AUSTRALIAN EPHEMERA COLLECTION FINDING AID
DAME NELLIE MELBA (1861–1931)
PERFORMING ARTS PROGRAMS AND EPHEMERA (PROMPT)
PRINTED AUSTRALIANA
JANUARY 2015
Dame Nellie Melba GBE (19 May 1861 – 23 February 1931), born Helen Porter Mitchell, was an Australian operatic soprano. She became one of the most famous singers of the late Victorian era and the early 20th century. She was the first Australian to achieve international recognition as a classical musician. She took the pseudonym "Melba" from Melbourne, her home town. During the First World War, Melba raised large sums for war charities. She was active in the teaching of singing at the Melbourne Conservatorium, and made a legendary number of "farewell" appearances. Between 1904 and 1926 Melba made some 150 records. Her final performance at Covent Garden was in June 1926, with her last Australian performances in Sydney and Melbourne in 1927. The Nellie Melba files in the Library’s PROMPT collection contain primarily theatre programs with some ephemera and newspaper cuttings which document the opera singer’s Australian and overseas careers from 1891 to 1931.
Printed materials in the PROMPT collection include programs and printed ephemera such as brochures, leaflets, tickets, etc. Theatre programs are taken as the prime documentary evidence of a performance. The list is based on imperfect holdings, and is updated as gaps in the Library’s holdings are filled. Unless otherwise stated, all entries are based on published programs in the PROMPT collection.
The Melba PROMPT files may be accessed through the Library’s Special Collections Reading Room by eCallslip request: http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn3000975
Programs are listed and arranged in a single chronological sequence and incorporate Melba’s Australian and overseas careers. Programs are listed chronologically by year and then month. All dating is based on evidence in the programs or ephemera. At the end of the listing are several memorial events. Entries for each program are arranged as follows: Year, day/s and month; Venue/Theatre (City, Country) Company name Name of opera (Creator), concert or recital. Nellie Melba’s role (if any) and any other comments. The Melba-JC Williamson Co. programs covering her Australian tours will be found in the JC Williamson Opera files. A holdings list of this series is available on the Library’s website at http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn3666467 This is in chronological order and reflects the arrangement of series. Readers will need to fill in a call slip for JC Williamson Opera and then specify the year(s) required. Anything from one to several boxes may be retrieved. Additional Melba programs some covering her early Australian appearances will be found in the PROMPT Scrapbooks collection particularly nos. 1, 6 and 8. Due to their fragility readers are requested to use the microform copy. Both versions are catalogued individually and are available on the Library’s catalogue through the Special Collections Reading Room. An index to performances, role and other events is provided at the end of this document.
There are other sequences in this file which are not included in this aid but which researchers may find useful. These are as follows:
Press and magazine clippings (Australian and overseas)
Biography
Ephemera
The National Library’s collection also includes: Oral History recordings and interviews, Scrapbooks, personal papers in Manuscripts (NB: these manuscript collections may include additional programs) Pictures Published works
Australian Ephemera Collection Finding Aid (PROMPT): Dame Nellie Melba 2
28 June; Buckingham Palace (London, England) Recital. Program on paper doily
25 June; Buckingham Palace (London, England) Recital. Program on paper doily.
1891 8 July; Covent Garden (London, England) Royal Italian Opera Command performance for German Emporer & Empress. Roméo et Juliette (Gounod), Act 4 and others. Nellie Melba as Juliette. Souvenir program.
1895 12 June; Royal Opera House, Covent Garden (London, England) The Royal Opera Faust (Gounod). Nellie Melba as Marguerite.
1899 11 January; Metropolitan Opera House (New York, New York USA) Royal Opera Faust (Gounod). Nellie Melba as Marguerite.
See also Digitised Australian newspaper coverage from the 1900s of Nellie Melba (including promotions and reviews).
1902 [no dates or location] Australian concert tour Under the direction of Mr George Musgrove.
