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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…

Melba’s reign as prima donna at Covent Garden in London was assisted by patron Lady Gladys de Grey, whose husband was one of the venue’s powerful supporters. Melba’s role in this performance, staged by the command of Queen Victoria, indicates the…

This performance at Covent Garden was held less
than a month before Melba sailed for Australia to
visit her ailing father. It was one of the last times
that she sang in London prior to the First World War,
during which Covent Garden was closed.…

Over her career, Melba lived in several different
homes at exclusive addresses in London and Paris.
In 1929, she rented this Paris apartment from Polish
aristocrat Princess Catherine Radziwill.

This ‘cloak of angels’ was worn by Melba to perform before Tsar Alexander III in St Petersburg in 1891. Together with Polish opera singers Jean and Edouard de Reszke, she had been commanded by the Tsar to perform in several operas at his Imperial…

Melba’s star status was reflected in the high quality of her opera costumes. This sumptuous purple velvet robe was created by the House of Worth, the leaders of Parisian haute couture. Trimmed with ermine and lined with cream floral silk damask, this…

This opera score was inscribed prior to Melba’s adoption of her famous stage name in December 1887. A derivation honouring her native city of Melbourne, the name was selected to sound Italian and be easily remembered.

Despite her success as Elsa…

Melba claimed to have encouraged Puccini to see the play on which his opera Madama Butterfly is based. She studied the title role with him, as well as that of Tosca, however she never performed either role.

Set of staff bells (detail), 1916; made by J.C. Deagan Inc. (Chicago) and Percy Aldridge Grainger