The Daae sisters were nervous upon entering the Bistro, Catherine especially since she promised her Maestro, she would sing but seeing so many people around was making her nerves skyrocket. Christine could feel her sister was nervous and took her by the hand and squeezed it gently to comfort and to their relief they say Phillipe approach them. He smiled when he came up to them.
"I was afraid you weren't coming" he said.
With his right hand he gestured where the sister's should go.
"This way please" he said.
Catherine walked in the direction of the stage followed by Christine and Phillippe.
As they walked through the room, neither of the sisters saw they were being watched by some members of the company.
"Is that Christine and Catherine?" asked one woman.
"Yes, that is Christine and Catherine" said another woman.
And also, among those who were watching was Gerard Carriere.
The three made their way to a vacant table in front of the stage and Phillippe pulled out a chair for both sisters before sitting down themselves and watched the two men singing on stage.
Carlotta watched the three of them with a sneer on her face and when she stood up from her chair her husband approached her.
"Look who has just arrived" he said with a tone of surprise.
"I know. He says they are his nieces" laughed Carlotta as she walked around her husband and sat back down at their original table.
Some of the women from the chorus overheard her and laughed at the idea of Catherine and Christine being the Count's nieces.
"His nieces. Ha, I just agreed to give Catherine singing lessons" laughed Carlotta and her husband the chorus women followed suit.
By then the two men had finished singing and now it was Pierre's, the man who played the Devil in Faust, turn.
Christine and Catherine were enjoying themselves quite a bit and were more relaxed than when they first arrived.
XXX
Meanwhile, outside hidden in the shadows Erik, now dawned in a black cloak and fedora hat, was standing beneath the staircase to the Bistro and waited patiently to hear Catherine make her debut.
XXX
After Pierre had finished singing everyone laughed and applauded as he left the stage and Phillippe saw this as an opportunity for Catherine.
"Will you sing?" he asked.
Catherine did not speak but nod her head in response and Phillippe got up from his chair and told the pianist in the corner to play a Bel Canto song for Catherine to sing. The nervous feeling came over Catherine again and to sooth her, Christine squeezed her hand gently then gave her a hug.
"You can do this Cathy. Do it for Papa and your Maestro" she whispered in Catherine's ear.
She then took a calming deep breath and by then Phillippe returned and offered his hand to help her get up on stage.
She then stood in the middle and looked out at everyone watching her.
The pianist began to play then Catherine began to sing Bell canto. She started off very softly then her voice started growing until it was audible enough to be heard over the crowd.
watch?v=rxek00glUVk
(Watch from 4:40 and imagine it is Catherine singing)
Cholet and Carlotta were watching and listening to Catherine closely.
"She has a sweet little voice" commented Cholet as he turned to look at his wife.
"But thin" commented Carlotta.
"Why don't you join her?" Cholet suggested.
"Oh, no, no it wouldn't be fair" said Carlotta with false modesty.
"Please, give us the pleasure" begged Cholet's assistant.
"Come, come" Cholet encouraged his wife.
Finally giving in without too much of a fight, Carlotta stood from her chair and strut towards the stage and stood beside Catherine on the left-hand side but further in front of the younger singer and began her obnoxious, out of tune, Opera singing.
XXX
Outside, Erik could just about hear Catherine singing and was feeling proud but then his face dropped when he heard Carlotta sing alongside her.
XXX
As the two women sang, Catherine's confidence grew which allowed her voice to grow and, despite Carlotta trying to overshadow her it was clear Catherine's voice enchanted everyone in the room. So much so everyone had stopped what they were doing to listen. Carlotta was even stunned by the younger woman's voice so much that she paused as Catherine was singing in 'Ah' but then composed herself and carried on. It was practically neck and neck between the two women for the rest of the song until just near the end Carlotta reluctantly admitted defeat and left the stage to sit beside her husband and watched Catherine with jealous as she finished the song beautifully.
XXX
Erik was beyond proud of Catherine's triumph tonight that he couldn't stop smiling and held both his hands over his heart.
XXX
The whole room filled with thunderous cheers and applaud, she even got a standing from most of the people sitting at the tables, including Phillippe and her sister. Catherine's cheeks warmed up and a beaming smile grew on her face as she curtsied and the musicians on stage wished her congratulations before, she left the stage and re-joined her sister and Phillippe. Christine pulled her into a hug.
"I knew you could do it Catherine I am so proud of you. And Papa would be just as proud" she said as she held her sister tightly for a few minutes and then let her go.
Phillippe gave her a beaming smile and kissed her hand to congratulate her.
He led the sisters towards the bar.
Cholet and his assistant watched them walked by.
"You should sign her up" the assistant suggested, handing him a piece of paper.
The two-gentleman sat down, and Cholet looked at his wife.
"That girl doesn't need singing lessons. I am going to sign her up" he said taking a pen from his coat pocket and signed the document.
"Only for the Chorus" demanded Carlotta.
"Think what she'll do for business" said the assistant which earned a drink thrown in his face by Carlotta.
"Did I tell you she was wonderful" said Phillippe to Gerard who had been watching from the bar with admiration.
"Wonderful doesn't begin to describe the beauty of that voice" commented Gerard as he smiled at Catherine.
Catherine looked down modestly and felt her cheeks warm up even more.
"I am Gerard Carriere, former manager of the Opera House" said Gerard.
"Oh, of course" said the two sisters simultaneously as Gerard gave them both a kiss on the hand.
"And I must tell you, Mademoiselle" said Gerard.
XXX
Jean-Claude was making his way to the entrance to the Bistro and when he looked up, he saw movement disappear behind the corner. When he went to investigate, he saw nothing and proceeded up the stairs with caution.
XXX
"Not only is your voice astonishing but it reminded me of someone I was privileged to know years ago, a great singer. Belladova" said Gerard as he held Catherine's hand.
Catherine didn't know of the person Gerard had mentioned and gave a small smile feeling shy but flattered to be compared with a great singer.
"I don't suppose you've heard of her?" asked Gerard.
"No" said Catherine softly.
"Well no matter, go and enjoy your success" Gerard bit the three companions farewell.
As they left Jean-Claude approached him.
"Gerard" he called out.
"Not now, later" Gerard said dismissively.
"I want to talk to you, please! I saw someone outside, please!" Jean-Claude begged before leading Gerard to a window that had a clear view of the entry way.
When Gerard looked out, he saw Erik. The two locked eyes for a moment and then Erik turned and hid in the shadows again.
Gerard turned to face Jean-Claude.
"Nobody there" he lied, and Jean-Claude knew it but played along.
"I must have been mistaken" he said and then walked away from Gerard to go and get a drink at the bar.
Everyone cheered as very lively dance music started playing. Catherine and Christine got separated but soon found him again and he led the two of them to get their cloaks and led them outside.
At the bottom of the stairs Phillippe said.
"Would you like to go for a ride, ladies. We can get out of the city for a little while, into the countryside"
Christine was more than eager to go with him, but Catherine wasn't.
"No thank you, I think I will return to the Opera House. But you two can go and have fun" she said practically shewing them off.
"Are you sure Cathy? We can always drop you there before we go" said Christine.
"No, I'll be fine walking, you two go and have fun" she said, giving Christine a wink for she knew her sister had some feeling for the Count and didn't want to get in their way.
"Well, if you are sure Cathy. I will see you later tonight" said Christine and she took Phillippe's hand and climbed inside of his carriage.
"Be careful as you make your way back Catherine" said Phillippe before climbing up after Christine.
The two rode off into the night and Catherine watched them go with a smile.
"Good luck Chrissie" she whispered to herself.