The Staircase of the Opera

Click here for *Masquerade* MIDI

The gauze lifts fully to reveal the staircase of the opera house. The opera ball begins. Among the guests are four carrying strange percussion instruments: a monkey with cymbals, a toy soldier with a drum, a triangle, bells. Together they play wierdly throughout.

Chorus:
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…
Goul and goose…
Green and black…
Queen and priest…
Trace of rouge…
Face of beast…

Faces… Take your turn, take your 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…

Raoul/Christine:
But who can name the face…?

All:
Masquerade! Grinning yellows, spinning reds…
Masquerade! Take your fill—
Let the spectacle astound you!

Masquerade! Burning glances, turning heads…
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!

The ensemble activity becomes a background, as André, Firmin, Meg, Giry, Piangi, and Carlotta come to the fore, glasses in hand.

Giry:
What a night!

Meg:
What a crowd!

André:
Makes you glad!

Firmin:
Makes you proud!
All the crème de la crème!

Carlotta:
Watching us watching them!

Meg/Giry:
And all our fears are in the past!

André:
Six months…

Piangi:
Of relief!

Carlotta:
Of delight!

André/Firmin:
Of Elysian peace!

Meg/Giry:
And we can breathe at last!

Carlotta:
No more notes!

Piangi:
No more ghost!

Giry:
Here’s a health!

André:
Here’s a toast:
to a prosperous year!

Firmin:
To the new chandelier!

Piangi/Carlotta:
And may its splendour never fade!

Firmin:
Six months!

Giry:
What a joy!

Meg:
What a change!

Firmin/André:
What a blessed release!

André:
And what a masquerade!

They clink glasses and move off. Raoul and Christine emerges. She is admiring a new acquisition: an engagement ring from Raoul, which has attached to a gold chain around her neck.

Christine:
Think of it! A secret engagement!
Look—your future bride! Just think of it…

Raoul:
But why is it secret? What have we to hide?

Christine:
Please, let’s not fight…

Raoul:
Christine, you’re free!

Christine:
Wait till the time is right…

Raoul:
When will that be? It’s an engagement,
not a crime! Christine, what are you afraid of?

Christine:
Let’s not argue…

Raoul:
Let’s not argue…

Christine:
Please pretend you will…

Raoul:
I can only hope I’ll…

Both:
…understand in time…

Dance section, in which Christine, almost coquettish, almost jittery, goes from man to man. But too many of her partners seem to be replicas of the Phantom, and each spins her with increasing force. Eventually Raoul rescues her and holds her tightly. He whirls her back into the dance, as the music heads towards its climax.

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!…

At the height of the activity a grotesque figure suddenly appears at the top of the staircase. Dressed all in crimson, with a death’s head visible inside the hood of his robe, the Phantom has come to the party. With dreadful wooden steps he descends the stairs and takes the centre of the stage.

Phantom:
Why so silent, good messieurs? Did you think that I had left you for good?
Have you missed me, good messieurs? I hae written you an opera!
(Taking an enormous bound of manuscript from under his robe)
Here I bring the finished score—‘Don Juan Triumphant’!
(Throwing it to André)
I advise you to comply—my instructions should be clear…
Remember there are worse things than a shattered chandelier…

Christine, mesmerized, approaches as the Phantom beckons her. He reaches out, grasps the chain that holds the secret engagement ring, and rips it from her throat.

Your chains are still mine—
you will sing for me!

All cower in suspense as the music crescendos. The Phantom throws up his scarlet cloak and then suddenly disappeared right under it as his figure evaporates.

* Next Scene *