Legendary soprano Dame Nellie Melba was born Helen Porter Mitchell in Melbourne in 1861. She began her stage career in Brussels in 1887 and triumphed two years later at London's Covent Garden in 'Romeo et Juliette'. From that date onwards, she appeared regularly at Covent Garden and the New York Metropolitan Opera, becoming one of the highest paid singers of the day.

In 1904 she began a recording career and her records are said to have helped establish a market for the gramophone. She spent World War I in Australia and the USA giving concerts to raise funds for war charities.

Her world tours often included Australia. She reportedly advised a colleague who was about to tour Australia to 'sing 'em muck', as it was all Australians could understand. During her first tour in 1902, the takings of one Sydney concert set a world record. In Melbourne, the city she had made world famous through her stage name, thousands turned out to greet her. Melba put the newly federated Australia on the international cultural map.

In 1909 she undertook a 'sentimental tour' of Australia, performing in country towns and cities. She returned in 1911 for the first of the Melba-J C Williamson seasons, which brought to this country opera of international standard. She repeated this in 1924.

When Melba made her Covent Garden farewell in 1926, the concert programme summed up her achievements as 'years of almost monotonous brilliance'. The phrase 'more farewells than Melba' entered the vernacular around the time of her Australian farewell concerts in 1928. She died in 1931 of septicaemia after facial surgery.

Melba made her first appearance as Marguerite in 'Faust' at Covent Garden in 1899 and sang the part until her farewell season. She prepared for the part under the personal instruction of the composer Charles Gounod. It is thought that she wore this costume as Marguerite around 1910.

Although Melba sang the part of Marguerite in 'Faust' from 1899 to c.1924, the costume probably dates from c.1910.

Dame Nellie Melba (1861-1931) was a legendary soprano. Born Helen Porter Mitchell in Melbourne, she began her stage career in Brussels in 1887 and triumphed two years later at London's Covent Garden in 'Romeo et Juliette'. From that day onwards she appeared regularly at Covent Garden and the New YorkMetropolitan Opera, becoming one of the highest paid singers of her day.

Melba's world tours often included Australia and were hugely popular. In 1902 the takings of one Sydney concert set a world record. When Melba made her Covent Garden farewell in 1926, the concert programme summed up her achievments as 'years of almost monotonous brilliance.'

Melba made her first appearance as Marguerite in 'Faust' at Covent Garden in1899 and sang the part until her farewell season. She prepared for the partunder the personal instruction of the composer Charles Gounod. It is thought that she wore this costume as Marguerite around 1910.

A similar costume, also identified as being worn by Melba in 'Faust', is in the collection of the Performing Arts Museum in Melbourne.
Given to Barbara Firth by Hilda Mulligan, a retired director of the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, who had a collection of opera costumes. Donated by Barbara Firth to the Sydney Opera House around 1973. Transferred from the Dennis Wolanski Library, Sydney Opera House to the Powerhouse Museum in 1998.

Costume, opera, dress, worn by Dame Nellie Melba, cotton/velvet/silk/metal, maker unknown, c.1910
Full length dress made from heavy blue-grey cotton drill. The boned and fitted bodice has white mesh attached to the square neck, which extends to a frilly curve at the bust. The lower section of this curve is filled with a semi-circle of blue velvet, which is decorated with five cream silk lozenges of varying sizes, the largest in the centre and the others decreasing on either side. The frill is made of heavy blue cotton gathered in a band about 4cm wide. The bottom section of the bodice is made of the same fabric, sewn in 10 strips lengthways and lined with white brushed cotton. The white mesh is tied at the back by a piece of cream tape. Centre back opening fastens with two metal hooks and eyes and six lacing hooks (lacing missing). The long sleeves consist of a puffed section of cream cotton, followed by another band of gathered blue fabric 4cm wide then a length of the plain fabric. Th elbow is decorated in the same way, band, puff of cream cotton, band, long cuff. A dart extends under the sleeve from where it joins the bodice to just past the elbow. The cuffs are trimmed with black metallic beading. This extends up the back of the forearm where the sleeve is fastened with a length of cream damask ribbon. The full skirt is knife pleated onto waist. At the top third of the skirt the pleats are sewn together with zig zags of cream thread. The skirt has a deep (20cm) hem. The skirt is not lined. Centre back panel of skirt opens for ease of dressing, fastens with three metal hooks and cotton loops.

Made: 1905 - 1915


Used: Melba, Nellie; Australia; 1905 - 1915

Used: Melba, Nellie; England; 1905 - 1915

Used: Melba, Nellie; United States of America; 1905 - 1915

Owned: Sydney

98/26/2

1905 - 1915

400 mm