The Earl of Newtown, K.P.
Lord Lieutenant of Ireland (bass-baritone)

Dr. Fiddle, D.D.
his Private Chaplain (tenor)

Terence O'Brian
a Young Rebel (tenor)

Professor Bunn
Shakespearean Reciter, Character Impersonator, etc. (comic baritone)

Irish Peasants:

• Black Dan
  (baritone)
• Mickie O'Hara
  (non-singing)

H.M. 11th Regiment of Foot:

• Sergeant Pincher
  (bass)
• Private Perry
  (non-singing)
• Sentry
  (non-singing)

The Countess of Newtown
(contralto)

Lady Rosie Pippin
her Daughter (soprano)

Molly O'Grady
a Peasant Girl (mezzo-soprano)

Susan
Lady Rosie’s Maid (mezzo-soprano)

Peasant Girls:

• Nora
  (non-singing)
• Kathleen
  (soprano)

Chorus of Irish Peasants and Soldiers of 11th Regiment of Foot

​  Annotated libretto of The Emerald Isle

Chappell edition of the vocal score of The Emerald Isle:-

​  Part One

​  Part Two

​  Part Three

​  Part Four

​  Part Five

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1904  —  Bristol Amateur Operatic Society

1904  —  Nottingham Operatic Society

1907  —  Southern Light Opera Company

1908  —  York Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society

1909  —  Worcester Operatic & Dramatic Society

1910  —  Huddersfield Amateur Operatic Society

1911  —  Lytham Amateur Operatic Society

1911  —  Peterborough Operatic and Dramatic Society

1912  —  Barnes and Richmond Operatic Society

1913  —  Bristol Amateur Operatic Society

1922  —  Studley Operatic Society

1924  —  Ilford Operatic and Dramatic Society

1924  —  Ringwood Musical and Dramatic Society

1926  —  Bath Operatic and Dramatic Society

1926  —  Felling Stage Society

1928  —  Barnes and Richmond Operatic Society

1928  —  Redruth Amateur Operatic Society

1930  —  Wisbech Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society

1930  —  Worcester Operatic & Dramatic Society

1938  —  Geoids Amateur Operatic Society

1948  —  Dumfries Musical and Operatic Society

1950  —  Kingston Vale Operatic and Dramatic Society

1950  —  Ponteland Repertory Society

1951  —  Geoids Amateur Operatic Society

1951  —  Loughton Operatic Society

1952  —  Beverley Musical Theatre

1965  —  Beaconsfield Operatic Society

1970  —  Cotswold Savoyards

1995  —  Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Victoria, Australia

1998  —  Edinburgh G & S

1999  —  St David’s Players, Exeter

2001  —  Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Victoria, Australia

2008  —  Valley Light Opera  —  Concert version with Orchestra

At the time of his death in November 1900, the score of The Emerald Isle lay incomplete on Sullivan’s desk. This left an ailing Richard D’Oyly Carte with a problem, for here was a potentially successful opera for the Savoy, but only two-thirds had been written. In the event the impresario commissioned Edward German, a composer much admired by Sullivan and a one time member of the Savoy orchestra, to complete the score.

Just how much Sullivan actually left is not known. That he completed the first two numbers of the opera in full score can be evidenced from the composers diaries, but what he left in terms of orchestral sketches or melodic or harmonic lines for other numbers is not documented. The Chappell vocal score and libretto annotate each number in the score to one or other composer; but rehearsal and performance are an enlightening experience, and during the rehearsals for the 1999 St David’s Players production (especially when joined by the orchestra), it became very apparent that there were musical turns of phrase in some of the numbers attributed to Edward German that could only have been written by Sullivan, and vice versa.

​

The Emerald Isle recording from Prince Consort is quite a different matter when compared with their Rose of Persia. This is the only commercial recording ever released (originally on LP) and this time the performance is far better paced. Professor Bunn is played by the same bass as Hassan (Richard Broujo), but the voice seems somehow less obtrusive.

With Emerald Isle of course, as mentioned above, one has the fun of spotting the numbers written by Sullivan and those by German. This would seem a simple matter as, also mentioned above, the vocal score allocates each number in the score to one or other composer and this is reproduced in the booklet.

This recording of Emerald Isle is a delightful introduction to the work and, in the absence of any full-scale professional recording of either of these works, the set is a must for Sullivan lovers and lovers of Comic Opera in general.

​It is available on the PEARL label - GEMS 0189.

In 1999, St David’s Players were commissioned by the Sir Arthur Sullivan Society to present a performance of The Emerald Isle at their festival, to be held that year at the Toorak Hotel in Torquay. The festival was scheduled for mid-May and therefore, to make the rehearsal of such a rare piece worthwhile, the decision was taken to present the work at the Barnfield Theatre, Exeter over the May Day weekend. These three performances commenced unusually on the Saturday and ran until Bank Holiday Monday. The performances took the form of a semi-staged, costumed concert performance with linking narration replacing most of the dialogue.

Fortunately, the performance at Torquay was recorded by a member of the audience using a hand-held cassette recorded and was later issued by St David’s on CD. The recording is musically complete (apart from one very short passage when the cassette had to be changed), and the second disc is completed with highlights from the previous night’s concert, ‘Sullivan and Who?’, given by Occasional Harmony. Any members wishing to obtain a copy should email St David’s Players.

​  The end of the Act 1 Finale ‘Come away sighs the fairy voice’ sung by Penny Daw and the full company.