Person    | Female  Born 19/5/1861  Died 23/2/1931

Dame Nellie Melba

Categories: Music / songs

Countries: Australia

Operatic soprano. Born Helen "Nellie" Porter Mitchell in Melbourne, Australia. 1882 briefly married Charles Armstrong and had one son, but soon separated. She took up a singing career and came to Europe. London initially failed to appreciate her but after success in Paris and Brussels she returned to London and eventually, in 1889, had a big success at the Covent Garden Opera House. She took the name 'Melba' after her home town. She went on to success across Europe, North America, Australia and New Zealand. Her last performance was in London at a charity concert on 10 June 1930. She returned to Australia and died in hospital in Sydney.

The French chef Escoffier created 4 dishes in her honour: Peach Melba, Melba sauce, Melba toast, and the little-known Melba Garniture. Melba made a number of recordings, here's one.

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Dame Nellie Melba

Commemorated ati

Marconi - WC2

Marconi House Within this building Marconi's Wireless Telegraph Company Limi...

Read More

Other Subjects

Sir Charles Santley

Sir Charles Santley

Opera singer.  Born Liverpool. Died at home, where the plaque now is.

Person, Music / songs

1 memorial
Jeffrey S. Kruger

Jeffrey S. Kruger

Entertainment business executive. Born Jeffrey Sonny Krugerkoff. He founded the Flamingo Club in London's West End. Died in Miami, Florida.

Person, Community / Clubs, Music / songs, USA

1 memorial
Eric Coates

Eric Coates

Composer of light music, e.g. "The Dambusters March" for the film and "Sleepy Lagoon", possibly the best known melody in the UK, being the theme tune for the radio programme "Desert Island Discs". ...

Person, Music / songs

2 memorials
Act of Parliament - 1751-2 - licensing

Act of Parliament - 1751-2 - licensing

"Licensed pursuant to Act of Parliament of the Twenty fifth of King George the Second." This is a form of words that we have found at three 19th century places of entertainment, two physically and...

Concept, Food & Drink, Law, Music / songs, Theatre

2 memorials
Frederick Delius

Frederick Delius

Composer.  Born Bradford of parents born in Germany.  In America 1884-6, supposedly learning citrus farming but really developing his interest in music which he went on to study in Germany.  Works ...

Person, Music / songs, Seriously Famous, France, Germany

1 memorial