1902 27 September. Melbourne; Town Hall First Concert NM with others
1902 27 September. Town Hall. Melbourne First Concert (silk program) NM with others
Australian Ephemera Collection Finding Aid (PROMPT): Dame Nellie Melba 3
1902 30 September . Town Hall, Melbourne Second Concert NM with others 1902 11 October Town Hall, Sydney First Concert NM with others 1902 23 October . Town Hall, Sydney Fourth Concert NM with others 1902 5 November. Town Hall, Melbourne Madame Melba’s Concert NM recital 1902 26 November Princess Theatre, Melbourne Lucia di Lammermoor (mad scene) (Donizetti) - NM Lucia La Traviata (Verdi) - NM Violetta Grand Opera Season Souvenir program and two tickets 1903 31 January. Town Hall?, Melbourne Concert d’Adieu (of E.A. Beaumont) NM with others
1904 5 May. Queen’s Hall. London Concert in aid of Queen Charlotte’s Hospital NM with others (+ handbill)
1904 9 June. Buckingham Palace, London Program includes: Monsieur Gilbert, Signor Caruso. Madam Melba, Master Vecsey and Director, Paolo Tosti. (Programme attached to card)
1907 23 November. Town Hall. Melbourne First Concert NM with others 1907 30 November. Town Hall, Melbourne Second Concert NM with others
1907 10 December; Sydney; Town Hall First Concert NM with others
1907 14 December. Sydney; Town Hall Second Concert Nm with others
Australian Ephemera Collection Finding Aid (PROMPT): Dame Nellie Melba 4
1907 17 December. Town Hall, Sydney; Matinee Concert NM with others (Includes newspaper review, undated)
1907 26 December. Exhibition Building, Melbourne Concert NM with others
1908 30 January; Ballarat, Vic. Concert NM with others
1908 25 February. Jubilee Exhibition Building, Adelaide Concert NM with others
1908 21 July. Royal Opera Covent Garden, London The Grand Opera Syndicate Otello (Verdi) NM as Desdemona
1909 9 March. Town Hall, Melbourne Concert NM with others
1909 13 March. Town Hall, Melbourne Concert NM with others
1909 27 March. Town Hall, Melbourne Second Concert NM with others 1909 1 June. Town Hall, Sydney First Concert NM with others 1909 15 November. Exhibition Building, Melbourne Madame Melba’s Charity Concert NM recital
1909 No date or venue Melba Tour, 1909 NM with others Sydney advertisement on back cover
Australian Ephemera Collection Finding Aid (PROMPT): Dame Nellie Melba 5
1909 No date or venue Melba Tour, 1909 NM with others
1909 9 & 13 March. Town Hall, Melbourne Australasian Tour, 1909 Melba: In her own Land with her own People. Publicity brochure.
1910 16 July. Pleasure Gardens Theatre, Folkestone, England Grand Melba Matinee in aid of the Military Charities and Institutions of Shorncliffe Camp. NM with others.
1911 July 1911 – Anniversary of …….. Postcard with NM’s port. by Johnston-Ayres Co. Postmarked 29 June 1911.
1911 Melba Grand Opera Season – season brochure (booklet of plots and descriptions of all operas to be performed)
1911 23 October . Her Majesty’s Theatre, Sydney The Melba Grand Opera Season Romeo and Juliet (Gounod) NM Juliet 2 copies.
1911 28 October. Her Majesty’s Theatre, Melbourne The Melba Grand Opera Season La Traviata (Verdi) NM Violetta Facsimile of program centrefold
1911 24 November. Her Majesty’s, Melbourne The Melba Grand Opera Season Romeo et Juliette (Gounod) NM Juliette
1911 5 December. Her Majesty’s, Melbourne. The Melba Grand Opera Season Rigoletto (Verdi) NM Gilda Facsimile of program centrefold
1911 7 December. Her Majesty’s, Melbourne The Melba Grand Opera Season
Australian Ephemera Collection Finding Aid (PROMPT): Dame Nellie Melba 6
Faust (Gounod) NM Marguerite Facsimile of program centrefold.
