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Melba, Nellie (Dame) (1861-1931)

Also known as
Armstrong, Nellie Mitchell
Melba, Nellie, Dame
Melba, Nellie (1861-1931)
Mitchell, Helen Porter
Occupation
Opera Singer; Soprano; Order of the British Empire - Dame Commander; Order of the British Empire - Dame Grand Cross - Civil
Persistent Identifier
http://nla.gov.au/nla.party-505278

Biographies

Music Australia

Australian soprano, Dame Nellie Melba is regarded as the most accomplished and famous soprano of her time and was the first Australian to achieve international recognition on the opera stage. Born Helen Porter Mitchell, Melba was raised in Melbourne in a musical family and received her early singing tuition from Ellen Christian and the Italian tenor, Pietro Cecchi. After marriage and the birth of her son, she went on to study in Paris with the prominent teacher Mathilde Marchesi. Marchesi is credited with transforming her into a brilliant vocalist and for persuading her to adopt a stage name, which she chose to be 'Melba', an abbreviation of her home town. In 1887, Melba made her operatic debut in Brussels as Gilda in Verdi's Rigoletto and went on to sing with great success in London, Paris, Milan and New York. She established herself as Covent Garden's prima donna, maintaining her own permanent dressing room there. Her most famous operatic role was as Mimi in Puccini's La Boheme and she studied many of her operatic roles with the composers themselves. Her recitals included many songs, notably Bishop's Home Sweet Home and Arditi's Se saran rose (The Melba Waltz). Between 1904 and 1926 Melba made almost 200 recordings and in 1920 she appeared on a pioneering radio broadcast from Guglielmo Marconi's factory. Some recordings of her voice have been re-released for contemporary audiences but the limitations of early recording technology have not justly preserved the quality of her voice. Melba's interpretative abilities were often criticised, however, her voice was remarkable for its even quality over a range of almost three octaves, and for the purity of its timbre. Melba returned to Australia on many occasions, touring in 1902 and 1909 and with the Melba-Williamson Opera Company in 1911, 1924 and 1928. In 1909 she bought a property at Coldstream near Lilydale, Victoria, named Coombe Cottage. She based herself in Australia during the First World War and worked to raise funds for war charities. For her services to the war effort, Melba was made a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1918. During this period she established a singing school at the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music, now renamed the Melba Memorial Conservatorium of Music, providing her services free of charge. In 1927 Melba sang at the opening of Parliament House in Canberra, and was elevated to Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire. She gave a series of farewell concerts in the 1920s, with her final performances taking place in Australia in 1928. Melba died in 1931 of septicaemia from an infection acquired during plastic surgery. She was given a state funeral in which the motorcade was over a kilometre long. Her name is associated with two foods, the Peach Melba dessert and Melba toast, and her image features on the Australian 100-dollar note.

View the full record at Music Australia

Australian Women's Register

Dame Nellie Melba (née Helen Porter Mitchell) was an internationally renowned opera singer, celebrated for her magnificent coloratura (soprano) voice.

Melba's musical training began in Melbourne at Presbyterian Ladies' College, and continued in France under Mathilde Marchesi. Her operatic debut was in Brussels, in 1887.

Melba went on to perform in London, Paris and New York before returning to Australia to tour in 1902. She also toured Australia in 1909, 1911, 1924 and 1928. She founded a women's singing school in Melbourne and wrote a singing manual and a memoir.

Melba was appointed to The Order of the British Empire, Dame Grand Cross (Civil) on 3 June 1927 for services to Australia. She was also appointed to The Order of the British Empire, Dames Commander, on 15 March 1918 for giving fund-raising concerts to assist war wounded during the First World War.

