The Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall

Sold! Your number, sir?

Thank you.

Lot 663, then. Ladies and gentlemen,

a poster for this house's production of Hannibal by Chalumeau.

Showing here.

Do I have 10 francs?

Five, then? Five I am bid.

Six? Six. Do I see seven? Seven.

Against you, sir, seven. Eight? Eight.

Eight once.

Selling twice.

Sold, to Raoul, Vicomte de Chagny.

Thank you very much.

Lot 664. Ladies and gentlemen,

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 I am bid.

Ten francs still.

Fifteen, thank you, sir.

Fifteen I am bid.

Going for 15.

Your number, sir? Thank you.

Lot 665. Ladies and gentlemen,

a papier-mâché 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, ladies and gentlemen.

Showing here.

May I commence at 20 francs?

Oh, come, come, ladies and gentlemen. Fifteen, then?

Fifteen I am bid. Thank you very much.

Yes, 20 from you, sir. Thank you very much.

- Twenty-five. - Twenty-five on my right.

Thank you, madam.

Twenty-five I am bid.

Thirty? 30.

Selling at 30 francs, then.

Thirty once, 30 twice...

Sold for 30 francs

to the Vicomte de Chagny.

Thank you very much, sir.

Boy.

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

that figures in that famous disaster.

Our workshops have restored it

and fitted parts of it with wiring for the new electric light,

so that we may get a hint of how it may look when reassembled.

Perhaps we may even frighten away the ghost of so many years ago

with a little illumination, gentlemen!

No, no, no, no!

Signor, if you please.

- "Rome". We say "Rome", not "Roma". - (ALL MURMURING)

"Rome"? "Rome" is very hard for me.

Well, once again, if you please, signor, "Sad to return..."

- It's very, very hard. I am from Italy. - Just get it right, please.

Rome. Signor...

Hey! Hey! We're doing that all again!

Thank you very much.

You were very good. This song is marvellous. Thank you.

This way, gentlemen, this way. Girls!

Rehearsals, as you see, are underway

for a new production of Chalumeau's Hannibal.

Ladies and gentlemen...

Ladies and gentlemen, please...

Ladies and...

Madame Giry.

Thank you.

May I have your attention, please?

As you know, for some weeks there have been rumours

about my imminent retirement.

I can now tell you, these were all true,

and it is now my pleasure to introduce you to the two gentlemen

who now own the Opera Populaire,

Monsieur Richard Firmin and Monsieur Giles André.

- (ALL APPLAUDING) - ANDRÉ: Oh, no, please.

Gentlemen, Signora Carlotta Giudicelli,

our leading soprano for 19 seasons now.

Of course, of course, I have experienced all your greatest roles, signora.

And Signor Ubaldo Piangi.

An honour, signor.

If I remember rightly, Elissa has a rather fine aria

in Act Three of Hannibal.

I wonder, signora, if, as a personal favour, you would oblige us with a private rendition?

Unless, of course, Monsieur Reyer objects...

No, my manager commands!

My diva commands. Would two bars be sufficient introduction?

Two bars will be quite sufficient.

Signora?

Good heavens, will you show a little courtesy!

Mademoiselle, please!

Signora! Are you all right? Buquet! Where is Buquet?

Get that man down here!

Buquet, chief of the flys. He's responsible for this.

Buquet! For God's sake, man, what's going on up there?

- (WOMAN SCREAMING) - (ALL MURMURING)

Good heavens! I have never known such insolence.

Signora, please.

These things do happen.

"These things do happen"?

You have been here five minutes! What do you know?

Si, these things do happen, all the time!

For the past three years, these things do happen.

And did you stop them happening? No!

And you... You're as bad as him.

"These things do happen."

Well, until you stop these things happening,

this thing does not happen!

Ubaldo, andiamo!

Amateurs!

I don't think there's much more I can do to assist you, gentlemen. Good luck.

If you need me, I shall be in Frankfurt.

But, monsieur...

Move, please. Out of the way.

Oh... (SIGHS)

La Carlotta will be back.

You think so, monsieur?

Yes.

I have a message, sir, from the Opera Ghost.

Oh, God in heaven, you're all obsessed!

He merely welcomes you to his opera house.

Commands that you continue to leave Box Five empty for his use,

and reminds you that his salary is due.

His salary?

Monsieur Lefevre paid him 20,000 francs a month.

Perhaps you could afford more, with the Vicomte de Chagny as your patron.

Madame, I had hoped to have made that announcement myself.

Will the Vicomte be at the performance this evening, monsieur?

In our box.

Madame, who is the understudy for the role?

There is no understudy, monsieur. The production is new.

Christine Daaé could sing it, sir.

A ballet girl?

Well, she's been taking lessons from a great teacher.

Oh, from whom?

I don't know, sir.

Oh, not you as well. Can you believe it?

A full house, and we have to cancel!

Daaé? That's a curious name.