Luyện nghe bài hát Masquerade

Dear what a splendid party!

The prologue to a new year!

a night! I'm impressed!

Well, one one's best . . .

(raising their glasses) to us!

I must say, all the same, that it's a shame that 'Phantom' fellow here!

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

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

Masquerade! Paper faces on . . .
Masquerade! Hide your face, so the world never find you!

Masquerade! face a different shade . . .
Masquerade! Look around - there's mask behind you!

of mauve . . .
Splash of . . .
and king . . .
Ghoul and . . .
and black . . .
Queen and . . .
Trace of . . .
Face of . . .

. . .
Take your turn, a ride on the merry-go-round . . .
in an inhuman . . .

Eye of . . .
of blue . . .
True is . . .
Who is who . . .? of lip . . .
of gown . . .
Ace of . . .
Face of . . .

. . .
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 astound you!

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

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

Masquerade! satyrs, peering eyes . . .
Masquerade! Run and hide - but a face will 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 gold around her neck.)

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

But why is it What have we to hide?

Please, let's not . . .

Christine, free!

Wait the time is right . . .

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

Christine, What are you of?

Let's not . . .

Let's not . . .

Please . . .

I can hope I'll . . .

You . . .

. . . understand in . . .

(Dance section, in 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.)

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

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

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

Masquerade! Grinning yellows, reds . . .
Masquerade! Take your fill - let the astound you!

(At the height of the activity a grotesque figure suddenly appears at the lop of the staircase. 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)