View the full record at Australian Women's Register

Related people and organisations

Australian Women's Register

Resources

Selected resources (48)

Australian Women's Register

  1. Nellie Melba : the first Australian diva
    Magee, Adrian
    [1995]
    Published: CIS Cardigan Street Publishers, Carlton, Vic.
  2. Nellie Melba, a contemporary review
    Moran, William R.
    [1995]
    Published: Greenwood Press, Westport, Conn.
  3. Nellie Melba : the legend still lives
    Vickery, Marian
    [1982]
    Published: Victorian Arts Centre, South Melbourne
  4. Obituary [Dame Nellie Melba]
    [1931]
  5. Obituary [Dame Nellie Melba]
    [1931]
  6. Obituary [Dame Nellie Melba]
    [1931]
  7. Red plush and black velvet : the story of Dame Nellie Melba and her times
    Wechsberg, Joseph
    [1962]
    Published: Weidenfeld and Nicolson, London
  8. Melodies and memories; introduction and notes by John Cargher
    Melba, Nellie, Dame; Beverley Nichols
    [1980]
    Published: Nelson, West Melbourne, Vic.
  9. Melba method
    Melba, Nellie, Dame
    [1926]
    Published: Chappell & Co., Sydney
  10. The Complete Book of Great Australian Women: Thirty-six women who changed the course of Australia
    De Vries, Susanna
    [2003]
    Published: HarperCollins, Sydney
  11. Melodies and memories
    Melba, Nellie, Dame; Beverley Nichols
    [1925]
    Published: Butterworth, London
  12. Evensong
    Beverley Nichols
    [1932]
  13. Victorian Women's Roll of Honour: Women Shaping the Nation
    [2001]
    Published: Centurary of Federation Victoria
  14. 200 Australian Women: A Redress Anthology
    Radi, Heather
    [1988]
    Published: Women's Redress Press, Sydney
  15. Popular Australian singers from the early years of sound recording [sound recording]. Volume 1.
    [c1988]
    Published: National Film and Sound Archive
  16. Melba, Nellie (1861-1931)
    Davidson, Jim
    [2006]
    Published: Australian National University
  17. Papers of Dame Nellie Melba
    National Library of Australia
    Published: National Library of Australia
  18. Australian Dictionary of Biography Online
    Australian National University
    [2006]
  19. 100 great Australians
    Macklin, Robert
    [1983]
    Published: Currey O'Neil Ross, South Yarra, Vic.
  20. Double Time: Women in Victoria - 150 Years
    Lake, Marilyn and Kelly, Farley
    [1985]
    Published: Penguin Books Australia Ltd, Ringwood (Vic.)
  21. Australian nurses since Nightingale 1860-1990
    Burchill, Elizabeth
    [1992]
    Published: Spectrum Publications Pty Ltd, Richmond (Vic.)
  22. The Shire of Lillydale and its military heritage : the First World War and its effect on the community
    McAleer, A J
    [c1995]
    Published: A J McAleer, Mooroolbark, Vic.
  23. Melba's keys to past
    O'Connor, Shaunagh
    [2003]
  24. Victoria, the first century : an historical survey
    compiled by the Historical Sub-committee of the Centenary Celebrations Council
    [1934]
    Published: Robertson & Mullens, Melbourne
  25. Faith, Hope and Charity Australian Women and Imperial Honours: 1901-1989
    Australian Women's Archives Project
    [2003]
    Published: Australian Women's Archives Project
  26. Dame Nellie Melba
    Franklin Peterson
    [1915]
    Published: George Robertson, Melbourne
  27. Miscellaneous papers re Caroline Chisholm and Dame Nellie Melba.
    [1833 - 1953]
    1. Caroline Chisholm papers, c1833-c1953. 2. Dame Nellie Melba papers, c1885-c1920. Both papers on the same microfilm reel.
    Deakin University Archives
    FRO
  28. Biographical file of information on Dame Nellie Melba
    [1961]
    Biographical file of information on Dame Nellie Melba comprising: "Dame Nellie Melba. A centennial review" by Warren Perry (published in Victorian Historical Magazine, vol. 31, no. 4, May 1961); "A Dame Nellie Melba centenary oration" by Dr. Colin Macdonald (published in Victorian Historical Magazine, vol. 31, no. 3, February 1961); "Portrait of a Prima Donna", radio broadcast for the centenary of Melba's birth on 19 May 1961 by John Thompson; press cuttings; one photograph; and references to other newspaper articles on Melba.
    0.032 m
    State Library of Victoria, Australian Manuscripts Collection
    MS 11745
  29. Scrapbook
    [1911 - 1937]
