Andrew Lloyd Webber - Notes/Prima Donna (Film Version) lyrics

[FIRMIN] "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 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 Have a scandal and you're sure to have a hit! [ANDRE] Damnable! [FIRMIN] Will they all walk out? This is damnable! André, please don't shout It's publicity, and the take is vast Free publicity [ANDRE] But we have no cast! [FIRMIN] André, have you seen the queue? Ah, it seems you've got one, too [ANDRE] "Dear André, what a charming gala Christine was in a word sublime We were hardly bereft when Carlotta left On that note: The diva's a disaster, must you cast her When she's seasons past her prime? [FIRMIN] "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!" [ANDRE & FIRMIN] Who would have the gall to send this? Someone with a puerile brain [FIRMIN] These are both signed "O.G." [ANDRE] Who the hell is he? [FIRMIN & ANDRE] Opera Ghost! [FIRMIN] It is nothing short of shocking [ANDRE] He is mocking our position [FIRMIN] In addition he wants money [ANDRE] What a funny apparition [ANDRE & FIRMIN] To expect a large retainer Nothing plainer He is clearly quite insane [ANDRE] You mean Carlotta? [FIRMIN] Well, how should we know? [RAOUL] Where is she? I mean Miss Daaé Where is she? I want an answer [RAOUL] I take it that you sent me this note She's not with you then? Monsieur don't argue Isn't this the letter you wrote? [FIRMIN] What's all this nonsense? Don't look at us Of course not! [ANDRE] Of course not! We're in the dark [FIRMIN] And what is is that we're meant to have wrote? ...Written [RAOUL hands the note to ANDRE, who reads it] [ANDRE] "Do not fear for Miss Daae The Angel of Music has her under his wing Make no attempt to see her again." [RAOUL] If you didn't write it, then who did? [CARLOTTA bursts in. She too has a letter.] [CARLOTTA] Where is he? [CARLOTTA & PIANGI] Your precious patron Where is he? [CARLOTTA] I have your letter A letter which I rather resent [ANDRE] Ah, welcome back! [RAOUL] What is it now? [FIRMIN] And did you send it? [RAOUL] Of course not! [ANDRE] As if he would [CARLOTTA & PIANGI] You didn't send it? [RAOUL] Of course not! [FIRMIN] What going on? [CARLOTTA] You dare to tell me [CARLOTTA] That this is not the letter you sent? [RAOUL] And what is it that I'm meant to have sent? [RAOUL takes the letter and reads it] "Your days at the Opera 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." [ANDRE & FIRMIN] 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 [MME GIRY] Miss Daaé has returned [FIRMIN] I hope no worse for wear as far as we're concerned [ANDRE] Where precisely is she now? [MMME GIRY] I thought it best she was alone [MEG] She needed rest [RAOUL] May I see her? [MME GIRY] No monsieur, she will see no one [CARLOTTA & PIANGI] Will she sing? Will she sing? [MME GIRY] Here, I have a note [ALL (except Mme Giry and Meg)] Let me see it [FIRMIN, spoken] 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... [PHANTOM] ...You have not followed my instructions I shall give you one last chance [PHANTOM, sung] 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 (spoken) 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 [CARLOTTA] Christine! [CARLOTTA & PIANGI] It's all a ploy to help Christine [CARLOTTA] I know who sent this The Vicomte, her lover [ANDRE] What ever next? [FIRMIN] This is insane [RAOUL] Indeed? Can you believe this? [FIRMIN] Signora [CARLOTTA] O traditori! O mentitori! [ANDRE] This is a joke This changes nothing Signora! [ANDRE] You are our star [FIRMIN] And always will be [ANDRE] Signora [FIRMIN] The man is mad [ANDRE] We don't take orders [FIRMIN] Miss Daaé will be playing the pageboy The silent role [ANDRE & FIRMIN] Carlotta will be playing the lead [CARLOTTA] It's useless trying to appease me! You're only saying this to please me Signor, è vero? Non, non, non voglio udire! Lasciatemi morire! O padre mio! Dio! [PIANGI] Appease her! Please her! Non, non, non voglio udire! Lasciatemi morire! O padre mio! Dio! [MME GIRY] Who scorn his ​word Beware to those The angel sees, the angel knows [ANDRE & FIRMIN] Signora, pardon us Please Signora we beseech you [CARLOTTA] You have reviled me! You have rebuked me! You have replaced ​me! [MME GIRY] This hour shall see your darkest fears The angel sees, the angel hears [CARLOTTA & PIANGI] Abbandonata! Deseredata! [?] [RAOUL] I must see her Where did she go? [ANDRE & FIRMIN] Signora, sing for us Don't be a matyr Our star! O, sventurata! Disgraziata! [?] [RAOUL, GIRY, MEG] What new surprises Lie in store? [FANS, spoken] Could you please give this to Miss Daaé? Miss Daaé? [ANDRE] Your public needs you [FIRMIN] We need you too [CARLOTTA] Wouldn't you rather have your precious little ingénue? [ANDRE & FIRMIN] Signora, no! The world wants you Prima Donna, first lady of the stage Your devotees are on their knees to implore you [ANDRE] Can you bow out when they're shouting your name? [FIRMIN] Think of how they all adore you [ANDRE & FIRMIN] Prima Donna, enchant us once again [ANDRE] Think of your muse [FIRMIN] And of the queues 'round the theatre! [ANDRE, FIRMIN & PIANGI] Can you deny us the triumph in store? [ANDRE, FIRMIN & PIANGI] Sing, Prima Donna, once more Think of your public Those who hear you liken you to an angel [ANDRE] We get our Opera [ANDRE & FIRMIN] Leading ladies are a trial Tears... Oaths... Lunatic demands are regular occurrences Surely there'll be further scenes— Worse than this! [CARLOTTA] Prima Donna Your song shall live again You took a snub But there's a public who needs you Think of the cry of undying support Follow ​where the ​limelight ​leads you Prima Donna Your song shall never die You'll sing again And to unending ovation Think how you'll shine in that final encore Sing Prima Donna once more [RAOUL] Christine spoke of an angel [MME GIRY] She has heard the voice of the Angel of Music [FIRMIN] She gets her limelight [PIANGI] When she sings, we see heaven [RAOUL] Orders! Warnings! Lunatic demands! I must see these demands are rejected! [ANDRE & FIRMIN] 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! 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! [CARLOTTA] O! [?] Fortunata! Non ancor Abbandonata [MEG & GIRY] For if his curse ​is on this Opera... [ALL] 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!