Composer

:

Julius Benedict

Genre

:

Opera

Style

:

Opera

Average_duration

:

3:18

The Lily of Killarney is an opera composed by Julius Benedict, with a libretto by Dion Boucicault. It was first performed on May 10, 1862, at the Theatre Royal, Covent Garden, London. The opera is set in Ireland and tells the story of Eily O'Connor, a young woman who is torn between her love for Myles na Coppaleen, a local fisherman, and Captain Corrigan, a wealthy Englishman. The plot of the opera revolves around Eily's struggle to choose between the two men. Myles is poor but honest and loves Eily deeply, while Captain Corrigan is wealthy and offers Eily a life of luxury and comfort. Eily's father, Danny Mann, is a drunkard who owes money to Captain Corrigan, and he pressures Eily to marry the Captain to pay off his debts. However, Eily's heart belongs to Myles, and she ultimately chooses him over the Captain. The music of The Lily of Killarney is characterized by its Irish folk melodies and lush orchestration. The opera features several memorable arias, including Eily's "The Moon Hath Raised Her Lamp Above" and Myles' "The Light of Other Days." The score also includes several lively dance numbers, such as the "Jig of Slurs" and the "Hornpipe." The Lily of Killarney was a popular opera in its time and was frequently performed throughout the 19th century. However, it fell out of favor in the 20th century and is now rarely performed. Despite this, the opera remains an important example of Victorian-era operatic style and is notable for its use of Irish folk music and themes.

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