    Scrapbook relating to Dame Nellie Melba, kept by her personal assistant. Comprises newspaper cuttings, photographs and performance programmes. Includes a series of articles "Melba's life story" published in the Herald newspaper (Melbourne), September 1925. Photographs include portraits of Melba, views of Coombe Cottage (her home near Lilydale, Vic.) and scenes of her arrival at Perth on the R. M. S. "Orsova" in 1914.
    0.02 m, 1 Volume
    State Library of Victoria, Australian Manuscripts Collection
    MS 1077
  30. Letters
    [1916]
    Melba's letters are written from a variety of locations, including Coombe Cottage in Victoria, Chicago, Sussex, Paris and London. There are 7 in all, mainly written to a Thomas Cochrane. Two are incomplete. Also included is an Order of Service for the unveiling and dedication of a window dedicated to the memory of Dame Nellie Melba in the Church of St. Sepulchre's, Holborn, England, in 1962. Also included is a typescript copy of an indenture between James Watson and David Mitchell (Melba's father) 13 November [18]46. Also, a letter from Beverley Nichols in Surrey to John Hetherington in Melbourne 8 August 1964 re. Melba.
    7 letters
    State Library of Victoria, Australian Manuscripts Collection
    MS 8946
  31. Papers
    Mainly letters from Dame Nellie Melba to her cousin Jeannie Armstrong, 1901-1903, but also including two letters from Haddon Chambers to Jeannie Armstrong, c.1901-c.1902, one letter to Haddon Chambers, c.1901-c.1902, and pictorial material.
    1 folder
    Mitchell and Dixson Libraries Manuscripts Collection, State Library of New South Wales
  32. Account book
    [1902 - 1903]
    Account book kept by Dame Nellie Melba's accountant for her Australasian tour, 1902-1903
    0.02 m
    National Library of Australia Manuscript Collection
    MS 7987
  33. Miscellaneous papers re Caroline Chisholm and Dame Nellie Melba.
    [1833 - 1953]
    1. Caroline Chisholm papers, c1833-c1953. 2. Dame Nellie Melba papers, c1885-c1920. Both papers on the same microfilm reel.
    1 microfilm reel
    National Library of Australia Manuscript Collection
    mfm G 27410
  34. Correspondence of Melba, Nellie, Dame, 1861-1931.
    Three signed, undated letters to Jascha Heifetz and a photograph of a facsimile message from Jules Massenet.
    7 pages
    National Library of Australia Manuscript Collection
    MS 1356
  35. Melba, Nellie, Dame Papers
    [Correspondence, Photographs, Press cuttings, Paper files and documents : 1908 - 1970]
    0.03 m
    National Library of Australia Manuscript Collection
    MS 9331
  36. Melba, Nellie, Dame Papers
    [Correspondence, Ephemera, Photographs, Printed material : 1895 - 1923]
    National Library of Australia Manuscript Collection
    MS 9561
  37. Melba, Nellie, Dame Scrapbooks
    [1924]
    Press cuttings covering the Sydney and Melbourne opera seasons, 1924.
    0.02 m, 2 books
    National Library of Australia Manuscript Collection
    MS 5380
  38. Records of Melba Memorial Conservatorium of Music
    [1894 -]
    1894-[ongoing] Documents, programs, diaries, music scores, photographs, scrapbooks and memorabilia. The collection includes: roll books (1894-1924); the Marshall Hall diaries (1901-51); original scores of Fritz Hart; 17 copies of the Melba Magazine (1934-50); extensive artistic programs and details of famous students such as Florence Austral and Gertrude Johnson. Material relating to Dame Nellie Melba includes Melba's personal collection of sheet music, a folder of programmes and Melba's personal library of bound copies of scores and other books. There are also 21 framed photographs, mostly of Melba, but also Marshall Hall and other historical personalities.
    Melba Memorial Conservatorium of Music
  39. Family Papers. Marchesi, Mathilde, 1821-1913.
    [1869 - 1945]
    Descriptive list available (5 p.) under the title Baron Podhragy Collection. Letters, photographs, press cuttings 1887-1889 programmes, printed material, and other papers of Mathilde, Blanche and Salvatore Marchesi and Leopold Podhragy. Most of the material dates from the period of the family's association with Dame Nellie Melba and contains 54 letters to family members by Melba, as well as a printed text of an address given by Melba in 1911, photographs, and the original programme of Melba's farewell performance, 1926 June 8. Also includes a typescript entitled "Melba Garcia and the Marchesis: a souvenir of by-gone times" by Leopold Podhragy, and a scrapbook of Mathilde Marchesi, 1887-1889 about her school and pupils.
