At this point, the music had changed and the girls knelt around the stage
as I danced solo. It was not my first, but certainly the most difficult I
had obtained yet, and my favorite.
"Who is that girl?" Andre questioned.
Lefevre replied, "Meg Giry, daughter of our ballet mistress. She's a most promising dancer, monsieurs, most promising. One of our best, and only 16. In a year perhaps, I should be thinking of putting her in Ballerina Prima role, if I were you. The people love young Primas."
Both men nodded and continued to watch as Christine joined me in the dance. We jeted across stage and began intricate enchantements as the music began to crescendo. Suddenly Christine fell out of step. "Christine, are you alright? What's the matter?" I hissed.
"Christine Daae! Concentrate!" Mme. Giry banged her cane once more to accentuate her anger.
Christine flushed and tried to catch up with the music.
"Daae, curious name." Firmin looked at Lefevre. Isn't that Swedish?"
Andre asked, "Any relation to the famous violinist?"
Lefevre nodded. "His daughter I believe. She has talent, but her head is always in the clouds." Dropping his voice, he added, "Some say she went a bit mad after her father died."
Firmin raised his eyebrows, but said nothing.
I hit my final pose, then quickly rushed to the other side of the stage and knelt as the climax approached. The chorus sang as a giant elephant was maneuvered on stage. I smiled as the two stagehands inside pushed buttons and moved levers to control the mammoth prop. Piangi was hoisted up onto it and sang to Carlotta. The Prima Donna in all her splendor raised her arms to her love and answered back in operatic tones.
Finally the chorus sang the final lines, "The trumpeting elephants sound; hear, Romans, now and tremble! Hark to their step on the ground; hear the drums! Hannibal comes!" Everyone clapped as the curtain swung down.
As it came up, we stood and began leaving. Lefevre clapped for everyone's attention as the elephant left the stage. "Ladies and gentlemen." Mme. Giry's cane echoed as she thumped for silence. "Madame Giry, thank you. May I have your attention, everyone? Thank you. Now as you know, for some weeks rumors have been going around about my retirement. Well, I am indeed retiring. In fact, I am here only to introduce you to your new managers, Monsieur Richard Firmin and Monsieur Gilles Andre." Some clapped politely as the two men acknowledged everyone. Carlotta pushed her way to the front and curtseyed deeply.
"Gentleman, I am pleased to make your acquaintance." Her Spanish accent rolled with her toned voice.
Levefre took her hand and led the Prima Donna to the new managers. "Gentlemen, Signora Carlotta Guidicelli, our leading soprano for five seasons now.
Andre bowed over her hand as he said, "Of course, of course. I have experienced all your greatest roles."
"And Signor Ubaldo Piangi, our Hannibal." Lefevre finished.
"An honor, Signor." Firmin shook hands with the portly tenor.
Andre turned back to Carlotta. "If I recall correctly, Elissa has a rather fine aria in Act Three. I don't suppose you could bestow us with a private rendition." A bit dryly, he added, "Unless M. Reyer objects, of course."
Carlotta humbly bowed her head. "My manager commands, M. Reyer?"
Reyer smiled and said, "My diva commands. Will two bars introduction please you?"
"Two bars will be quite adequate, thank you." Firmin nodded.
Christine and I looked at each other and rolled our eyes as we joined everyone one the right side of the stage. Sitting down, I murmured, "Here she goes. If they keep buttering her up as they have been doing, she wont get her hat on tonight." Christine giggled. Carlotta stood center stage, patting her hair, straightening her dress; full of confidence.
Reyer sat at the piano. "Signora?"
Finished with her primping, she replied, "Maestro."
"Who is that girl?" Andre questioned.
Lefevre replied, "Meg Giry, daughter of our ballet mistress. She's a most promising dancer, monsieurs, most promising. One of our best, and only 16. In a year perhaps, I should be thinking of putting her in Ballerina Prima role, if I were you. The people love young Primas."
Both men nodded and continued to watch as Christine joined me in the dance. We jeted across stage and began intricate enchantements as the music began to crescendo. Suddenly Christine fell out of step. "Christine, are you alright? What's the matter?" I hissed.
"Christine Daae! Concentrate!" Mme. Giry banged her cane once more to accentuate her anger.
Christine flushed and tried to catch up with the music.
"Daae, curious name." Firmin looked at Lefevre. Isn't that Swedish?"
Andre asked, "Any relation to the famous violinist?"
Lefevre nodded. "His daughter I believe. She has talent, but her head is always in the clouds." Dropping his voice, he added, "Some say she went a bit mad after her father died."
Firmin raised his eyebrows, but said nothing.
I hit my final pose, then quickly rushed to the other side of the stage and knelt as the climax approached. The chorus sang as a giant elephant was maneuvered on stage. I smiled as the two stagehands inside pushed buttons and moved levers to control the mammoth prop. Piangi was hoisted up onto it and sang to Carlotta. The Prima Donna in all her splendor raised her arms to her love and answered back in operatic tones.
Finally the chorus sang the final lines, "The trumpeting elephants sound; hear, Romans, now and tremble! Hark to their step on the ground; hear the drums! Hannibal comes!" Everyone clapped as the curtain swung down.
As it came up, we stood and began leaving. Lefevre clapped for everyone's attention as the elephant left the stage. "Ladies and gentlemen." Mme. Giry's cane echoed as she thumped for silence. "Madame Giry, thank you. May I have your attention, everyone? Thank you. Now as you know, for some weeks rumors have been going around about my retirement. Well, I am indeed retiring. In fact, I am here only to introduce you to your new managers, Monsieur Richard Firmin and Monsieur Gilles Andre." Some clapped politely as the two men acknowledged everyone. Carlotta pushed her way to the front and curtseyed deeply.
"Gentleman, I am pleased to make your acquaintance." Her Spanish accent rolled with her toned voice.
Levefre took her hand and led the Prima Donna to the new managers. "Gentlemen, Signora Carlotta Guidicelli, our leading soprano for five seasons now.
Andre bowed over her hand as he said, "Of course, of course. I have experienced all your greatest roles."
"And Signor Ubaldo Piangi, our Hannibal." Lefevre finished.
"An honor, Signor." Firmin shook hands with the portly tenor.
Andre turned back to Carlotta. "If I recall correctly, Elissa has a rather fine aria in Act Three. I don't suppose you could bestow us with a private rendition." A bit dryly, he added, "Unless M. Reyer objects, of course."
Carlotta humbly bowed her head. "My manager commands, M. Reyer?"
Reyer smiled and said, "My diva commands. Will two bars introduction please you?"
"Two bars will be quite adequate, thank you." Firmin nodded.
Christine and I looked at each other and rolled our eyes as we joined everyone one the right side of the stage. Sitting down, I murmured, "Here she goes. If they keep buttering her up as they have been doing, she wont get her hat on tonight." Christine giggled. Carlotta stood center stage, patting her hair, straightening her dress; full of confidence.
Reyer sat at the piano. "Signora?"
Finished with her primping, she replied, "Maestro."