Dame Nellie Melba—also known as Helen (Nellie) Porter Mitchell and Helen Porter Armstrong—is widely believed to have performed in the Prince of Wales Opera House in Gulgong.
She was born in Melbourne and married Charles Nesbitt Frederick ARMSTRONG in 1882.
See also: Melba Museum
NEWS ITEMS
1886 - Mrs. Armstrong
(THE AUSTRALIAN PRIMA DONNA)
1901 - MADAM MELBA'S TOUR.
London, November 11.
1908 - [SPECULATION]
Nellie Melba
Source: Gulgong Pioneers Museum
Autographed photo "Madame Melba" 1903
(THE AUSTRALIAN PRIMA DONNA)
OUR first portrait of the New Series is that of Mrs. Armstrong, the young Australian prima donna. It is from a photograph lately taken by Tuttle, of Sydney. Mrs. Armstrong, who is the talented daughter of Mr. David Mitchell, of Richmond, is a native of that city. She has been before the public as a concert singer for the last two years. She was educated at the Presbyterian Ladies College, and received there her earliest vocal training from the renowned contralto, Miss Christian. To this succeeded six years' hard work under Signor Cecchi, and she first appeared as his pupil at the Elsasser Benefit Concert two years ago. At her first concert she at once took her audience captive, and she has steadily advanced in ability and artistic excellence until she is now described by the Argus critic as "the chief soprano singer in Australia,". The best of critics have always been unanimous in her praise. The Australasian, at her debut, said that "she sang like one picked out of ten thousand." The Federal Australian described her voice as "one of the purest and richest of soprano voices, capable of all the effects which make the voices of great singers of such immense value." The Sydney Morning Herald says," Mrs. Armstrong appears to sing better at every concert; nothing better has been heard in Sydney for many years." And finally, of her performance at the Herz Testimonial Concert, the Argus remarks, "we have but few words to say concerning this lady, and these we weigh well before uttering them; such beautiful natural gifts as she possesses mark her for a place amongst soprano vocalists on a level with that occupied by Urna de Murska."
It would be wrong were such talent as this lost to the world, and we are pleased to note that Mrs. Armstrong will leave by the mail on the 11th instant, to undergo three or four years higher musical and vocal training in Europe. She is to bid "Farewell" to Melbourne at her benefit concert at the Town Hall next Saturday evening, at which His Excellency the Governor and Lady Loch, who have always much admired her singing, will be present. Victoria has already set in store some bright jewels for an Australian musical crown—Kruse, Rees, Hutcheson—none will glitter with brighter lustre than the latest—Nellie Armstrong. Nor are her talents one-sided, she is a brilliant pianist, an accomplished organist, and a tasteful amateur painter. We bid her bon voyage, and a hearty "farewell'' Gratitude for the ungrudging help she has always given to public charities and un-numbered "benefits," apart from her own talents, will insure her a crowded house on Saturday night. Equally certain is it that the distinction of her future career will reflect honour on the colony of her birth.
1888 - AN AUSTRALIAN PRIMA DONNA.
The European Mail says:—Madame Melba, the new Prima Donna engaged by Mr. Augustus Harris for his coming operatic season, is the first Australian lady to achieve that high position on the London lyric
stage. She is the daughter of Mr. David Mitchell, a wealthy Melbourne contractor, who erected the magnificent Exhibition building that adorns the metropolis of Greater Britain. As Miss Nellie Mitchell she was known in private circles in Melbourne as the possessor of a soprano voice of remarkable range and purity. When she became Mrs. Armstrong she exhibited her talents in public, and at once leaped into a foremost position on the colonial concert platform. For a long time she was the principal soprano in the choir of St. Francis' Roman Catholic Church, Melbourne. Acting on the advice of distinguished musicians, she proceeded to the continent a few years ago and studied for some time in the great centres of musical culture. Latterly she has been creating quite a furore by her singing in Brussels, and it is said that Mr. Harris had a stiff fight with M. Gailhard, of the Grand Opera, Paris, before he succeeded in securing her services. The Australian songstress will appear in "Faust," "Lucia," "Rigoletto" and "La Traviata."
Source: The Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser (NSW : 1843 - 1893) Tue 17 Apr 1888 Page 4 
Madam Melba, Australian vocalist
1901 - MADAM MELBA'S TOUR.
London, November 11.
Madam Melba (Nellie Armstrong) has arranged with Mr Musgrove to give a three months' series of concerts in Australian capitals, commencing in the middle of September, 1902.
PRE-1901 - [BATHURST]
Melba (as Mrs. Armstrong) had some unromantic experiences, but they simply come under the heading of bad luck. For instance, a concert given by her at Bathurst was so poorly attended that the takings did not pay for the gas.
It is stated that Mr. John Lemmone, who is well known in musical circles, is arranging for Madame Melba to tour Australia next year, and that it is probable she will visit Bathurst, Orange and Dubbo. If this be so, there should be little difficulty in arranging for her to visit Mudgee, though, with all her fame, we doubt if she would be more pleasing to us than our own sweet singer, who has held Mudgee audiences in thrall for so many years and who never fails to attract and please.
1909 - [SENTIMENTAL TOUR]
In 1909 she embarked on a 'sentimental tour' of Australia: she covered 10,000 miles (16,093 km), appearing in many remote towns.
