Valley Light Opera

This spring, VLO presents a concert version of The Emerald Isle with music by Arthur Sullivan and Edward German, and a story by Basil Hood, who wrote the libretto for The Rose of Persia in an earlier collaboration with Sullivan. The Emerald Isle turned out to be the last work that Sullivan composed, for he died before completing it. He had written the opening scene in full score and sketched out the melodies and harmonies for fifteen further numbers. There remained a dozen pieces (four of them quite brief) that were set by Edward German. Following the orchestral scheme established in the opening number, German fully scored Sullivan's sketches and went on to compose the music for the orphaned lyrics. The Emerald Isle debuted at the Savoy Theatre on April 27, 1901, and ran for 205 performances. It is said that the haunting chorus that closes Act I was the last music Sir Arthur ever composed.

The story describes the planning and foiling of an Irish rebellion against British (or, as the Irish would say, Saxon) rule. The leader of the plot is the descendant of an Irish nobleman, but he speaks with an English accent -- having been educated in England following the dictates of the Lord Lieutenant, the representative of the crown in Ireland. The plot includes romances, deceptions, and fairy powers, getting more and more complicated, as one might expect, as the opera proceeds. It also includes the requisite happy ending. VLO will be singing all of the music and telling the story through a combination of a Jonathan Strong narration and snippets of dialog.

This concert version of The Emerald Isle is being presented by Valley Light Opera soloists, chorus, and orchestra -- the first performance in the United States with orchestra, to the best of our knowledge, in more than 100 years.

We would like to thank the following sponsors for underwriting some of the costs of the production:

• Wingate Healthcare, where healthcare and hospitality meet
• Devine Overhead Doors

Saturday, March 8, 2008 -- 7:30 PM

Tickets will be on sale at the door for $10 for adults, and $5 for children under 18.

You may wish to return to the VLO Home Page.