    0.13 m
    National Library of Australia Manuscript Collection
    MS 2647
  40. Lemmone, John, 1861-1949. Collection of papers relating to Dame Nellie Melba.
    [1911 - 1928]
    Letters from Melba to Lemmone, Mabel Batchelor, a former pupil, and Sam Batchelor; program (1909), cards and photographs, including Melba and violonist Jan Kubelik; typed speech by Dr John Robertson, President of the Red Cross Society of Canada, in praise of Melba; notice of Melba's farewell, 1927; financial statements and news cuttings.
    0.04 m
    National Library of Australia Manuscript Collection
    MS 4832
  41. Papers of McCubbin, Frederick, 1855-1917.
    [1884 - 1962]
    I. Correspondence. (a) Letters from Frederick McCubbin to his wife, 1907. (b) Letters to Frederick McCubbin and his wife. Correspondents include Dame Nellie Melba, Edward Officer, Dame Ellen Terry and J. C. Williamson. (c) Letters to Frederick McCubbin from Arthur Streeton, 1900-1915. II. Photographs, catalogues and other papers. Includes photographs of paintings by Frederick McCubbin, legal and official documents, notes and lectures. III. Correspondence of Louis McCubbin. Mainly concerning exhibitions of Frederick McCubbin's work.
    2 boxes
    State Library of Victoria, Australian Manuscripts Collection
  42. Fairbairn, Anne. The discovery of a Nellie Melba archive
    [1971]
    Mathilde de Castrone Marchesi (Melba's teacher) was grandmother to Baron Podhragy, who had in Vienna inscribed books, letters, photos etc. relevant to the life of the singer. This address outlines her life from these, with a brief outline of events leading to the author's discovery of them.
    15 pages
    National Library of Australia Manuscript Collection
    MS 1370
  43. Grainger-Melba Correspondence
    Grainger Museum, University of Melbourne
  44. Papers of Lemmone, John, 1861-1949.
    [1884 - 1924]
    Descriptive list available. 1. Newspaper clippings relating to Nellie Melba, 1907-1946. 2. Sheet music, including pieces for flute and piano, flute and orchestra, pianos and song albums. 3. Music manuscripts, comprising: ten working papers for composition and partly completed works; ten compositions for flute and piano; and eleven song compositions. 4. Photographs. 5. Miscellaneous tickets, cards and publicity handouts. 6. Correspondence. 7. Papers relating to tours managed by John Lemmone: Paderewski Recitals (1904); John Lemmone Concert Tour (1908?); and five Melba tours (1907-1908; 1909; 1911; 1918-1919; 1923-1924). 8. Concert programs. 9. Four original recordings by Lemmore: "Valse Bluette"/"Reverie"; "Fantasy"/"Danse Romantique"; "Bolero"/"Mozart Harp and Flute Concerto"; and "Nightingale"/"By the Brook". 10. Flute belonging to John Lemmone.
    2.6 m
    Performing Arts Museum, Victorian Arts Centre
  45. Cochran Collection
    [1888 - 1926]
    Descriptive list available. 1. Letters, including letters from Nellie Melba to Cochran, 1916-1926. 2. Autograph book, 1888-1905. 3. Manuscript of "Round the world in Eighty Years" by Tommy Cochran.
    0.32 m, 1 box
    Performing Arts Museum, Victorian Arts Centre
  46. Van Straten Collection
    Performing Arts Museum, Victorian Arts Centre
  47. Scrapbook belonging to Beryl Fanning
    [1909 - 1931]
    Scrapbook of Melba's career, compiled by Beryl Fanning. Includes correspondence 1909-1919 from Melba to Beryl Fanning, and programmes. [ Beryl Fanning was a student of Dame Nellie Melba at the University Conservatorium. ]
    1 volume
    State Library of Victoria, Australian Manuscripts Collection
  48. Papers of Hart, Fritz Bennicke, 1874-1949
    [1898 - 1951]
    Correspondence, telegrams, programmes, newspaper cuttings, music (mainly solo songs), photographs, articles by and about Hart, unpublished novels and other papers of Fritz Hart. Parry, David Bispham, George Russell ("A. E."), Nellie Melba, B. J. Dale, Philip Heseltine ("Peter Warlock"), W. K. Magee, Percy Grainger, Angela Thirkell and Granville Bantock.
    0.81 m, 46 folders
    National Library of Australia Manuscript Collection
    MS 2809