1911 9 December. Her Majesty’s, Melbourne. The Melba Grand Opera Season La Boheme Act. 1 NM Mimi
1912 1 March. Her Majesty’s Theatre, Melbourne. Charity Concert (for University Conservatorium of Music) Hamlet (Thomas) Act 3 - NM Ophelia with others Otello (Verdi) Act 4 - NM Desdemona with others
1913 4 May. Royal Albert Hall, London. Melba and Kubelik Concert
1913 12 July. Royal Opera Covent Garden, London. Rigoletto NM as Gilda See PROMPT file for Royal Opera (UK) under ‘Rigoletto’
1913 22 July. Royal Opera Covent Garden, London. Rigoletto NM as Gilda See PROMPT file for Royal Opera (UK) under ‘Rigoletto’
1913 5 October– 6 December. Melba Tour (of U.K.) Melba Concert NM with others
1914 21 November. Exhibition Building, Adelaide. Patriotic Concert NM with others
1914 20 April – 27 July. Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London Grand Opera Season 1914 NM with others
1915 3 June. Town Hall, Sydney Melba Special Concert in aid of the Polish Relief Fund
1916 3 August. Her Majesty’s Theatre, Sydney. Melba Russian Appeal Matinee 4 Acts – The Belle of New York, The Boomerang, Grand Opera, The Last Act of Otello, Grand Opera – The Last Act of Faust. .
Australian Ephemera Collection Finding Aid (PROMPT): Dame Nellie Melba 7
Note dated 22 February 1954, from donor, F.T. Riley, Secretary of the Manufacturing Grocers’ Employees’ Federation explaining how he got the program with signature. Notes is written on verso of a “Notice to be Posted – Executive Officers, Shop Stewards and Members. 1953. Dear Comrades”
1917 16 March. Loring Theatre, Riverside, Ca. USA; Tuesday Musical Club Concert NM with others.
1917 29 March. Exposition Auditorium, San Francisco. Concert given by Mme Melba. In aid of United Allies Relief Fund and San Francisco Base Hospital, American Red Cross
1917 21 August. Town Hall, Melbourne Concert by pupils of Melba. Proceeds to the Italian Red Cross. NM did not perform herself.
1919 Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London Portrait, biography of NM heading Royal Opera Covent Garden 1919 season, In: Stories of the operas and the singers: official souvenir, season 1919. p 65 Artist list. p. 85 biography, p. 87 photograph
1919 7 January. Town Hall, Sydney. Concert NM with others 1919 14 January. Town Hall, Sydney. Concert NM with others 1919 31 July. Royal Opera Covent Garden, London. Gala Performance in aid of the Housing Association for Officers’ Families. La Boheme Act 3 (Puccini) - NM Mimi Romeo et Juliette Act 3 (Gounod) - NM Juliette 1919 28 September. Royal Albert Hall, London. Concert NM with others
1920 2 May. Royal Albert Hall., London. Concert NM with others
1921 8 May. Royal Albert Hall (London, England) Farewell Concert to Dame Nellie Melba Souvenir Programme.
Australian Ephemera Collection Finding Aid (PROMPT): Dame Nellie Melba 8
Concert attended by Princess Mary. Includes not from donor
1921 31 August. Town Hall, Melbourne. Home Coming Concert NM with others
1921 10 September. Town Hall, Melbourne. Home Coming Concert NM with others
1921 4 October. Town Hall, Adelaide. Concert NM with others
1921 19 November. Town Hall, Sydney. Concert NM with others
1921 22 November. Town Hall, Sydney. Concert NM with others
1921 8 December – 24 January 1922. Dame Nellie Melba’s Concerts for the People NM with others.
1922 21 March – 12 April. Town Hall, Sydney. Concerts for the People NM with others Copy for different performance (undated) 3 copies.
1922 21 March – 28 April. Town Hall, Sydney. Concerts for the People NM with others Copy for different performance (undated)
1922 29 May. Town Hall, Melbourne. Grand Concert of British Music by Conservatorium students Old Pioneers’ Memorial Fund, celebrating the 87th Anniversary of Batman’s Arrival. (under patronage NM who did not perform)
1922 6 June. Town Hall, Sydney. Farewell Matinee NM with others
Australian Ephemera Collection Finding Aid (PROMPT): Dame Nellie Melba 9
1922 1 August. Town Hall, Melbourne. Farewell Concert NM with others
1922 2 September; Her Majesty’s Theatre, [Melbourne or Adelaide] Matinee Performance given by NM in aid of the fund for The Soldiers’ War Memorial.
