[FIRMIN, spoken]
Monsieur André!
[ANDRÉ, spoken]
Monsieur Firmin!
[FIRMIN]
Dear André, what a splendid party
[ANDRÉ]
The prologue to a bright new year
[FIRMIN]
Quite a night, I'm impressed
[ANDRÉ]
Well, one does one's best
[ANDRÉ & FIRMIN]
Here's to us
[ANDRÉ]
The toast of all the city
[FIRMIN]
What a pity that the Phantom can't be here!
[ENSEMBLE]
Masquerade, paper faces on parade
Masquerade, hide your face, so the world will never find you
Masquerade, every face a different shade
Masquerade, look around, there's another mask behind you
Flash of mauve, splash of puce
Fool and king, ghoul and goose
Green and black, queen and priest
Trace of rouge, face of beast
Faces
Take your turn, take a ride
On the merry-go-round
In an inhuman race
Eye of gold, thigh of blue
True is false, who is who?
Curl of lip, swirl of gown
Ace of hearts, face of clown
Faces
Drink it in, drink it up
Till you've drowned in the light, in the sound
But who can name the face?
Masquerade, grinning yellows, spinning reds
Masquerade, take your fill, let the spectacle astound you
Masquerade, burning glances, turning heads
Masquerade, stop and stare at the sea of smiles around you
Masquerade, seething shadows, breathing lies
Masquerade, you can fool any friend who ever knew you
Masquerade, leering satyrs, peering eyes
Masquerade, run and hide, but a face will still pursue you
[CARLOTTA]
What a night
[PIANGI]
What a crowd
[ANDRÉ]
Makes you glad
[FIRMIN]
Makes you proud
All the crème de la crème
[CARLOTTA, MEG]
Watching us, watching them (And all our fears are in the past)
[ANDRÉ]
Three months
[PIANGI]
Of relief
[CARLOTTA]
Of delight
[ANDRÉ]
Of Elysian peace
[FIRMIN, CARLOTTA]
And we can breathe at last (No more notes)
[PIANGI]
No more ghost
[MADAME GIRY]
Here's a health
[ANDRÉ]
Here's a toast to a prosperous year
[FIRMIN]
To our friends who are here
[PIANGI & CARLOTTA, FIRMIN]
And may our splendour never fade (Three months)
[MEG]
What a joy
[GIRY]
What a change
[FIRMIN & ANDRÉ]
What a blessed release
[GIRY]
And what a masquerade
[CHRISTINE]
Think of it
[CHRISTINE, spoken]
A secret engagement
Look, your future bride
Just think of it
[RAOUL, spoken]
But why is it secret?
What have we to hide?
You promised me...
[CHRISTINE, spoken]
No, Raoul, please don't, they'll see...
[RAOUL, spoken]
Well, then let them see
It's an engagement, not a crime
[RAOUL]
Christine, what are you afraid of?
[CHRISTINE, RAOUL]
Let's not argue (Let's not argue)
Please pretend, you will understand in time (I can only
hope I'll understand in time)
[ALL]
Masquerade, paper faces on parade
Masquerade, hide your face, so the world will never find you
Masquerade, every face a different shade
Masquerade, look around, there's another mask behind you
Masquerade, burning glances, turning heads
Masquerade, stop and stare at the sea of smiles around you
Masquerade, grinning yellows, spinning reds
Masquerade, take your fill, let the spectacle astound you
[Voices fade and turn to gasps as the lights dim and the PHANTOM appears at the top of the stairways.]
[PHANTOM]
Why so silent, good messieurs?
Did you think that I had left you for good?
Have you missed me, good messieurs?
I have written you an opera
Here I bring the finished score, "Don Juan Triumphant"
Fondest greetings to you all
A few instructions just before rehearsal starts
Carlotta must be taught to act
Not her normal trick of strutting around the stage
Our Don Juan must lose some weight
It's not healthy in a man of Piangi's age
And my managers must learn
That their place is in an office, not the arts
As for our star, Miss Christine Daaé
No doubt she'll do her best
It's true, her voice is good
She knows, though, should she wish to excel
She has much still to learn
If pride will let her return to me, her teacher, her teacher
[Meanwhile, RAOUL temporarily steps out to get his rapier. CHRISTINE, mesmerised, stands still as the PHANTOM approaches her. He reaches out, grasps the chain that holds the secret engagement ring, and rips it from her throat.]
[PHANTOM]
Your chains are still mine
[PHANTOM, spoken]
You belong to me!