Resources By Dame Nellie Melba (223)

  1. Melodies and memories / Nellie Melba ; introduction and notes, John Cargher
    Melba, Nellie Dame, 1861-1931
    [Book, Audio book : 1925-1984]
  2. Melba : a biography / by John Hetherington
    Hetherington, John, 1907-1974
    [Book, Audio book : 1967-1995]
  3. Rigoletto : opera in four acts / music by Giuseppe Verdi ; libretto by Francesco Maria Piave after Victor Hugo's play Le roi s'amuse ; English version by Ruth and Thomas Martin
    Verdi, Giuseppe, 1813-1901
    [Sheet music : 1800-2000]
  4. Aida Giuseppe Verdi ; complete arrangement for voice and pianoforte by M. Saladino with English and Italian words
    Verdi, Giuseppe, 1813-1901
    [Sheet music : 1800-1996]
  5. The flying Dutchman Der fliegende Holländer : a romantic opera in three acts / music by Richard Wagner ; the English version by J. Troutbeck, and Theo. Baker ; with an essay on the history of the opera by W.J. Henderson
    Wagner, Richard, 1813-1883
    [Sheet music : 1868-2005]
    Available online
  6. Norma lyric tragedy in two acts / [libretto] by Felice Romani ; music by Vincenzo Bellini
    Bellini, Vincenzo, 1801-1835
    [Sheet music : 1800-1996]
  7. Siegfried in full score / Richard Wagner
    Wagner, Richard, 1813-1883
    [Sheet music : 1871-2006]
    Available online
  8. Il trovatore The troubadour : an opera in four acts / music by Giuseppe Verdi ; libretto by S. Cammarano ; the English version by Natalia MacFarren ; with an essay on the history of the opera by E. Irenæus Stevenson
    Verdi, Giuseppe, 1813-1901
    [Sheet music : 1800-1992]
  9. Nocturnes Frédéric Chopin ; nach Eigenschriften, Abschriften und Erstausgaben herausgegeben von Ewald Zimmermann ; Fingersatz von Hans-Martin Theopold
    Chopin, Frédéric, 1810-1849
    [Sheet music : 1878-2001]
  10. The Bohemian girl opera in three acts / the music composed by Balfe ; the words by Alfred Bunn ; edited by Arthur Sullivan and J. Pittman
    Balfe, M. W. (Michael William), 1808-1870
    [Sheet music : 1800-1900]

