Opera Plots I - MDC Faculty Home Pages

circumstance a means of avenging herself upon her rival, hurries away to inform Elvino of what
she has seen, in her haste leaving her kerchief behind; and the Count, overawed by the beauty and
innocency of his sleeping visitant, leaves the room at once, and betakes himself to his château.
Amina reclines upon the bed; and when the spiteful Lisa returns with the villagers, Elvino is
furious at beholding his beloved one in such an equivocal situation, and, upon her awakening,
spurns her, and afterwards accepts the advances of the triumphant Lisa. The villagers, however,
having discovered the identity of the stranger, call upon the Count to declare the innocence of
Amina; and Rudolpho gladly does so, explaining that the maiden is a somnambulist. All believe
him except Elvino, who is, however, at last convinced by the appearance of Amina, once more in a
state of trance, walking across a rickety bridge from a neighbouring mill. She awakens in his arms;
and upon his craving forgiveness for his doubt she gladly grants it. Lisa's kerchief having been
found in the guest-chamber of the inn, she is now looked upon askance; and the interrupted
wedding festivities of Amina and Elvino are continued with great rejoicing.
17. THE LILY OF KILLARNEY
Opera By Julius Benedict
Libretto By Boucicault and Oxenford, founded on the former's romantic drama "The Colleen
Bawn"
First Produced Covent Garden, London, February, 1862
Chief Characters Eily O'Connor ("The Colleen Bawn"), Mrs Cregan, Anne Chute, Hardress
Cregan, Danny Mann, Myles na Coppaleen, Corrigan
THE scene is laid in Ireland, in the neighbourhood of Killarney, where young Hardress Cregan,
the master of Torc Cregan, is entertaining his friends. The Cregan estates are heavily involved, a"
middleman," Corrigan, holding a mortgage on them; and during the departure of the gay guests to
witness a horse race by moonlight this" middleman," a low-minded, vulgar man, accosts Mrs
Cregan, insisting that her son must pay court to the heiress of the neighbourhood, Miss Anne
Chute, since a marriage with this lady is the only means they have of retrieving their fortunes and
securing payment to himself. He offers as an alternative, however, the suggestion that he would
accept the hand of Mrs Cregan, who is still attractive; but this suggestion is repelled with dis-gust
by the widow, who promises instead to encourage her son to pay court to Anne Chute. Corrigan
then tells her to prevent her son from visiting Eily O'Connor, "the Colleen Bawn," a beautiful
peasant girl, whom he declares Hardress is attached to; and the call of an old boatman, Danny
Mann, being heard outside, he announces that this devoted adherent of young Cregan has even
now come to take his master to the girl's house. On looking through the open window, and seeing
Hardress board the boat and allow himself to be rowed across the lake, Mrs Cregan is much
distressed, but promises to warn her son to desist from such profitless love-making. In the next
scene, we are taken into the cottage of Eily O'Connor, who lives there under the protection of
Father Tom, a good old priest; and here her peasant lover, honest Myles na Coppaleen, is also
visiting her. Hardress Cregan presently enters; and knowing it to be to his advantage to wed with
the rich heiress, Anne Chute, he endeavours to persuade Eily to part with her marriage certificate
for the pair are already actually married but Eily stoutly refuses to do so, being encouraged in this
course by Father Tom and Myles, though it grieves her to vex her lover. Hardress is furious at her
refusal, and departs in anger, declaring he will never see her again.