Sound files: Viennese Cast
Click here to listen to *Prima Donna* MIDI

PRIMA DONNA

André/Firmin:
Prima donna, first lady of the stage!
Your devotees are on their knees to implore you!

André:
Can you bow out when they’re shouting your name?

Firmin:
Think of how they all adore you!

Both:
Prima donna, enchant us once again!

André:
Think of your muse…

Firmin:
And of the queues round the theatre!

Both:
Can you deny us the triumph in store?
Sing, prima donna, once more!

Carlotta registers her acceptance, as the managers continue to cajole and the others reflect variously on the situation.

Raoul:
Christine spoke of an angel…

Carlotta: (in triumph)
Prima donna, your song shall live again!

André/Firmin:
Think of your public!

Carlotta:
You took a snub but there’s a public who needs you!

Giry: (referring to Christine)
She has heard the voice of the angel of music…

André/Firmin:
Those who hear your voice liken you to an angel!

Carlotta:
Think of their cry of undying support!

Raoul:
Is this her angel of music…?

André:
We get our opera…

Firmin:
She gets her limelight!

Carlotta:
Follow where the limelight leads you!

Meg:
Is this ghost an angel or a madman?

Raoul:
Angel or madman…?

André/Firmin:
Leading ladies are a trial!

Carlotta:
Prima donna, your song shall never die!

Meg:
Voice of hell, or of heaven…?

Giry:
Heaven help you, those who doubt…

Carlotta:
You’ll sing again, and to unending ovation!

Raoul:
Orders! Warnings! Lunatic demands!

Giry:
This miscasting will invite damnation…

André/Firmin:
Tears… oaths… lunatic demands are regular occurences!

Meg:
Bliss or damnation? Which has claimed her…?

Carlotta:
Think how you’ll shine in that final encore!
Sing, prima donna, once more!

Giry:
Oh fools, to have flouted his warnings!

Raoul:
Surely for her sake…

Meg:
Surely he’ll strike back…

André/Firmin:
Surely there’ll be further scenes—worse than this!

Giry:
Think, before these demands are rejected!

Raoul:
…I must see these demands are rejected!

Meg:
…if his threats and demands are rejected!

André/Firmin:
Who’d believe a diva happy to relieve a
chorus girl, who’s 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!

Meg/Raoul:
Christine must be protected!

Carlotta:
O, fortunata! Non ancor abbandonata!

André/Firmin:
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!

Raoul:
His game is over!

Giry:
This is a game you cannot hope to win!

Raoul:
And in Box Five a new game will begin…

Giry:
For if his curse is on this opera…

Meg:
But if his curse is on this opera…

André/Firmin:
Prima donna, the world is at your feet!
A nation waits, and how it hates to be cheated!

Carlotta:
The stress that falls upon a famous prima donna!
Terrible diseases, coughs and colds and sneezes!
Still, the dryest throat will reach the highest note,
in search of perfect opera!

Meg/Giry:
…then I fear the outcome…

Raoul:
Christine plays the Pageboy, Carlotta plays the Countess…

Giry:
…should you dare to…

Meg:
…when you once again…

All:
Light up the stage with that age-old rapport!
Sing, prima donna, once more!

Phantom’s voice:
So, it is to be war between us! If these demands are not met, a disaster beyond your imagination will occur!

All:
Once more!

* Onto Next Scene *