Nellie Melba, Date of Birth, Place of Birth, Date of Death
TweetNellie Melba
Australian opera singer
Date of Birth: 
Place of Birth: Richmond, Victoria, Australia
About Nellie Melba
- Dame Nellie Melba GBE (born Helen Porter Mitchell; 19 May 1861 – 23 February 1931) was an Australian operatic soprano.
- She became one of the most famous singers of the late Victorian era and the early 20th century, and was the first Australian to achieve international recognition as a classical musician.
- She took the pseudonym "Melba" from Melbourne, her home town. Melba studied singing in Melbourne and made a modest success in performances there.
- After a brief and unsuccessful marriage, she moved to Europe in search of a singing career.
- Failing to find engagements in London in 1886, she studied in Paris and soon made a great success there and in Brussels.
- Returning to London she quickly established herself as the leading lyric soprano at Covent Garden from 1888.
- She soon achieved further success in Paris and elsewhere in Europe, and later at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, debuting there in 1893.
- Her repertoire was small; in her whole career she sang no more than 25 roles and was closely identified with only ten.
- She was known for her performances in French and Italian opera, but sang little German opera. During the First World War, Melba raised large sums for war charities.
- She returned to Australia frequently during the 20th century, singing in opera and concerts, and had a house built for her near Melbourne.
- She was active in the teaching of singing at the Melbourne Conservatorium.
- Melba continued to sing until the last months of her life and made a large number of "farewell" appearances.
- Her death, in Australia, was news across the English-speaking world, and her funeral was a major national event.
- The Australian $100 note features her image.
Read more at Wikipedia
See Also
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