Luyện nghe bài hát Masquerade

Dear Andre what a party!

The prologue to a new year!

a night! I'm impressed!

Well, one does best . . .

(raising glasses) Here's to us!

I say, all the same, that it's a shame that 'Phantom' fellow isn't here!

(The gauze lifts fully to reveal the of the opera house. The opera ball begins. Among the

are four carrying strange percussion instruments: a monkey with cymbals, a toy soldier with a drum, a triangle, bells. Together play weirdly throughout)

Masquerade! Paper on parade . . .
Masquerade! Hide your face, so the world will find you!

Masquerade! Every face a shade . . .
Masquerade! Look around - there's another mask you!

of mauve . . .
Splash of . . .
Fool and . . .
Ghoul and . . .
Green and . . .
Queen and . . .
Trace of . . .
of beast . . .

. . .
Take turn, take a ride on the merry-go-round . . .
in an race . . .

Eye of . . .
of blue . . .
True is . . .
Who is who . . .? of lip . . .
Swirl of . . .
Ace of . . .
of clown . . .

. . .
Drink it in, drink it up, you've drowned in the light . . .
in the . . .

But who can the face . . .?

Masquerade! yellows, spinning reds . . .
Masquerade! Take your fill - let the spectacle you!

Masquerade! Burning glances, turning . . .
Masquerade! Stop and stare at the sea of around you!

Masquerade! Seething breathing lies . . .
Masquerade! You can fool any who ever knew you!

Masquerade! Leering satyrs, peering . . .
Masquerade! Run and hide - but a will still pursue you!

(The activity becomes background, as ANDRE, FIRMIN, MEG, GIRY, PIANGI and CARLOTTA come to the fore, glasses in hand)

What a

a crowd!

you glad!

Makes you proud! All the de la creme!

Watching us them!

And all our are in the past!

Six months...

Of relief!

Of delight!

Of peace!

And we can at last!

No notes!

No ghost!

a health!

Here's a toast: to a year!

To the new chandelier!

And may its splendour fade!

Six months!

a joy!

a change!

What a release!

And a masquerade!

(They glasses and move off RAOUL and

emerge. She is admiring a new acquisition: an engagement ring from RAOUL, which she has attached to a chain around her neck.)

Think of it! A secret engagement! Look - your bride! Just think of it!

But why is it secret? What have we to

Please, let's not . . .

Christine, free!

Wait the time is right . . .

When that be? It's an engagement, not a crime!

Christine, are you afraid of?

Let's not . . .

Let's not . . .

Please . . .

I can hope I'll . . .

You . . .

. . . 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 force. Eventually RAOUL rescues her and holds her tightly. He whirls her back into the dance, as the music heads towards its climax.)

Masquerade! Paper faces on parade! Masquerade! your face, so the world will never find you!

Masquerade! face a different shade! Masquerade! Look around - There's another mask behind you!

Masquerade! Burning glances, turning . . .
Masquerade! Stop and stare at the sea of smiles you!

Masquerade! Grinning yellows, spinning . . .
Masquerade! Take your fill - let the spectacle you!

(At the height of the activity a grotesque figure suddenly appears at the lop 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 steps he descends the stairs and takes the centre of the stage)