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Resources About Dame Nellie Melba (357)

  1. Melodies and memories / Nellie Melba ; introduction and notes, John Cargher
    Melba, Nellie Dame, 1861-1931
    [Book, Audio book : 1925-1984]
  2. Melba : a biography / by John Hetherington
    Hetherington, John, 1907-1974
    [Book, Audio book : 1967-1995]
  3. Rigoletto : opera in four acts / music by Giuseppe Verdi ; libretto by Francesco Maria Piave after Victor Hugo's play Le roi s'amuse ; English version by Ruth and Thomas Martin
    Verdi, Giuseppe, 1813-1901
    [Sheet music : 1800-2000]
  4. Aida Giuseppe Verdi ; complete arrangement for voice and pianoforte by M. Saladino with English and Italian words
    Verdi, Giuseppe, 1813-1901
    [Sheet music : 1800-1996]
  5. Melba / by Paul Sherman
    Sherman, Paul
    [Book : 1976]
  6. The flying Dutchman Der fliegende Holländer : a romantic opera in three acts / music by Richard Wagner ; the English version by J. Troutbeck, and Theo. Baker ; with an essay on the history of the opera by W.J. Henderson
    Wagner, Richard, 1813-1883
    [Sheet music : 1868-2005]
    Available online
  7. Norma lyric tragedy in two acts / [libretto] by Felice Romani ; music by Vincenzo Bellini
    Bellini, Vincenzo, 1801-1835
    [Sheet music : 1800-1996]
  8. Siegfried in full score / Richard Wagner
    Wagner, Richard, 1813-1883
    [Sheet music : 1871-2006]
    Available online
  9. Il trovatore The troubadour : an opera in four acts / music by Giuseppe Verdi ; libretto by S. Cammarano ; the English version by Natalia MacFarren ; with an essay on the history of the opera by E. Irenæus Stevenson
    Verdi, Giuseppe, 1813-1901
    [Sheet music : 1800-1992]
  10. Nocturnes Frédéric Chopin ; nach Eigenschriften, Abschriften und Erstausgaben herausgegeben von Ewald Zimmermann ; Fingersatz von Hans-Martin Theopold
    Chopin, Frédéric, 1810-1849
    [Sheet music : 1878-2001]

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  1. Dame Nellie Melba
    [Photograph : 1925]
  2. [Melba]
    Reutlinger phot...
    [Photograph : 1889-1915]
  3. [Dame Nellie Melba.]
    Numa Blanc Fils
    [Photograph : 1892]
  1. Papers of Dame Nellie Melba
    Melba, Nellie Dame, 1861-1931
    [Unpublished : 1908-1970]
  2. Biographical file of information on Dame Nellie Melba
    Melba, Nellie Dame, 1861-1931
    [Unpublished : 1961]
  3. Papers of Dame Nellie Melba
    Melba, Nellie Dame, 1861-1931
    [Unpublished : 1895-1923]
  1. Melodies and memories / Nellie Melba ; introduction and notes, John Cargher
    Melba, Nellie Dame, 1861-1931
    [Book, Audio book : 1925-1984]
  2. Melba : a biography / by John Hetherington
    Hetherington, John, 1907-1974
    [Book, Audio book : 1967-1995]
  3. Dame Nellie Melba / Gail Taylor
    Taylor, Gail, 1956-
    [Book : 1999]
  1. Austral, Florence. 1894-1968
    academic; opera singer
    ... Melba, Dame Nellie (1861 - 1931) ...
  2. Moncrieff, Gladys. 1892-1976
    autobiographer/memoirist; soprano
    ... Melba, Dame Nellie (1861 - 1931) ...
  3. Blair, Harold. 1924-1976
    Tenor; Aboriginal rights activist; Music teacher; Member of the Order of Australia (AM); Indigenous rights activist/supporter; music conservatorium teacher; singing teacher; tenor
    ... Melba, Dame Nellie (1861 - 1931) ...