointed when Carlotta departed
Otherwise, the chorus was entrancing
Apart from that, the chorus was captivating
But the dancing was a lamentable mess
But the dancing was a disgraceful disaster
Dear Firmin, just a brief reminder
Dear Firmin, I am reminding you briefly
My salary has not been paid
I have not received my salary
Send it care of the ghost by return of post
Send it promptly to the ghost's address
P.T.O.: no one likes a debtor
P.T.O.: Nobody wants to owe others
So it's better if my orders are obeyed
So it's better if you follow my instructions
Who would have the gall to send this?
Who would have the audacity to send this?
Someone with a puerile brain
Someone with an immature mind
These are both signed 'O.G.'
These letters are both signed as 'O.G.'
Who the hell is he?
Who is this person?
Opera Ghost
The phantom known as the Opera Ghost
It's really not amusing
This is not funny at all
He's abusing our position
He is taking advantage of our authority
In addition, he wants money
Furthermore, he demands money
He's a funny sort of spectre
He is an odd kind of ghost
To expect a large retainer
To expect a significant sum of money
Nothing plainer
It couldn't be more obvious
He is clearly quite insane
He is evidently mentally unstable
Where is she?
Where is Christine?
You mean Carlotta? I mean Miss Daaé
You mean Carlotta? No, I mean Miss Daaé
Where is she?
Where is Christine?
Well, how should we know?
Well, we have no way of knowing
I want an answer
I demand an answer
I take it that you sent me this note (what's all this nonsense?)
So, I assume you sent me this letter? (What is the meaning of all this?)
Of course not
Certainly not
Don't look at us (she's not with you then?)
Don't look at us (She's not with you, right?)
Of course not (we're in the dark)
No, she's not with us (we have no information)
Monsieur, don't argue, isn't this the letter you wrote?
Monsieur, don't argue. Isn't this the letter you wrote?
And what is is that we're meant to have wrote?
And what is it that we were supposed to have written?
Written
It's written
Do not fear for Miss Daaé
Do not worry about Miss Daaé
The Angel of Music has her under his wing
The Angel of Music is guiding and protecting her
Make no attempt to see her again
Do not try to see her anymore
If you didn't write it, who did?
If you didn't write it, then who did?
Where is he?
Where is the person who wrote this?
Ah, welcome back
Ah, welcome back
Your precious patron, where is he?
Where is your esteemed patron?
What is it now?
What is the matter now?
I have your letter, a letter which I rather resent
I have your letter, a letter that I find offensive
And did you send it?
Did you send this letter?
Of course not
No, of course not
As if he would
As if he would do such a thing
You didn't send it?
You didn't send it?
Of course not
No, of course not
What's going on?
What is happening?
You dare to tell me
Do you have the audacity to tell me
That this is not the letter you sent?
That this is not the letter you sent?
And what is it that I'm meant to have sent?
And what is it that I supposedly sent?
Your days at the Opéra Populaire are numbered
Your days at the Opéra Populaire are limited
Christine Daaé will be singing on your behalf tonight
Christine Daaé will be performing in your place tonight
Be prepared for a great misfortune
Prepare yourself for a major disaster
Should you attempt to take her place
If you try to replace her
Far too many notes for my taste
There are too many musical notes for my liking
And most of them about Christine
And most of them are about Christine
All we've heard since we came
All we have heard since we arrived
Is Miss Daaé's name
Is the name of Miss Daaé
Miss Daaé has returned
Miss Daaé has come back
I trust her midnight oil is well and truly burned?
I hope she has worked very hard
Where precisely is she now?
Where exactly is she at the moment?
I thought it best that she went home
I believed it was best for her to go home
She needed rest
She needed some rest
May I see her?
Can I see her?
No Monsieur, she will see no one
No, Monsieur. She will not see anyone
Will she sing? Will she sing?
Will she perform? Will she sing?
Here, I have a note
Here, I have a letter
Let me see it
Let me read it
Please
Please
Gentlemen, I have now sent you several notes of the most amiable nature
Gentlemen, I have sent you several friendly letters
Detailing how my theater is to be run, you have not followed my instructions
Explaining how my theater should be operated, but you have not obeyed my directives
I shall give you one last chance
I will give you one final opportunity
Christine Daaé has returned to you
Christine Daaé has come back to your theater
And I am anxious her career should progress
And I am eager for her career to advance
In the new production of Il Muto
In the upcoming performance of Il Muto
You will therefore cast Carlotta as the pageboy
Therefore, you should cast Carlotta as the male servant
And put Miss Daaé in the role of Countess
And place Miss Daaé in the role of a noblewoman
The role which Miss Daaé plays
The role that Miss Daaé performs
Calls for charm and appeal
Requires charm and appeal
The role of the pageboy is silent which makes
The role of the male servant has no lines, which means
My casting, in a word, ideal
My casting choice is, in short, perfect
I shall watch the performance from my normal seat in box five
I will observe the performance from my usual seat in box five
Which will be kept empty for me, should these commands be ignored
Which will be left unoccupied for me, if you choose to ignore these instructions
A disaster beyond your imagination will occur
A calamity that you cannot even imagine will happen
I remain, gentlemen, your obedient servant
I remain, gentlemen, your obedient servant
Gentlemen, if you would care to take your seats?
Gentlemen, if you would like to take your seats?
I shall be sitting in Box Five
I will be sitting in Box Five
Do you really think that's wise, monsieur?
Do you honestly believe that is a wise decision, sir?
My dear André, there would appear to be no seats available other than Box Five
My dear André, it seems that there are no seats available except for Box Five
Serafimo, away with this pretense
Serafimo, let's stop pretending
You cannot speak, but kiss me in my husband's absence
You cannot voice your opinion, but you can kiss me when my husband is not here
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Andrew Lloyd-Webber, Charles Hart, Richard Stilgoe
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind