Nellie Melba was an Australian opera singer. She was one of the most popular singers in the world from the late 1880s until her retirement in the late 1920s.
Helen Porter Mitchell was born on May 19, 1861, in Richmond, near Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Her mother was her first music teacher. Nellie learned how to play the piano, violin, and harp. She was educated at Presbyterian Ladies’ College in Melbourne. In 1882 she married Charles Nesbitt Armstrong in Queensland, Australia. Two years later she moved to Melbourne to pursue a singing career.
Nellie gave a number of performances and recitals in Australia before she left for Europe with her father in 1886. In Paris, France, she became the pupil of Mathilde Marchesi. Marchesi helped her become a better singer and introduced her to composers and the social world of opera.
While in Paris, Nellie changed her last name to Melba, a name derived from Melbourne. Melba made her operatic debut in 1887 in Brussels, Belgium. She sang frequently at the great opera houses of Europe and the United States, including Covent Garden in London, England, and the Metropolitan Opera in New York, New York. Melba was a highly desired singer and performed for royalty all over Europe.
Dame Nellie Melba GBE (19 May 1861 – 23 February 1931), born Helen 'Nellie' Porter Mitchell Australian operatic soprano. She became one of the most famous singers of the late Victorian Era and the early 20th century. Nellie Melba, her father David Mitchell, and her niece Nellie Patterson. Source: Library of Congress Nellie received her early education at a boarding school in Richmond. 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.
“Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella” was originally a French Christmas carol written in the 1600’s. It was first translated into English in the 1700’s. In the Key of G major. Chords include G, Em, Am, D, C, and D7. Christian christmas songs ukulele chords.
In 1925 Melba published a memoir, Melodies and Memories. She returned to Australia in 1926 and served as the president of the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music. She died on February 23, 1931, in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
While in London, Melba met the famous French chef Auguste Escoffier. He named a number of dishes after her, including Melba toast and peach Melba. Melba was created a Dame of the British Empire in 1918. Since 1996 her likeness has appeared on the Australian $100 banknote.
Nellie Melba 1926
Nellie Melba 1904 Verdi (1813-1901) 'Caro nome' from RigolettoNellie Melba's first original recordings London March 1904.Dame Nellie Melba. Melba, the last o. Melba was one of the most admired singers of her era, both for the beauty of her voice and for her phenomenal technique. While her recordings were both late in her career and misleading as to the size of her voice (ironically, the reason her voice sounds minuscule on many of her recordings is becaus. Available with an Apple Music subscription.
The Australian-English phrase to do a Melba, also to do a Dame Nellie, and variants, mean:
– to return to one’s profession after retirement;
– of a singer or other performer: to make frequent comebacks.
– to return to one’s profession after retirement;
– of a singer or other performer: to make frequent comebacks.
This phrase refers to the repeated ‘farewell’ performances given by the Australian operatic soprano Dame Nellie Melba 1 (born Helen Porter Mitchell – 1861-1931)—as explained in this extract from her biography, published in the Australian Dictionary of Biography:
![Melba Melba](/uploads/1/3/7/5/137595177/882078721.jpg)
Melba returned to England and on 8 June 1926 gave her farewell performance at Covent Garden. […]
Melba now began a series of farewell appearances that, in ‘doing a Melba’, was to enrich the language as well as bolster her self-esteem. As early as October 1924 she had announced her Australian farewell to grand opera, but her last operatic performances […] occurred […] in Sydney on 7 August and in Melbourne on 27 September 1928. Two months later in Geelong she gave her last Australian concert.
Melba now began a series of farewell appearances that, in ‘doing a Melba’, was to enrich the language as well as bolster her self-esteem. As early as October 1924 she had announced her Australian farewell to grand opera, but her last operatic performances […] occurred […] in Sydney on 7 August and in Melbourne on 27 September 1928. Two months later in Geelong she gave her last Australian concert.
1Melba, the stage name adopted by Helen Porter Mitchell, is a shortening of Melbourne, the name of the capital of Victoria, Australia, where the singer was born and made her concert debut. She gained worldwide fame for her coloratura singing, and was created a Dame of the British Empire in 1918. It was in her honour that the French chef Auguste Escoffier (1846-1935) coined pêche Melba, the name of a dessert of ice cream and peaches served with raspberry sauce or syrup, in Le Guide culinaire: Aide-mémoire de cuisine pratique (Paris: L’Art Culinaire, 1903).
—Cf. also notes on the phrase ‘sing ’em muck’.
—Cf. also notes on the phrase ‘sing ’em muck’.
Portrait of Dame Nellie Melba (1890)—image:State Library of South Australia:
These are the earliest occurrences of the phrase that I have found, in chronological order:
1-: From Town Talk, by David McNicoll, published in the Daily Telegraph and Daily News (Sydney, New South Wales) of Tuesday 19th February 1946:
McKell is apparently going to do a Dame Nellie Melba act.
He says “Farewell”; the A.L.P. executive says, “No. Not yet. You’re too valuable!”
He says “Farewell”; the A.L.P. executive says, “No. Not yet. You’re too valuable!”
2-: From Truth (Brisbane, Queensland) of Sunday 8th January 1950—about the Australian cricketer William Alfred Brown (1912-2008):
Brown has now hit 501 runs (nine times out) in this season’s Shield matches. His form (to be continued in this match, with the Victorian game to come) may make Bill do a Melba reverse and change his mind in regard to his announced retirement.
3-: From George Hart’s Radio News, published in The Sun (Sydney, New South Wales) of Tuesday 20th May 1952:
Looks like the Colgate Show is going to do a “Melba” on us.
4-: From Truth (Brisbane, Queensland) of Sunday 28th September 1952:
Jockey Peter Morgan […] did a Madam Melba act lately in announcing his retirement, and then returning almost immediately.
5-: From Woman’s World, published in The Herald (Melbourne, Victoria) of Tuesday 23rd March 1954:
A woman, who is retiring on March 31 after 25 years in a public position, and determined, she says, “not to do a Melba act,” will be given a farewell party by more than 4000 people.
She is Dr Lucy Meredith Bryce, honorary director of the Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service since it was started in 1929.
She is Dr Lucy Meredith Bryce, honorary director of the Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service since it was started in 1929.
6-: From The Argus (Melbourne, Victoria) of Monday 22nd November 1954:
Front page news abroad
Trouper Betty ‘did a Melba’
Trouper Betty ‘did a Melba’
Las Vegas, Sunday
Betty Hutton 2, who retired 11 days ago, agreed to replace entertainer Sammy Davis, jnr. 3, at a nightclub on Friday after Davis was injured seriously in a car crash.
Betty Hutton 2, who retired 11 days ago, agreed to replace entertainer Sammy Davis, jnr. 3, at a nightclub on Friday after Davis was injured seriously in a car crash.
Nellie Melba Dessert
2 Betty Hutton (born Elizabeth June Thornburg – 1921-2007) was a U.S. actress, dancer and singer.
3Samuel George Davis Jr. (1925-1990) was a U.S. singer, dancer and actor; he lost his left eye in an automobile accident on Friday 19th November 1954.
3Samuel George Davis Jr. (1925-1990) was a U.S. singer, dancer and actor; he lost his left eye in an automobile accident on Friday 19th November 1954.