Melodies and Memories

A memoir of her rise to fame by one of the world's most famous sopranos, Dame Nellie Melba (1861–1931).

Nellie Melba (Author)

9781108038775, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 20 October 2011

402 pages, 33 b/w illus.
21.6 x 14 x 2.3 cm, 0.51 kg

Dame Nellie Melba (1861–1931) was one of the most famous sopranos of her time. Born in Australia, Melba began her training in Melbourne but moved to Europe in 1882 to start her career. She found success in Brussels as Gilda in Verdi's Rigoletto and was soon well known throughout the continent's opera houses. She debuted at the Metropolitan Opera in New York in 1893. Her repertoire extended over twenty-five roles, and she was regarded as unmatched in ten of these, continuing to perform throughout her life, in concert recitals as well as in opera, to great acclaim, and becoming one of the earliest modern 'celebrities'. In this autobiography, published in 1925, Melba describes her childhood and her journey from the 'great Australian Bush' to the bright lights of the European and American stage, while also giving a colourful, first-hand account of the world of opera.

1. Early days in Australia
2. Study in Paris
3. My first opera
4. My debuts in London and Paris
5. London and Windsor
6. Merry jests - Lord and Lady Lytton
7. Tosti - Landon Ronald
8. St. Petersburg - Palermo - Nice
9. Terror and triumph - King Oscar
10. New York - King Edward VII
11. Further American experiences
12. London again
13. My adventures in California
14. In Germany and Austria
15. Practical jokes
16. Monte Carlo
17. Australia again - Dame Rumour
18. New Zealand (a poetic interlude)
19. Alfred de Rothschild and others
20. Peche Melba - Oscar Hammerstein
21. Singing for Hammerstein - singing for gramophones - proposals
22. Touring the back-blocks
23. Lord Mount Stephen - Lord Northcliffe - Lord Sandwich
24. The war
25. Charlie Chaplin
26. Post-war London - royalties - India
27. My country and my art
28. Conclusion
Index.

Subject Areas: Music [AV]