Eileen
Music by Victor Herbert · libretto by Henry Blossom
Eileen is a comic opera in three acts with music by Victor Herbert and lyrics and book by Henry Blossom, based loosely on the 1835 novel Rory O'More by Herbert's grandfather, Samuel Lover. Set in 1798, the story concerns an Irish revolutionary arrested by the British for treason. Eileen, his nobly born sweetheart, helps him to escape by disguising him as a servant. After two Cleveland performances at the Colonial Theatre on January 1–2, 1917 titled Hearts of Erin, the operetta moved on to Boston, changing its name to Eileen. It then opened at the Shubert Theatre on March 19, 1917 and ran for 64 performances. It was produced by Joe Weber, formerly of the comedy duo Weber and Fields. It then toured, but a fire destroyed its sets and costumes three months into the tour. The show was not revived in New York until the end of the 20th century. In 1982, a single on-book concert performance was given at Manhattan's Town Hall, featuring E. G. Marshall as O'Day, Judy Kaye as Lady Maude and Roderick Cook as Sir Reginald. In 1997, it was produced and recorded by the Ohio Light Opera. In 2012, a small-scale production was given by the Light Opera of New York. Herbert was eager to write an "Irish" musical to celebrate the land of his ancestors. His score was well received by the critics, but the libretto received some harsh reviews. Alexander Woollcott wrote: "Mr Blossom [must have] gathered his material and atmosphere by reading for quite half an hour in some public library."
Text from the Wikipedia article "Eileen (opera)", licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
About the Composer
Victor Herbert is the composer of record for this opera.
Text from the Wikipedia article "Victor Herbert", licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Other Operas by Victor Herbert
- Babes in Toyland (1903)
- Babette (1903)
- Mlle. Modiste (1905)
- Dream City (1906)
- Madeleine (1914)