Browse Items (337 total)

This portrait photograph was given to Ada Berrill, Melba’s personal maid and travel companion.

This large-scale portrait of Melba as Juliette is an imposing example of the use of studio photography to portray an operatic role. A companion photograph taken at the same time, depicted Melba as the dead Juliette lying on her tomb. The diva…

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…

The ill-fated Mimi in La Bohème was one of Melba’s most frequently performed roles. She had particular success in the opera singing opposite Enrico Caruso as Rodolfo. While impressing audiences with his sublime tenor voice, Caruso took great delight…

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…

Philips Electrical Industries Pty Ltd, Australia, Three speed portable twin-track tape recorder, late 1950s

Grainger Museum Collection, 01.3513

This tape recorder was part of Percy Grainger's electronic music equipment, probably used by him in…

Printing-out paper print.

Photo: 14.4 x 9.9 cm
Photo and card: 16.6 x 10.6 cm

Grainger developed a close, lifelong friendship with the Danish-born cellist and composer, Herman Sandby. Joined by Sanby’s partner Alfhild de Luce as ‘extra…

magazine illustrations, cardboard.

21.7 x 27.6 cm

his is a collage of female nudes in various poses. It contains 3 separate prints pieced together into a collage and adhered to a cardboard.

A plait of tawny blonde hair, belonging to Rose Grainger, with a cotton tie at the top. Stored in a small brown cardboard Ilford Box. Inscriptions on box by Percy Grainger read:
"Beloved mother's hair"
"Mother's hair"
"small switch"
Size hair:…

Pair of cream towelling breeches and matching jacket with red stripe trim and fringed hem, with matching leggings. Hand sewn using manufactured towels. Worn by Percy Grainger between 1910-1914 while teaching and composing.