### Clue: Gilt-edged artist, foremost of compilers on song, our beloved hero (9)
### Answer: ARAUCARIA 
 ### Explanation: Definition: our beloved hero
 AU(chemical symbol for the element, gold, with "gilt" as an adjective) **containing**(…-edged) RA(artist member of the Royal Academy) + **1st letter of**(foremost of) "compilers " **plus**(on) ARIA(an operatic song).