Nellie Melba
Nellie Melba
Dame Nellie Melba GBE, 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...
NationalityAustralian
ProfessionOpera Singer
Date of Birth19 May 1861
CountryAustralia
women fame drawbacks
One of the drawbacks of Fame is that one can never escape from it.
beloved outside raised spirit understand voice
My voice has been raised not only in song, but to make the big world outside through me, understand something of the spirit of my beloved country.
Always sing below your potential.
heart writing australia
If you wish to understand me at all (and to write an autobiography is only to open a window into one's heart) you must understand first and foremost, that I am an Australian.
worry people worst
You won’t be famous until people start saying the worst things they can about you. Don’t worry! It’s a good sign!
two jelly absurdity
There are two things I like stiff and one of them's jelly.
women australia perfection
If I'd been a housemaid I'd have been the best in Australia - I couldn't help it. It's got to be perfection for me.
beautiful song art
The eternal task of song can never be finished in a single lifetime. That is the beauty and fascination of the art. Once you begin to phrase finely, you will feel more joy in the beautiful finish of a beautiful phrase than that caused by the loudest applause of an immense audience. The latter excites for a moment; the former endures forever.
art singers messengers
What are we singers but the silver-voiced messengers of the poet and the musician?
heart blue blood
Music is not written in red, white and blue. It is written in the heart's blood of the composer.
opera firsts
The first rule in opera is the first rule in life: see to everything yourself