Prologue Lyrics

THE STAGE OF THE PARIS OPERA, 1905
(The contents of the opera house is being 
auctioned off. An AUCTIONEER, PORTERS, 
BIDDERS, and RAOUL, seventy now, but still 
bright of eye. The action commences with a 
blow from the AUCTlONEER's gavel)
AUCTIONEER 
Sold. Your number, sir? Thank you.
Lot 663, then, ladies and gentlemen: a poster 
for this house's production of "Hannibal" by 
Chalumeau.
PORTER 
Showing here.
AUCTIONEER 
Do I have ten francs? Five then. Five I am bid. 
Six, seven. Against you, sir, seven. Eight. 
Eight once. Selling twice. Sold, to Raoul, 
Vicomte de Chagny.
Lot 664: a wooden pistol and three human 
skulls from the 1831 production of "Robert le 
Diable" by Meyerbeer. Ten francs for this. Ten, 
thank you. Ten francs still. Fifteen, thank you, 
sir Fifteen I am bid. Going at fifteen. Your 
number, sir?
665, ladies and gentlemen: a papier-mache 
musical box, in the shape of a barrel-organ. 
Attached, the figure of a monkey in Persian 
robes playing the cymbals. This item, 
discovered in the vaults of the theatre, still in 
working order.
PORTER (holding it up) 
Showing here. (He sets it in motion)
AUCTIONEER
My I start at twenty francs? Fifteen, then? 
Fifteen I am bid.
(the bidding continues. RAOUL. eventually 
buys the box for thirty francs)
Sold, for thirty francs to the Vicomte de 
Chagny.  Thank you, sir.
(The box is handed across to RAOUL.  He studies it, as 
attention focuses on him for a moment)
RAOUL (quietly, half to himself, half to the 
box)
A collector's piece indeed . . . 
every detail  exactly as she said . . .
She often spoke of you, my friend ....
Your velvet lining, and your figurine of lead...
Will you still play, 
when all the rest of us are dead?
(Attention returns to the AUCTIONEER, as he 
resumes) 
AUCTIONEER 
Lot 666, then: a chandelier in pieces. Some of 
you may recall the strange affair of the 
Phantom of the Opera: a mystery never fully 
explained. We are told ladies and gentlemen, 
that this is the very chandelier which figures in 
the famous disaster. Our workshops have 
restored it and fitted up parts of it with wiring 
for the new electric light, so that we may get a 
hint of what it may look like when re-
assembled. Perhaps we may frighten away the 
ghost of so many years ago with a little 
illumination, gentlemen?
(The AUCTIONEER switches on the chandelier 
There is an enormous flash, and the OVERTURE 
begins. During the overture the opera house is 
restored to its earlier grandeur. The chandelier 
immense and glittering, rises magically from 
the stage, finally hovering high above the 
stalls)