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Nellie Melba – By Bain News Service –

Top 10 Fascinating Facts about Dame Nellie Melba

Dame Nellie Melba was an Australian Operatic Soprano. She was born on 19h May 1861 in Richmond Victoria. Nellie passed away on February 23rd, 1931. Her name by birth was Helen Porter Mitchell.

A Soprano is a classical female singing voice that allows for a high vocal range for all voice types. Melba was one of the most popular singers in the early twentieth century and the Victorian era (Queen Victoria鈥檚 Era).

Although Melba was a singer, and a famous one at that, her life was as interesting as it was complex. The following is a list of fascinating facts about the life of Dame Nellie Melba.

1. She Started Performing at A Very Young Age

Nellie Melba started learning and training for her musical career in her early childhood. At six years of age, she put on her first public performance. As a child, she studied at the local boarding school.

As a teenager, she was the organist at her church. She also played in local concerts around Melbourne. However, her father disapproved of music as a career path although he natured her love for music.

Later she studied singing at the Presbyterian Ladies College. Here she studied with Pietro Cecchi and Mary Ellen Christian.

2. Her First Marriage Was Not a Success

Nellie Melba, her father, David Mitchell, and a young girl (Nellie’s niece, Nellie Paterson), in Melbourne, Australia – By Bain News Service – Wikimedia Commons

Melba鈥檚 father moved the entire family to Mackay, Queensland where he built a new sugar mill. In Mackay, Melba progressed her music career and gained fame for her singing and piano playing skills.

It was in Mackay where she met Charles Nesbitt Frederick Armstrong. The two wed on 22nd December 1882. Frederick was the son of Sir Andrew Armstrong; an Irish baronet and politician. 

This marriage was not a success and the two separated after just over a year. The main cause of their separation is said to be because Frederick is said to have been physically abusing Melba.

However, it was not all doom and gloom for their nuptials. The two had a son, George, who was born on 16th October 1883. After their separation, Melba returned to Melbourne determined more than ever to pursue and develop her singing career.

3. Melba Struggled in London but Found Success in 麻豆APP

After moving to Melbourne, Melba made her professional debut in 1884. Her stint in Mexico was a success but only lasted for two years.

On the back of this success, she moved to London with a mission to grow her brand on an international platform. However, she did not get much love from the Brits. She debuted in London at Princes鈥� Hall and her performance was not well received by the public and critics. She sought work in London from Augustus Harris, Carl Rosa, and Sir Arthur Sullivan to no avail.

Melba decided to put London behind her and moved to 麻豆APP. She was a student of Mathilde Marchesi who recognized her potential instantly. Under the tutorage of Marchesi, she progressed quickly and soon she was signed to Maurice Strakosch the impresario for ten years.

She received a better offer from the Th茅芒tre de la Monnaie, Brussels, but her contractual obligations to Strakosch prevented her from accepting it. However, Strakosch鈥檚 sudden death released her, and she signed her new contract. She made her La Monnaie debut in 1887.

4. She Adopted the Stage Name Melba In 1887

Nellie Melba as “Marguerite” – By Aim茅 Dupont –

After signing with the Th茅芒tre de la Monnaie, Melba made two very successful performances. First was her debut as Gilda in Rigoletto on October 12th, 1887. The second one was as Violetta in La Traviata a few nights after her debut.

Critics referred t her as 鈥渁n instant triumph of the most emphatic kind.鈥� After this, Marchesi advised her to adopt the stage name 鈥淢elba.鈥� This name is a contraction of her home city’s (Melbourne) name.

5. She is An OBE Member but Not for Her Singing

At Gallipoli, Melba lost five family members. In 1915, she led an initiative to raise money for Belgian war relief through Melba’s Gift Book of Australian Art.

The full revenues from the sale of this book were donated by Madam Melba to the Belgian Relief Fund. It is written so in the book and that is exactly what she did.

The book is illustrated with color plates by notable Australian authors and painters such as Arthur Streeton, Norman Lindsay, and Henry Lawson.

Melba is renowned for her incredible musical talent. However, in 1918, she was made a Dame in honor of her charity work.

6. Nellie Has Several Foods Named After Her

Peach Melba – By Robbie Sproule –

Melba can also claim to have left behind an excellent culinary legacy in addition to her artistic one. The French chef Auguste Escoffier is said to have been inspired by Melba.

Consequently, he created several meals of foods in her honor. They include; the Peach Melba, the Melba sauce, the Melba toast, and the Melba Garniture.

7. She Has Inspired Several Literary Works

Beverley Nichols, Melba鈥檚 secretary published her autobiography titled Melodies and Memories. Nichols stated later that it was largely ghost-written due to Melba鈥檚 failure to cooperate. Several full-length biographies about Melba have been produced. Including; Ann Blainey (2009) and John Hetherington (1967).

Nichols (Melba鈥檚 secretary) also wrote a novel, Evensong (1932), based on Melba鈥檚 life. The novel did not portray Melba in a positive light. A motion picture adaptation of the novel was produced in 1934 and banned in Australia for a few years.

Melba has also been portrayed in popular television shows such as Downton Abbey (2013).

8. Her Fame Reached Far Beyond the Concert Hall

Melba ensured that her celebrity status was acknowledged even by people who did not see her perform live. She ensured that as many people as possible could consume her product. She sold cartes-de-visites (small photographs) of her in costume.

Melba was also a staple for gossip magazines. She was always in the headlines. For example, her poorly concealed affair with the Duc d’Orleans.

She started producing and selling voice recordings of her singing in 1904. This helped her grow her brand significantly. In 1926, she published her personal vocal method which was a hit with singing students and is still used to date.

9. Nellie Melba鈥檚 Face Is on Australia鈥檚 $100 Note

Program cover for Dame Nellie Melba’s Australian Concert tour – By John Oxley Library – Wikimedia Commons

Australia鈥檚 gratitude and appreciation for Melba is immense. She has received several awards and titles in Australia throughout her career.

The Australian $100 note features the image of her face. Her face was also used for some time on the official Australian stamp.

Early in the 19th century, she was described in Australia as 鈥淎ustralia鈥檚 Gifted Daughter.鈥� Later in the 1920s, her status was elevated and she became 鈥淎ustralia鈥檚 Greatest Daughter.鈥�

Australia holds Melba in high esteem to this date. There are concert halls, suburbs, tunnels, and highways named after her.

10. Nellie Melba Was a Very Strict and Clever Business Woman

Melba was extremely careful and intelligent with her finances and always controlled her interests. She used financial managers for only short periods.

Melba also did not perform for free even when invited to parties. If people requested her to sing she would ask that they 鈥渟ign a little cheque.鈥