Lyrics Masquerade / Why So Silent - Andrew Lloyd Webber, "The Phantom Of The Opera" Original London Cast, Sarah Brightman

Masquerade / Why So Silent

Firmin:
Dear Andre, what a splendid party
Andre:
The prelude to a bright new year
Firmin:
Quite a night, I’m impressed
Andre:
Well, one does one’s best
Andre and Firmin:
Here’s to us Andre:
A toast for the city!
Firmin:
What a pity that the Phantom can’t be here!
Chorus
Masquerade!
Paper faces on parade
Masquerade!
Hide your face so the world will never find you
Masquerade!
Every face a different shade/
Masquerade!
Look around, there’s another mask behind you.
Flash of mauve
Splash of puce
Fool and king
Ghoul and goose
Green and black
Queen and priest
Trace of rouge
Face of beast
Faces!
Take your turn, take a ride
On the merry-go-round/in an inhuman race
Eye of gold
True is false
Who is who?
Curl of lip
Swirl of gown
Ace of hearts
Face of clown
Faces!
Drink it in, drink it up Till you’ve drowned
In the light
In the sound
But who can name the face?
Masquerade!
Grinning yellows, spinning reds
Masquerade!
Take your fill, let the spectacle astound you
Masquerade!
Burning glances, turning heads
Masquerade!
Stop and stare at the sea of smiles around you
Masquerade!
Seething shadows breathing lies
Masquerade!
You can fool any friend who ever knew you
Masquerade!
Leering satyrs, peering eyes
Masquerade!
Run and hide, but a face will still pursue you.
Carlotta
What a night!
Firmin
What a crowd!
Andre:
Makes you glad
Firmin
Makes you proud!
All the crème, De la crème
Giry (Overlapping)
Watching us Meg (Overlapping)
Watching them
Carlotta (Overlapping)
All our fears are in the past
Andre:
Three months
Piangi:
Of relief!
Carlotta:
Of delight!
Andre
Of Elysian peace!
PIANGI
And we can breathe at last.
Carlotta:
No more notes
Piangi:
No more ghost
Madame Giry:
Here’s a health
Andre
Here’s a toast, to a prosperous year
Firmin:
To our friends who are here
Piangi and Carlotta:
And may the splendor never fade!
Firmin/Andre:
What a blessed release!
Madame Giry:
And what a masquerade!
Christine:
Think of it
A secret engagement.
Look, your future bride.
Just think of it.
Raoul:
But, why is it secret?
What have we to hide?
You promised me.
Christine:
No, Raoul, please don’t, they’ll see.
Raoul:
Well then let them see.
It’s an engagement, not a crime.
Christine, what are you afraid of?
Christine (and Raoul in parenthesis):
Let’s not argue (Let's not argue)
Please pretend (I can only hope)
You will understand in time (I'll understand in time)
Chorus
Masquerade!
Paper faces on parade
Masquerade!
Hide your face so the world will never find you
Masquerade!
Every face a different shade
Masquerade!
Look around, there’s another mask behind you
Masquerade!
Burning glances, turning heads
Masquerade!
Stop and stare at the sea of smiles around you
Masquerade!
Grinning yellows, Spinning reds
Masquerade!
Take your fill, let the spectacle astound you.
(Voices fade and turn to gasps as th lights dim and the Phantom appears at the
top of th stairways)
Phantom:
Why so silent, good Messieurs?/Did you think that I had left you for good?
/Have you missed me, good Messieurs?/I have written you an opera.
/Here, I bring the finished score./Don Juan Triumphant!/Fondest greetings to you all/A few instructions just before rehearsal starts/Carlotta must be taught
to act/Not her normal trick of strutting round the stage/Our Don Juan must lose
some weight/It's not healthy in a man of Piangi’s age/And my managers must
learn that their place is in an office/Not the arts/As for our star,
Miss Christine Daae…
No doubt she’ll do her best/It's true, her voice is good/She knows,
though/Should she wish to excell/She has much still to learn/If pride will let
her return to me, her teacher/Her teacher…
Phantom:
Your chains are still mine,
(spoken)
You belong to me!