1922 12 November. Royal Albert Hall, London Special Sunday Concerts Melba Concert NM with others.
1923 17 January. Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London 1922-1923 Royal Opera House Covent Garden Season. British National Opera Co. La Boheme (Puccini) NM Mimi
1923 January 20; London; Royal Opera House, Covent Garden 1922-1923 Royal Opera House Covent Garden Season British National Opera Co. La Boheme Acts 3 & 4 (Puccini) NM Mimi
1923 4 December. Town Hall, Sydney. Welcome Home Concert
1924 Portraits of singers from excerpt of undated sources
1924 22 January. City Hall, Hobart; Concert NM with others
1924 29 March – 19 June. His Majesty’s Theatre, Melbourne. NM & JC Williamson Ltd Grand Opera Season Souvenir program 3 copies
1924 15 April. His Majesty’s Theatre, Melbourne. Dame Nellie Melba and J C Williamson Ltd Grand Opera Otello (Verdi) NM as Desdemona
Australian Ephemera Collection Finding Aid (PROMPT): Dame Nellie Melba 10
1924 9 July. Her Majesty’s Theatre, Sydney. Dame Nellie Melba and J C Williamson Ltd Grand Opera Madame Butterfly (Puccini) NM did not perform
1924 21 July.. Her Majesty’s Theatre, Sydney? Dame Nellie Melba and J C Williamson Ltd Grand Opera Il Barbiere di Siviglia (Rossini) NM did not perform 2 copies
1924 June- August. Her Majesty’s Theatre, Sydney Dame Nellie Melba and J C Williamson Ltd Grand Opera Grand Opera Season Souvenir program Features farewell letter printed within program 2 copies, one with missing cover
1924 4 September. Her Majesty’s Theatre, Sydney. Dame Nellie Melba and J C Williamson Ltd Grand Opera [Farewell] Copy imperf.
1924 29 September. Theatre Royal, Adelaide. Dame Nellie Melba and J C Williamson Ltd. Grand Opera La Boheme (Puccini) NM as Mimi
1924 6 October. Theatre Royal, Adelaide. Dame Nellie Melba and J C Williamson Ltd Grand Opera Don Pasquale (Donizetti) NM did not perform Includes news clipping of review dated 7 September 1924
1924 13 October. His Majesty’s Theatre, Melbourne. Dame Nellie Melba and J C Williamson Ltd Grand Opera Farewell of Dame Nellie Melba La Boheme (Puccini). Proceeds will be given to the Limbless and Tubercular Soldiers’Appeal. NM as Mimi
1926 30 January and 6 February. Free Trade Hall, Manchester, England Farewell of Dame Nellie Melba. NM with others.
Australian Ephemera Collection Finding Aid (PROMPT): Dame Nellie Melba 11
1926 25 June; Royal Albert Hall (London, England) Farewell of Dame Nellie Melba. Nellie Melba with others.
1926 8 June. Royal Opera House., Covent Garden, London Farewell appearance of Dame Nellie Melba NM with others. Photocopy only
1927 undated; Sydney, Brisbane, Newcastle, Rockhampton, Toowoomba Farewell Tour. NM with others.
1927 7 July. Exhibition Hall (Brisbane, Queensland) Farewell Tour. NM with others.
1927 2 March; The Auditorium (Melbourne, Victoria) Dame Nellie Melba’s Home-coming concert. NM with others.
1927 15 March; City Hall (Hobart, Tasmania) Dame Nellie Melba’s Farwell tour. NM with others.
1927 9 and 13 April; Town Hall (Sydney, New South Wales) Dame Nellie Melba’s Farwell concert. NM with others.
