Notes/prima Donna

ANDRE & FIRMIN
Prima donna first lady of the stage!
Your devotees are on their knees to implore you!
Can you bow out when they're shouting your name?
Think of how they all adore you!

Prima donna, enchant us once again!
Think of your muse... And of the queues round the theatre!
Can you deny us the triumph in store?
Sing, prima donna, once more!

RAOUL
Christine spoke of an angel...

CARLOTTA
Prima donna, your song shall live again!

ANDRE & FIRMIN
Think of your public!

CARLOTTA
You took a snub, but there's a public who needs you!

MME. GIRY
She has heard the voice of the angel of music...

ANDRE & FIRMIN
Those who hear your voice liken you to an angel!

CARLOTTA
Think of their cry of undying support!

ANDRE
We get our opera

CARLOTTA
Follow where the limelight leads you!

FIRMIN
She gets her limelight!

ANDRE & FIRMIN
Leading ladies are a trial!

CARLOTTA
Prima donna, your song shall never die!
You'll sing again, and to unending ovation!

RAOUL
Orders! Warnings!Lunatic demands!

ANDRE & FIRMIN
Tears... oaths... lunatic demands are regular occurrences!

CARLOTTA
Think how you'll shine in that final encore!

ANDRE & FIRMIN
Surely there'll be further scenes worse than this!

RAOUL
Think, before these demands are rejected!

ANDRE & FIRMIN
Who'd believe a diva happy to relieve a chorus girl,
who's gone and slept with the patron?
Raoul and the soubrette,
entwined in love's duet!
Although he may demur,
he must have been with her!
You'd never get away with all this in a play,
but if it's loudly sung and in a foreign tongue
it's just the sort of story audiences adore,
in fact a perfect opera!

ALL
Prima donna the world is at your feet!
A nation waits, and how it hates to be cheated!
Light up the stage with that age old rapport!
Sing, prima donna, once more!