Melba, (Dame) Nellie
Melba, (Dame) Nellie [ Mrs Helen Porter Armstrong (née Helen Mitchell)] (b Burnley, Richmond, nr. Melbourne, 1861; d Sydney, NSW, 1931). Australian soprano. Début in opera in Brussels 1887 as Gilda in Rigoletto, CG 1888, Paris 1889. Her London triumphs date from her Juliette (Gounod) in 1889 and she appeared regularly at CG until 1914 (except 1909) and then in 1919, 1922–4 (BNOC), and 1926. Débuts La Scala and NY Met both 1893. In 1897–8 toured USA with own co. and was member of Manhattan Opera Co. for several seasons from 1907. Also sang with Chicago Opera. Final operatic appearance CG 1926 as Mimì (in La bohème, recording exists). V. notable for purity, freshness, and brilliance of ornamentation in coloratura roles. Her stage name was adopted in tribute to Melbourne. The ice-cream sweet pêche Melba and Melba toast are named after her. DBE 1918, GBE 1929.
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Melba, (Dame) Nellie