1927 14 May; Central Hall (Newcastle, New South Wales) Dame Nellie Melba’s Farwell tour. NM with others.
1927 21 July, Hoyts Roger Theatre, Albury Melba’s Farewell NM with others
1927 2 August. The Auditorium (?Melbourne, Victoria) Melba-Zimbalist recital.
1927 10 and 12 November; Exhibition Hall (Adelaide, South Australia) Concert for the People. Farewell to Adelaide. NM with others. 2 copies
Australian Ephemera Collection Finding Aid (PROMPT): Dame Nellie Melba 12
1928 2 May; Town Hall (Melbourne, Victoria) Dame Nellie Melba Appeal in aid of the Hospitals for Women in Melbourne, the Women’s Hospital. and the Queen Victoria Hospital for Women NM Melba with artists and two combined orchestras 2 copies, one in poor condition.
1928 9 June; Her Majesty’s Theatre Melbourne, Victoria Williamson – Melba Grant Opera Season. Turandot (Puccini). NM did not perform.
1928 15 August; Barkly Theatre Footscray, Victoria Souvenir program to commemorate the visit of Dame Nellie Melba. NM did not perform.
1930 10 June; Park Lane Hotel (London, England) Matinee concert in aid of the National Children’s Adoption Association. Generously arranged by Dame Nellie Melba. NM with others.
1941 19 May. Town Hall, Sydney Australian Broadcasting Commission and the Sydney Symphony Orchestra The Melba Memorial Concert in aid of Lord Mayor’s Patriot and War Fund of NSW.
1950 22 February. Melbourne Town Hall Souvenir Program inspired by Farewell of Dame Nellie Melba 1926. Proceeds in aid of Melba Memorial Soundshell Appeal 2 copies of program. Also on promotional brochure for Soundshell Appeal
1961 9 June; Royal Opera House (Covent Garden, England)
This performance of Lucia di Lammermoor with Joan Sutherland in the title role is dedicated to the memory of another Australian soprano, Nellie Melba, who was born on the 19th May, 1861. Melba made her debut at Covent Garden in this opera on the 24th May, 1888, and regularly appeared here until her farewell performance on the 8th June, 1826. Concert dedicated to Nellie Melba.
1977 February, March; Theatre 3, Canberra Repertory Society (Canberra, ACT) A Toast to Melba by Jack Hibberd. (First presented by the Australian Performing Group, at Theatre 62, as part of the 1976 Adelaide Festival of Arts.)
Australian Ephemera Collection Finding Aid (PROMPT): Dame Nellie Melba 13
1981 22 February, Athenaeum Theatre (Lilydale, Victoria) A Homage to Dame Nellie Melba G.B.E. presented by the Athenaeum Theatre Company, Lilydale (followed by a pilgrimage to her tome in Lilydale Cemetery) 1 program, 1 invitation card
2011 Autumn Edition 4 Dame Nellie Melba Opera Trust (Melbourne, Victoria) Da Capo The Magazine of the Dame Nellie Melba Opera Trust 150th Anniversary.
2011 19 May; Government House (Melbourne, Victoria) Dame Nellie Melba Opera Trust celebrates Dame Nellie Melba (1861-1931) The 150th Anniversary. .
2011 25 June; Federation Square (Melbourne, Victoria) Dame Nellie Melba Opera Trust ‘Nellie in her own write’ celebrating Dame Nellie Melba (1861-1931) Saturday 25 June 2011 BMW Edge Federation Square cnr Swanston & Flinders St Melbourne.
