An Opera in Chaos

Chapter 1

     There was a screeching emanating from the Opera Populaire that everyone from Paris to the United States could hear. Of course, it was Senora Carlotta Guidicelli, singing in rehearsal for the new opera, Hannibal. Of course, she thought of herself as amazing. But everyone else with properly-working ears, save for her lover, Senor Ubaldo Piangi, could tell that she had far surpassed her prime. The opera house management only kept her on for the sake of their own ears, lest they would want them to be torn off by the diva herself.

"This trophy,

From our saviors, from our saviors,

From the enslaving force,

Of ROME!"

The rest of the song went off without a hitch, other than the little interruption of the former manager, Monsieur Lefevre, introducing the new owners of the Opera Populaire, Monsieurs Richard Firmin and Gilles Andre, and the new patron, Vicomte Raoul de Chagny.

Among the ballerinas that gossiped about the new owners, a girl named Christine Daae recognized the patron.

"Meg, it's Raoul." She confided with her friend, Meg Giry. "We met, before my father died, at the house by the sea. We were, in a way, childhood sweethearts. He used to call me Little Lotte."

Meg swooned. "Oh, Christine, he's so handsome. And look at that hair. Voluminous. I wish I had hair like that."

Christine giggled at her friend's antics before the Madame Giry, the ballet mistress and Meg's mother, motioned for the dancers to begin their performance. She was aware of the new managers ogling at her and the other ballerinas, but she paid no attention and threw herself into the dance. By the time the song was finished, she could hear another one of Carlotta's fits.

"I've-a had it up to here-a with everyone paying attention to the ballerinas and not to me! I'm-a the main reason everyone comes to this-a awful place!" she shouted, walking towards the doors. The managers chased after her, trying to persuade her to stay.

"Goddess of song!" Firmin exclaimed. Wow, Christine thought to herself. He really missed his calling. He should be an actor.

Andre spoke up, addressing the conductor. "Monsieur Reyer, isn't there an aria for the character of Elissa in Act 3 of Hannibal?"

Carlotta interrupted him as he began to stutter his answer. "Yes-a, yes-a, yes-a, but no! I do not a-have my costume for Act 3 because-a somebody not finish it-a! And, I 'ate my 'at!"

She started to (stage) cry when Andre began to almost beg her to sing it. "But, Senora, I would ask that you oblige us with your rendition, if, of course, Monsieur Reyer objects-"

"No!" Carlotta interrupted, suddenly stopping her crying fit. "I shall sing as my managers' command. Monsieur Reyer!" she commanded.

"M-my diva commands." He managed to stutter out before going back to his rise in the orchestra pit. Once he was settled, he instructed the piano player to begin playing the aria.

"Think of me,

Think of me fondly,

When we've said GOODbye..."

Christine envied the maids who were smart enough to bring cotton to put in their ears. How she hated being in the ballet. True, she was one of the best dancers, but she longed to sing on stage, such as Carlotta was trying to do. She knew she was ready, even her Angel of Music said she was ready. But how would she ever get a part with Carlotta dictating the whole opera house?

She was brought out of her musings by Meg's shrill scream. A backdrop was falling, and it was heading straight for Carlotta. She dramatically fell when the backdrop landed right behind her. By the time the managers helped her up, the whole cast was in a frenzy. Whispers of "It was the Phantom of the Opera!" and "The Phantom did this!" rippled through the masses of actors and dancers.

"Senora," Andre exclaimed, trying to remedy the situation. "These things do happen."

Carlotta gave him a look of disbelief. "Si, these things do 'appen. For the past 3 years, these things do 'appen! Well, until these things stop 'appening, this thing does not 'appen! Ubaldo, adiamo!" she demanded as she stormed out of the opera house.

Her entourage, as well as Piangi, followed closely behind her, but Piangi quickly turned to the managers and simply uttered, "Amateurs."

By now, the cast and crew had flown into a frenzy about the absence of the diva, some distressed about finding a new soprano, others silently cheering as she walked out of their opera house and lives (hopefully) forever.

Madame Giry whisked up stealthily to the managers taking them by surprise. "I have a message, sir, from the Opera Ghost."

Firmin rolled his eyes. "Oh dear God in heaven, you are all obsessed!"

Madame Giry continued. "He merely welcomes you to his opera house, commands that you continue to leave Box 5 empty for his use, and reminds you that his salary is due."

Andre raised his eyebrow in confusion. "You give a ghost a salary?"

"Only twenty thousand francs a month."

This sent the managers themselves into a frenzy of their own. "Twenty thousand francs?!" they exclaimed in unison.

"Perhaps you can afford more with the Vicomte as your new patron." Madame Giry said, a smirk of her lips.

Firmin tore the letter out of Madame Giry's hands, reading for himself the demands that this strange specter had given. "Well, now we shall have no money as we have lost our star! And on opening night!"

"Christine Daae could sing it, sir!" Meg suddenly exclaimed. Christine put her hand over Meg's mouth, but the damage had already been done.

"A ballet girl?" Andre sneered. "Don't be ridiculous."

"But she has been taking lessons from a great teacher." Meg persisted.

"From who?" Firmin asked Christine.

Christine hesitated, then finally stammered, "I-I don't know, sir."

"Daae?" Andre said thoughtfully. "That's a curious name. Any relation to the Swedish violinist?"

"My father, Sir."

"Let her sing for you, Monsieur. She has been well-taught." Madame Giry offered.

The managers looked at each other, then nodded their heads in unison. "Very well."

Monsieur Reyer again took his place in the orchestra pit. "From the beginning of the aria then, please, mademoiselle."

Christine nervously walked to the center of the stage as the piano began to play. She was so nervous; she thought she would faint. She was ready to sing the lead, yes, but not at that very moment!

"Andre, this is doing nothing for my nerves." She vaguely heard Firmin say, to which Andre replied, "Well, she's very pretty."

Then she began to sing.