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In January 1894, Melba read an unexpected announcement in the New York Herald that she was to perform as Elizabeth in Richard Wagner’s opera Tannhäuser at the Metropolitan Opera House. Rather than cancel the performance, she determinedly learnt the…

In 1889, prior to performing in Paris as Marguerite in Faust, Melba visited the famous French actress, Sarah Bernhardt, who declared: ‘You sing like an angel. I want to teach you to act like an angel too.’ Bernhardt proceeded to give Melba a lesson…

Melba dated her success at Covent Garden from her 1889 performance in Roméo et Juliette opposite Jean de Reszke. It was the first time that English audiences had heard the opera sung in French. Juliette became one of the most frequently performed…

The title role of Gaetano Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor highlighted Melba’s vocal abilities, particularly in the ‘mad scene’ which showcased her remarkable trill. Her 1888 Covent Garden debut in the role received a lukewarm response from critics,…

Melba’s earliest performances as Ophélie in Ambroise Thomas’ Hamlet were at the Théâtre de la Monnaie in Brussels in April 1888 and her debut at the Paris Opéra in May 1889. Thomas described her as the ‘Ophélie of my dreams’.

While in London in 1886, Nellie Armstrong auditioned for several singing teachers but was turned down by all of them, including Sir Arthur Sullivan. Demonstrating her resolve, she travelled to Paris to sing for Europe’s leading vocal teacher,…

Melba learnt the role of Mimi in Giacomo Puccini’s La Bohème with the composer and her performances helped to make the opera famous. She wore this bonnet in the 1924 Melba–Williamson Grand Opera Season in Australia and probably other productions of…

This autograph book contains inscriptions and signatures from many people associated with Melba. Included are: Giacomo Puccini, Paolo Tosti, Mathilde Marchesi, Salvatore Marchesi, Haddon Chambers, Herman Bemberg, Efrem Zimbalist, Elizabeth Parkina,…

New Zealand-born sisters May and Mina Moore worked in Wellington before becoming successful photographers in Australia during the 1910s and 1920s. May established a studio in Sydney and Mina worked in Melbourne. The sisters were particularly…