Luyện nghe bài hát Masquerade

Dear what a splendid party!

The to a bright new year!

a night! I'm impressed!

Well, one does best . . .

(raising their glasses) to us!

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

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

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

Masquerade! Paper on parade . . .
Masquerade! Hide face, so the world will never find you!

Masquerade! Every face a shade . . .
Masquerade! Look around - another mask behind you!

of mauve . . .
Splash of . . .
Fool and . . .
and goose . . .
Green and . . .
Queen and . . .
of rouge . . .
Face of . . .

. . .
Take your turn, take a ride on the . . .
in an race . . .

Eye of . . .
Thigh of . . .
True is . . .
Who is who . . .? of lip . . .
of gown . . .
Ace of . . .
of clown . . .

. . .
Drink it in, drink it up, till you've 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, heads . . .
Masquerade! Stop and stare at the sea of smiles you!

Masquerade! Seething shadows breathing . . .
Masquerade! You can any friend who ever knew you!

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

(The ENSEMBLE activity becomes background, as ANDRE, FIRMIN, MEG, GIRY, PIANGI and 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 to a prosperous year!

To the new chandelier!

And may its splendour fade!

Six months!

a joy!

a change!

What a release!

And a masquerade!

(They clink and move off RAOUL and

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

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

But why is it What have we to hide?

Please, not fight . . .

Christine, free!

Wait till the time is . . .

When will that be? an engagement, not a crime!

Christine, What are you of?

Let's not . . .

Let's not . . .

Please . . .

I can only hope . . .

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

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

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

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

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

(At the height of the activity a grotesque figure suddenly appears at the lop of the staircase. Dressed all in crimson, with a 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)