overture  (the  likes  of  us)  -  andrew  lloyd  webber

carlotta:

this  trophy  from  our  saviours,  from  our  saviours  from  the  enslaving  force  of  rome!

girl's  chorus:

with  feasting  and  dancing  and  song,  tonight  in  celebration,

we  greet  the  victorious  throng,  returned  to  bring  salvation!

men's  chorus:

the  trumpets  of  carthage  resound!  hear,  romans,  now  and  tremble!

hark  to  our  step  on  the  ground!

all:

hear  the  drums,  hannibal  comes!

piangi:

sad  to  return  to  find  the  land  we  love  threatened  once  more  by  roma's  far-reaching  grasp

reyer:

gentlemen,  gentlemen...

lefevre:

rehearsals,  as  you  see,  are  under  way,  for  a  new  production  of  chalumeau's  "hannibal".

reyer:

monsieur  lefevre,  i  am  rehearsing.

lefevre:

monsieur  reyer,  madame  giry,  ladies  and  gentlemen,

please  if  i  could  have  your  attention,  thank  you.

as  you  know,  for  some  weeks  there  have  been  rumours  of  my  imminent  retirement.

i  can  now  tell  you  that  these  were  all  true  and  it  is  my  pleasure  to  introduce  you  to  the  two  gentlemen

who  now  own  the  opera  populaire,  monsieur  richard  firmin  and  monsieur  gilles  andre.

firmin:

and  we  are  deeply  honoured  to  introduce  our  new  patron,  the  vicomte  de  changy

raoul:

my  parents  and  i  are  honoured  to  support  all  the  arts  especially  the  world  renowned  opera  populaire

lefevre:

vicomte,  gentlemen,  signora  carlotta  giudicelli,  our  leading  soprano  for  five  seasons  now.

and  signor  ubaldo  piangi.

raoul:

an  honour,  signor.  i  believe  i'm  keeping  you  from  your  rehearsal.

i  will  be  here  this  evening  to  share  your  great  triumph.  my  apologies,  monsieur.

reyer:

thank  you,  monsieur  le  vicomte.  once  more  if  you  please,  signor.

carlotta:

he  loves  me!

giry:

we  take  a  particular  pride  here  in  the  excellence  of  our  ballets,  monsieur

firmin:

i  see  why,  especially  that  little  blonde  angel.

giry:

my  daughter,  meg  giry.

firmin:

and  that  exceptional  beauty?  no  relation,  i  trust.

giry:

christine  daaé,  promising  talent,  monsieur  firmin,  very  promising.

firmin:

daaé,  you  say?  no  relation  to  the  famous  swedish  violinist?

giry:

his  only  child,  orphan  at  7,  when  she  came  to  live  and  train  in  the  ballet  dormitory.

firmin:

an  orphan,  you  say!

chorus:

bid  welcome  to  hannibal's  guests,  the  elephants  of  carthage!

as  guides  on  our  conquering  quests,  dido  sends  hannibal's  friends!

chorus  with  carlotta  and  piangi:

the  trumpeting  elephants  sound,  hear,  romans,  now  and  tremble!

hark  to  their  step  on  the  ground,  hear  the  drums!  hannibal  comes!

andre:

mosieur  reyer,  isn't  there  a  rather  marvelous  aria  for  elissa  in  act  three  of  "hannibal"?

perhaps  if  signora...

carlotta:

yes...yes...monsieur  reyer?

reyer:

if  my  diva  commands.

carlotta:

yes  i  do.