FIRMIN Dear Andrй, what a splendid party! ANDRЙ The prologue to a bright new year! FIRMIN Quite a night! I'm impressed! ANDRЙ Well, one does one's best... ANDRЙ/FIRMIN Here's to us! FIRMIN I must say, all the same, that it's a shame that 'Phantom' fellow isn't 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... Thigh of blue... 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... RAOUL/CHRISTINE But who can name the face... ALL 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! GIRY What a night! MEG What a crowd! ANDRЙ Makes you glad! FIRMIN Makes you proud! All the crиme de la crиme! *CARLOTTA *Watching us watching them! * *MEG/GIRY *And all our fears *are in the past! * *ANDRЙ *Six months... PIANGI Of relief! CARLOTTA Of delight! ANDRЙ/FIRMIN Of Elysian peace! *MEG/GIRY *And we can breathe at last! * *CARLOTTA *No more notes! PIANGI No more ghosts! GIRY Here's a health! ANDRЙ Here's a toast: to a prosperous year! FIRMIN To the new chandelier! *PIANGI/CHARLOTTA *And may its *splendour never fade! * *FIRMIN *Six months! * *GIRY *What a joy! MEG What a change! FIRMIN/ANDRЙ What a blessed release! ANDRЙ 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? CHRISTINE Please, let's not fight... RAOUL Christine, you're free! CHRISTINE Wait till the time is right... RAOUL When will that be? It's an engagement, not a crime! Christine, what are you afraid of? CHRISTINE Let's not argue... RAOUL Let's not argue... CHRISTINE Please pretend... *RAOUL *I can only hope I'll... * *CHRISTINE *You will... BOTH ..understand in time... ALL 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!