Description

DAME NELLIE MELBA, ORIGINAL NAME HELEN ARMSTRONG, NÉE HELEN MITCHELL, (BORN MAY 19, 1861, RICHMOND, NEAR MELBOURNE, AUSTL. — DIED FEB. 23, 1931, SYDNEY)

 

 

 

 

Her real name was Helen Porter Mitchell, and she adopted the stage name Melba in honor of her hometown, Melbourne. Her Scottish heritage traced back to her father, David Mitchell, who emigrated to Australia in 1852. Helen first performed in public at the age of six, singing Scottish ballads. She received her initial vocal training from Mme Ellen Christians.

In 1882, at a very young age, she married Captain Charles Porter Armstrong, who owned a sugar cane farm in North Queensland. The marriage produced a son, but Helen separated from her husband in 1883. Determined to pursue a singing career, she studied under Italian educator Pietro Cecchi in Melbourne.

Her breakthrough came in 1885 when she sang the soprano solo in Handel’s Messiah in Sydney. In 1886, she moved to Europe for further training, initially facing setbacks such as an unsuccessful concert in London. However, she found success after becoming a student of the renowned pedagogue Mathilde Marchesi de Castrone in Paris. Marchesi famously praised her talent with the remark, “Salvatore, enfin j’ai trouvé une étoile!”

Melba made her European debut at the Brussels Opera in 1887 as Gilda in Rigoletto, where she received sensational acclaim. This success led to further triumphs, including her performance as Lucia di Lammermoor at Covent Garden in London in 1888. Her role as Juliette in Gounod’s Roméo et Juliette in 1889 established her as the prima donna assoluta at Covent Garden, a title she held for 40 years.

She also made notable appearances at the Grand Opéra Paris, the Opéra-Comique, and in St. Petersburg, where she received a diamond necklace from Tsar Alexander III. Her debut at La Scala in Milan came in 1893 as Lucia di Lammermoor.

At the Metropolitan Opera in New York, where she debuted as Lucia di Lammermoor in 1893, she performed in various roles including Nedda in the premiere of Leoncavallo’s Pagliacci. Her global career included triumphant tours in Australia in 1902, 1909, 1911, and 1924, as well as a farewell tour in 1924.

During World War I, she lived at her estate Lilydale near Melbourne, giving charity concerts and teaching at the Albert Street Conservatory. She was known for commanding high fees, reflecting her prominent status.

Melba retired from Covent Garden in 1926 but continued to influence the music world, including a final tour of Australia in 1928. She was honored as a Dame of the British Empire in 1918 and became president of the Melbourne Conservatory in 1926. She passed away in 1931 after falling ill on a ship returning to Australia.

Melba’s life was immortalized in a 1953 film with Patrice Munsel portraying her. The renowned chef Auguste Escoffier named a peach dessert “Pêche Melba” and a toast “Toast Melba” in her honor. Her memoirs, Melodies and Memories, were published in 1925.

 

 

TRACKLIST

 

 

1. Cid 19 January 1901 O noble lame with Bréval, J. de Reszke, Sizés, Plançon and E. de Reszke
2. Cid 16 January 1901 Alleluia
3. Cid 16 January 1901 Alleluia IRCC
4. Faust 28 March 1901 Jewel Song
5. Faust 28 March 1901 Jewel Song IRCC
6. Faust 4 March 1901 Act V Trio with Saléza and E. de Reszke
7. Faust 28 March 1901 Act V Trio with Saléza and Plançon
8. Faust 28 March 1901 Act V Trio with Saléza and Plançon IRCC
9. Lucia 2 March 1901 Verrano a te with Saléza
10. Lucia 18 March 1901 Mad Scene
11. Lucia 18 March 1901 Mad Scene IRCC
12. Lucia 2 March 1901 Mad Scene
13. Roméo 9 March 1901 Waltz
14. Traviata 16 March 1901 Un di felice with Dippel
15. Traviata 16 March 1901 Un di felice with Dippel IRCC