[CARLOTTA]
This trophy from our saviours, from our saviours
From the enslaving force of Rome

[WOMEN]
With feasting and dancing and song
Tonight, in celebration
We greet the victorious throng
Returned to bring salvation

[MEN]
The trumpets of Carthage resound
Hear, Romans, now and tremble
Hark to our step on the ground

[ALL]
Hear the drums
Hannibal comes!

[PIANGI]
Sad to return to find the land we love threatened once more by Roma's far-reaching grasp

[REYER stops the rehearsal.]

[REYER, spoken]
Gentlemen, gentlemen
[MONSIEUR LEFÈVRE walks in with ANDRÉ and FIRMIN.]

[MONSIEUR LEFÈVRE, spoken]
Rehearsals, as you see, are under way, for a new production of Chalumeau's "Hannibal"

[REYER, spoken]
Monsieur Lefèvre, I am rehearsing!

[MONSIEUR LEFÈVRE, spoken]
Monsieur Reyer, Madame Giry, ladies and gentlemen
Uh, please, if I could have your attention? Thank you
As you know, for some weeks, there have been rumours of my imminent retirement
I can now tell you that these were all true, and it is my pleasure to introduce you to the two gentlemen who now own the Opera Populaire
Monsieur Richard Firmin and Monsieur Gilles André

[FIRMIN, spoken]
And we are deeply honoured to introduce our new patron
The Vicomte de Chagny

[RAOUL, spoken]
My parents and I are honoured to support all the arts, especially the world renowned Opera Populaire

[MONSIEUR LEFÈVRE, spoken]
Vicomte, Gentlemen, Signora Carlotta Giudicelli, our leading soprano for five seasons now

[CARLOTTA'S MAID, CARLOTTA'S WIGMAKER & CARLOTTA'S SEAMSTRESS, spoken]
Brava, brava!
[PIANGI coughs indignantly.]

[MONSIEUR LEFÈVRE, spoken]
Signor Ubaldo Piangi

[RAOUL, spoken]
An honour, signor
I believe I'm keeping you from your rehearsal
I will be here this evening to share your great triumph
My apologies, mo nsieur

[REYER, spoken]
Thank you, Monsieur Le Vicomte

[CARLOTTA, spoken]
Ciao! Très bien!

[REYER, spoken]
Once more, if you please, signor

[CARLOTTA, spoken]
He love me

[GIRY, spoken]
We take particular pride in the excellence of our ballet, messieurs
[FIRMIN, spoken]
I see why
Especially that little blonde angel

[GIRY, spoken]
My daughter: Meg Giry

[FIRMIN, spoken]
And that exceptional beauty, no relation, I trust?

[GIRY, spoken]
Christine Daaé
Promising talent, Monsieur Firmin
Very promising

[FIRMIN, spoken]
Daaé, did you say?
No relation to the famous Swedish violinist?

[GIRY, spoken]
His only child
Orphaned at seven when she came to live and train in the ballet dormitories

[FIRMIN, spoken]
An orphan, you say?

[COMPANY]
Bid welcome to Hannibal's guests
The elephants of Carthage
As guides on our conquering quests
Dido sends Hannibal's friends

[CARLOTTA, PIANGI & COMPANY]
The trumpeting elephants sound
Hear, Romans, now and tremble
Hark to their step on the ground
Hear the drums
Hannibal comes

[CARLOTTA, spoken]
All day! All they want is the dancing!

[MONSIEUR LEFÈVRE, spoken]
Well, the Vicomte is very excited about tonight's gala

[CARLOTTA, spoken]
Oh, oh, allora, allora, allora
I hope he is as excited by dancing girls as your new managers
Because I will not be singing!
Bye-bye, dancing girls, bye-bye

[ANDRÉ, spoken]
What do we do?

[MONSIEUR LEFÈVRE, spoken]
Grovel, grovel, grovel

[ANDRÉ, spoken]
Right
Principessa, bella diva

[CARLOTTA, spoken]
Si, si, si

[FIRMIN, spoken]
Goddess of song

[CARLOTTA, spoken]
È vero

[ANDRÉ, spoken]
Monsieur Reyer, isn't there a rather marvellous aria for Elissa in Act Three of "Hannibal"? Perhaps the Signora—

[CARLOTTA, spoken]
Yes, Monsieur Reyer?

[REYER, spoken]
If my diva commands

[CARLOTTA, spoken]
Yes, I do