Australian Ephemera Collection Finding Aid (PROMPT): Dame Nellie Melba 14
Index to performances
1902 Australian concert tour ...... 3 Faust ...... 3, 7 1911 Melba Grand Opera Season ...... 6 Gala Performance ...... 8 Australasian Tour, 1909 ...... 6 Gounod, Charles-François Belle of New York ...... 7 Faust – NM as Marguerite ...... 3 Boomerang ...... 7 Roméo et Juliette – NM as Juliette ...... 3 Charity concerts Grand Concert of British Music ...... 9 1904, Queen’s Hall, London ...... 4 Grand Melba Matinee ...... 6 1909, Exhibition Building, Melbourne ...... 5 Grand Opera Season 1914 ...... 7 1912, Her Majesty’s Theatre, Melbourne ...... 7 Hamlet ...... 7 1915, Town Hall, Sydney ...... 7 Homage to Dame Nellie Melba 1916, Her Majesty’s Theatre, Sydney ...... 7 1981, Athenaeum Theatre – Lilydale, Victoria 1922, Her Majesty’s Theatre, Melbourne ...... 10 ...... 14 1928, Town Hall, Melbourne ...... 13 Home-coming concert 1930, Park Lane Hotel – London, England ..... 13 1923, Town Hall, Sydney ...... 10 Command performances 1927, The Auditorium – Melbourne, Victoria 12 1891, Covent Garden – London, England ...... 3 Home-coming concert ...... 9 Concert by pupils of Melba ...... 8 Il Barbiere di Siviglia ...... 11 Concert d’Adieu...... 4 La Boheme ...... 7, 8, 10, 11 Concert given by Mme Melba ...... 8 La Traviata ...... 4, 6 Concert in aid of Queen Charlotte’s Hospital ...... 4 Lucia di Lammermoor ...... 4 Concerts for the People ...... 9 Lucia di Lammermoor – Covent Garden, London, Da Capo The magazine of the Dame Nellie Melba England ...... 13 Opera Trust Autumn 2011 ...... 13, 14 Madame Butterfly ...... 11 Dame Nellie Melba Opera Trust ‘Nellie in her Melba and Kubelik Concert ...... 7 own write’ 2011...... 14 Melba Concert ...... 10 Dame Nellie Melba Opera Trust celebrates Dame Melba Memorial Soundshell Appeal ...... 13 Nellie Melba The 150th Anniversary 2011 ...... 14 Melba Special Concert in aid of the Polish Relief Dame Nellie Melba’s Concerts for the People ...... 9 Fund ...... 7 Don Pasquale ...... 11 Melba Tour, 1909 ...... 5, 6 Farewell appearance of Dame Nellie Melba ...... 12 Melba’s Farewell ...... 12 Farewell Concert to Dame Nellie Melba 1921, Memorial concerts Royal Albert Hall – London, England ...... 8 1961, Royal Opera House – Covent Garden, Farewell concerts London, England ...... 13 1926, [unknown venue] – London, England .. 11 1977, Theatre 3 – Canberra...... 13 1926, Royal Albert Hall – London, England .. 12 1981, Athenaeum Theatre – Lilydale ...... 14 1927, Central Hall – Newcastle, New South 2011, Federation Square – Melbourne ...... 14 Wales...... 12 2011, Government House – Melbourne ...... 14 1927, City Hall – Hobart, Tasmania ...... 12 Otello ...... 5, 7, 10 1927, Exhibition Hall – Adelaide, South Patriotic Concert ...... 7 Australia ...... 12 Pucccini ...... 13 1927, Town Hall – Sydney, New South Wales Recitals ...... 12 1889, Buckingham Palace – London, England . 3 1927? ...... 12 1891, Buckingham Palace – London, England . 3 1927?, Exhibition Hall – Brisbane, Queensland 1927, Melba-Zimbalist, The Auditorium – ...... 12 ?Melbourne, Victoria ...... 12 Farewell Matinee ...... 9 Rigoletto ...... 6, 7 Farewell of Dame Nellie Melba ...... 11 Romeo and Juliet ...... 6 Farewell of Dame Nellie Melba...... 11, 12 Romeo et Juliette ...... 6, 8
Australian Ephemera Collection Finding Aid (PROMPT): Dame Nellie Melba 15
Russian Appeal Matinee ...... 7 Tuesday Musical Club Concert ...... 8 Souvenir Program inspired by Farewell of Dame Visits to Australia Nellie Melba 1926 ...... 13 1928 ...... 13 The Melba Memorial Concert ...... 13
Australian Ephemera Collection Finding Aid (PROMPT): Dame Nellie Melba 16