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Dame Nellie Melba was born in
Burnley Street Richmond Melbourne on 19th
May 1861
Helen Porter Mitchell was the daughter of the Scottish
builder David Mitchell who built many of Melbourne's historic buildings
including the Exhibition Building.
She came from a musical family receiving her first singing lessons from her
aunt. In 1886 she sailed for Europe with her father intending to study for a
career in Grand Opera. In Paris with the recommendation of Elise Weidermann
Pinschof - the wife of the Austrian Consul in Melbourne who was also an opera
singer she began study with Madame Marchesi in Paris.
Helen Porter Mitchell. married and became Helen Armstrong then
adopted the name Melba as a tribute to her birth place.
Her Australian debut had been at the Theatre Royal in
Sydney on 4 july 1885, her debut in Brussels in Rigoletto in 1887, and her
London debut at Covent Garden in 1888.
On 29th September 1902 Melba returned to Australia after an absence
of 16 years performing in Melbourne to an enthusiastic audience. Her Concert
Tour included 5 engagements in Melbourne, 4 in Sydney and was believed to be
worth more than 20,000 pounds for the star.
From 1907 onwards she divided her time between Australia, Europe and USA. Her
final Australian opera season began in March 1924 with concerts in Melbourne and
Sydney, she sang the national anthem for the opening of Parliament House in
Canberra in May 1927 and gave her final appearance at a concert in Geelong in
November 1928.
Her voice spanned 2 1/2 octaves and her repertoire included 25 operas.
She died on Monday 23 february 1931 at St Vincents Hospital in Sydney aged 69.
"Peach Melba" and "Melba Toast" were named after her.
In 1889 she first sang at Covent Garden where
she was to sing for 40 years, her farewell recital there being in 1926.
Known for the silvery clarity of her voice and huge vocal range, she even
had Melba Toast and Peach Melba invented for her by the french
chef Auguste Escoffier of the Savoy.
She made over 200 recordings, became the first major artist on live radio,
and made many tours to Australia during her lifetime .
Nellie Melba (Born Helen Porter Mitchell)
Australian Soprano Giclee Print
Buy at AllPosters.com
New York Critic W.J. Henderson wrote of
Melba:
"The quality of musical tone cannot be adequately described. No words can
convey to a music lover who did not hear Melba any idea of the sounds with which
she ravished all ears."
"She gave the impression of singing well within her limits."
AMAZON.COM
Recommended Books about Melba
Percy Colson: Melba an unconventional biography
Nellie Melba: Melodies and Memories (annotated John Cargher)
Agnes Murphy: Melba, a biography
MELBA - A FAMILY MEMOIR by Pamela Vestey is marked out-of-print but always check
in case there is a used copy for sale.
I really enjoyed reading this book! It contains letters from and to Melba,
details about all her Tours and Performances and crits as well. It also paints
an interesting picture of life in these times - an excellent read!
Other Links for Melba information include:
Dame Nellie Melba
Research Centre
at the Museum of Lilydale in Victoria
has an extensive photographic collection of Melba, associated arts, composers
and family. The archive includes historical files of press clippings, her music,
her family including objects such as clothing, accessories, records, music and
gifts.
Melba Conservatorium
in Richmond, Victoria has some memorabilia.
ScreenSound Australia National Screen and Sound Archive
in Canberra has some of her recorded legacy as well as print materials.
National Archives of Australia
has various types of materials on Melba in Australia.
Picture Australia
has digitised pictorial material from a range of
Australian and
overseas cultural collecting institutions
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