Disclaimer: All references to the characters from the Gaston Leroux's The Phantom of the Opera belong to their pertinent parties and publishers. I do not claim ownership to the characters, any iteration from a major production of the same material, and / or the original source material.
De petite souris a monsieur chat: Chapter 3
February 1882: In the Streets of Paris
Nadir mused to himself as he rode in a carriage home. Normally he watched the flaneurs leaving their Habermassian homes to promenade in the gardens or the shop workers rush to the nearest beer gardens but not today. Rain drenched the uniform cobblestone streets. The steady, dripping rain kept the flowers of Parisian society from viewing the world from their wrought iron balconies. Only a few carriages and wayward businessmen ventured out into the spring rain.
The start of Erik's plan had been easy. Monsieur Firmin had already found a replacement for Monsieur André. The events of the Phantom's revenge had shaken the determined but foolish ex-manager to his core. Firmin had said André planned on retiring to the Bourgival area where his family had land. Nadir had a hunch that André wouldn't settle so close to Paris; he would run to the coast or another country. The replacement, a Monsieur Fornier, had been a former client for the two accountants-cum-theatre managers. When the Persian introduced himself to the new manager, he found the man cut from the same cloth as Firmin. The only difference was Fornier's desire as a nouveae riche for acceptance from the upper echelons of the bourgeoisie. His energetic drive would prove useful in the forthcoming opera season.
Prior to the meeting, the Persian had sent out various letters of introduction to other patrons and members of the opera staff. Half were sent out to other patrons requesting funds for repairing and improving the opera house. The other half were sent to convince specific staff members to return. In particular, Madame Giry of the attendants and Monsieur Reyer along with the head stagehands, set designers, and costume department managers were asked to return. A number came without question. They had nowhere else to go; the pay at the opera house outshone any they could find anywhere else in Paris.
Once word spread that the opera would re-open, Nadir knew, all would come back. The young ballerinas, chorus members, seamstresses, and attendants would all return. However, there was a downside to this revival. All of the key players that drew an audience were… affected by recent events. The Opera Ghost's shadow still stretched over the lives of the prima ballerina La Sorelli, the soprano Carlotta, and Vicomtess Christine de Chagny neé Daaé. Carlotta refused outright to ever return to Paris, and word on the street said she had fled to her native Italy. La Sorelli had left to reside in the countryside to mourn the death of her lover, Louis-Phillippe, and had fallen ill shortly thereafter. Ubaldo Piangi, obviously, had ceased to be. Such a paranoid lot, Nadir thought to himself. Piangi's solemn funeral had been Carlotta's last public appearance in Paris according to M. André and Firmin. Only Christine remained… but her returning to perform regularly was impossible. Christine was still away on holiday with her husband, or so the Chagny household had informed Firmin upon his inquiry of the young soprano. Even though her letter promised she would return, Nadir knew her husband would not allow it. No man wanted his wife scantily clad and paraded before the masses for ridicule and critique. As a Vicomtesse, Christine de Chagny neé Daaé would never perform on stage ever again.
Nadir sighed and rubbed his eyes. Between his own business and implementing Erik's plan, he had developed a searing headache. Again the Sultan's assassin would risk everything. This time, it was his life to restore his "home" and win back the woman he let go out of love. Does a song bird return to a ruined nest in the spring? Nadir didn't know for sure, but that is what Erik planned for the Christine de Chagny neé Daae. The Persian really didn't care if the woman did return or not; what kept him up at night was the thought of this business venture failing. Erik's money came from being the Opera Ghost. Those savings were finite and would eventually leave Erik penniless if he didn't find some other meanings of acquiring an income. The Palais Garnier's offerings paled in comparison to the day's technological advancements and low humor for the masses. Opera was for the elite while the gardens were for the growing populace.
Add the changing tastes of the day with the numerous cafes and gardens placating, Nadir wondered if they would find replacements willing to leave the electrical limelight of the beer halls for a stodgy theater. They would have to search high and low across the continent for new singers. The Persian placed his hopes in Firmin rather than Fornier for finding adequate singers. Hopefully Firmin would consult Monsieur Reyer about the matter, but Nadir wondered if he held onto false hope. Perhaps he should be an active member in the search. As a silent benefactor, Nadir considered himself important in making the decision final. Suddenly, a thought struck him.
"Erik should compose a work... One fitting with the times. Something avant-garde, something impressionistic, exotic and quixotic. Perhaps a critique of modern society," Nadir muttered to himself as he fumbled for his pocket book. He always kept a few scraps of paper tucked inside along with a pencil. As the carriage rumbled and shook down the uniform brick streets of Paris, Nadir grinned as he jotted down his ideas.