He is best known for the hit musicals Elisabeth (1992), Dance of the Vampires (1996), Mozart! (musical) (1999), and Rebecca (musical) (2006).
He has also written the lyrics for a number of hit songs, including the number one Billboard hit "Fly, Robin, Fly" (1976) and was one of the top 1970's record producers, including songs for musical acts Silver Convention, Penny McLean, and Sister Sledge. Kunze has won a Grammy Award, ECHO Lifetime Award and holds 79 Gold and Platinum Records.
prologue
Michael Kunze Lyrics
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Showing here.
(The musical box is set in motion and plays the opening notes of "Masquerade".)
May I start at twenty francs? Fifteen, then. Fifteen I am bid. Twenty, sir, thank you. Twenty.
Twenty-five, thank you, madame. Thirty? Selling at thirty, then. Thirty once... twice... sold for thirty francs to the Vicomte de Chagny. Thank you, sir.
A collector's piece indeed.
Every detail exactly as she said.
She often spoke of you, my friend
Your velvet lining and your figurine of lead
Will you still play
When all the rest of us are dead?
Lot 666, then: a chandelier in pieces. Some of you may recall the strange affair of the Phantom of the Opera; a mystery never fully explained. We are told, ladies and gentlemen, that this is the very chandelier which figures in the famous disaster. Our workshops have restored it and fitted up parts of it with wiring for the new electric light, so that we may get a hint of what it may look like when reassembled. Perhaps we may frighten away the ghost of so many years ago, with a little illumination. Gentlemen?
The Prologue of Michael Kunze's song sets the stage for the story and introduces the audience to the setting and characters of The Phantom of the Opera. The lyrics describe an auction where Lot 665, a papier mâché musical box in the shape of a barrel organ, is being sold. The musical box features a monkey in Persian robes playing the cymbals, and it is in good working condition despite being discovered in the vaults of the theater. The bidding starts at twenty francs, and the vicomte de Chagny wins the auction for thirty francs.
The auctioneer then introduces Lot 666, a chandelier in pieces that figures in the famous disaster of the Phantom of the Opera. It is restored by the workshop and fitted with wiring for the new electric light, allowing the audience to see what it may look like when reassembled. The auctioneer suggests that illuminating the chandelier may frighten away the ghost of the Phantom, who remains a mystery to this day.
The lyrics also mention the velvet lining and figurine of lead of the musical box, which were spoken of by a woman who often talked about the vicomte de Chagny. The final question posed in the lyrics, "will you still play when all the rest of us are dead?" adds an ominous tone to the prologue, foreshadowing what is to come in the story.
Line by Line Meaning
Sold. Your number, sir? Thank you. Lot 665, ladies and gentlemen: a papier mâché musical box in the shape of a barrel organ. Attached, the figure of a monkey in Persian robes playing the cymbals. This item, discovered in the vaults of the theater, still in working order.
A papier mâché musical box in the shape of a barrel organ, featuring a monkey in Persian robes playing the cymbals, has been sold for auction. The item was discovered in the theater's vault and is in perfect working condition.
(The musical box is set in motion and plays the opening notes of "Masquerade".)
The musical box is functioning correctly and plays the opening notes of the song 'Masquerade.'
May I start at twenty francs? Fifteen, then. Fifteen I am bid. Twenty, sir, thank you. Twenty.
Auction bidding starts at twenty francs for another item.
Twenty-five.
The bidding price for the item has been raised to twenty-five francs.
Twenty-five, thank you, madame. Thirty? Selling at thirty, then. Thirty once... twice... sold for thirty francs to the Vicomte de Chagny. Thank you, sir.
The bidding price has been raised to thirty francs and the item is sold to Vicomte de Chagny for that price.
A collector's piece indeed.
The item is considered to be a rare piece for collectors.
Every detail exactly as she said.
The item being auctioned is exactly the way 'she' described it (presumably the previous owner).
She often spoke of you, my friend
Your velvet lining and your figurine of lead
Will you still play
When all the rest of us are dead?
The artist is reminiscing about a friend who owned a similar item with a velvet lining and a figurine made of lead. The artist questions if the item will still function when they and everyone else is dead.
Lot 666, then: a chandelier in pieces.
The next item for auction is a chandelier that has been dismantled into pieces.
Some of you may recall the strange affair of the Phantom of the Opera; a mystery never fully explained.
The auctioneer reminds the audience of the mysterious story of the Phantom of the Opera who was never fully identified or understood.
We are told, ladies and gentlemen, that this is the very chandelier which figures in the famous disaster.
The auctioneer claims that the chandelier being auctioned is the same one involved in the famous disaster at the Opera.
Our workshops have restored it and fitted up parts of it with wiring for the new electric light, so that we may get a hint of what it may look like when reassembled.
The chandelier has been restored by the auction house and some parts have been fitted with new electric wiring to give the audience an idea of what it will look like once reassembled.
Perhaps we may frighten away the ghost of so many years ago, with a little illumination. Gentlemen?
The auctioneer suggests that the chandelier's new illumination may help to dispel the lingering presence of the Phantom. The audience is invited to begin bidding on the item.
Contributed by Kylie S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.