Source: Australian Dictionary of Biography1909 - [MUDGEE REQUEST]
The monthly meeting of the Mud gee United Friendly Societies' Association was held in the Oddfellows' Hall last week... Letters were read and received as follows:
- From Mr. J. Lemmone, Madame Melba's manager;
MADAME MELBA.
It was proposed by Bro. Rose, seconded by Bro. Keegan, and carried, 'That, the letter from Madame Melba's manager stand over for consideration till August.' The following is the copy of the letter: —
Melbourne, February 21, 1909,Mr. H. C. W. Kear, Mudgee.Dear Sir, —Your letter of tho 6th instant for warded to me here. In reply to your enquiry re Melba visiting Mudgee, I beg to state that I don't think it very probable that Mudgee will be included in the itinerary. When I was arranging the tour several months ago, I wrote to a friend at Mudgee on the subject, and I met a leading townsmen of Mudgee in Sydney at that time, and placed the proposition before them; but after waiting a couple of months for an answer, which was discouraging, I had to cut Mudgee out. To enable us to visit Mudgee we would have to come direct from Sydney and return to Sydney. It would never do to submit Melba to that long wait at Wallerawang. Whether anything can be arranged in regard to a visit or not, it could not possibly be thought of now. We return to Sydney from Queensland at the end of August and if I can get Madame Melba to agree about that time I shall communicate with you. We don't want any guarantee. No country town could guarantee Melba, who is used to getting £1000 a night all over the world. All that we should require is that the hall be filled at 10/6 a ticket. This would please Melba, and it would show that her visit was appreciated.Thanking you for writing, yours truly,John Lemmone.
Source: Mudgee Guardian and North-Western Representative (NSW : 1890 - 1954) Thu 11 Mar 1909 Page 17
1909 - [BATHURST]
AN OPEN LETTER TO MADAME MELBA.(Per favor of the "Bathurst Daily Argus.")
Dear Madam Melba,—As a humble individual, one of the thousand-and-one audience who were privileged to listen on Friday night to your marvellously beautiful voice, permit the writer, on behalf of the citizens of Bathurst—in the absence of any official welcome or greeting—to tender to you our most sincere heartfelt thanks for your goodness in again visiting our town. The great audience, of last evening will, for the remainder of their lives, feel themselves truly to be your debtors. Your talents are far beyond our criticism. We now no longer wonder at the homage paid by Princes, Emperors and Kings to our Australian Queen of Song, and it could almost be imagined that the very angels themselves, would cease their angelic chorus to applaud when Nellie Melba sings. May you long be spared, with God's blessing, to charm and entrance with your divine gift many thousands who have not yet enjoyed the favour which you have so generously bestowed upon us, and may you also receive and accept from them heartfelt thanks and deep gratitude, which from us we sincerely beg to as sure you, is but your simple due.I beg to remain, dear Madam Melba, Ever gratefully yours, A CITIZEN OF BATHURST.12th June, 1909.
1909 - [ORANGE AND FORBES]
There is something of a lull in Melba matters. Melba is out of town. Away in the inland as you know, charming country folk. Orange and Forbes both tell of bumper houses. Halls filled and hundreds standing in the rain listening to the Queen of Song. Sounds like a romantic tale, doesn't it? Bathurst folk still coy. Funny, don't you think? Bathurst never very gone on Melba. Don't know why, really. Reports say Bathurst folk still of the same mind. Rumour once said, you know, that Melba never intended to sing at Bathurst ever again. Hadn't forgotten old scores in the lang syne, when it was "too hot this evening to go to Nellie Armstrong's concert." Queer world, after all. Nellie Armstrong and Melba, different persons altogether. Melba in the position to-day, not to mind much, only little trifles like this "do" rankle. Aggravating, like a tiny thorn in a finger.
1909 - [TRAVEL]
A couple of [Mudgee] residents propose going to Tamworth next week for the purpose of hearing Madame Melba sing.
Source: Mudgee Guardian and North-Western Representative (NSW : 1890 - 1954) Thu 17 Jun 1909 Page 5
1909 - [TRAVEL]
Miss Grace Honeysett returned home after a trip to Bathurst and Orange, during which she was fortunate enough to hear the great Madame Melba sing on her western tour.
Source: Mudgee Guardian and North-Western Representative (NSW : 1890 - 1954) Thu 17 Jun 1909 Page 51909 - [DUBBO]
Mr. G. H. Taylor has received from Madame Melba a photograph of herself, inscribed: —
'To Mr. Taylor, a souvenir of a very charming visit to Dubbo, Nellie Melba, 1909.'
'To Mr. Taylor, a souvenir of a very charming visit to Dubbo, Nellie Melba, 1909.'
Mr Lemmone also sent, an autograph photo, and both Madame Melba and Mr. Lemmone signed the box plan as a souvenir of the record booking of the whole house. In another case a gentleman, to whom Madame had given complimentary tickets, on reaching the door of the hall, paid for his seats in order to keep the autograph ticket which he had received. A third gentleman obtained an autograph in quite another way. On Monday afternoon there was a small bridge party in Mrs. Simms' Hotel, Madame Melba jotting down the scores for the company. At the close of the play a gentleman asked her if she would sign the card, which she did, and made it a treasured possession. — 'Dubbo Liberal.'
Source: Mudgee Guardian and North-Western Representative (NSW : 1890 - 1954) Thu 24 Jun 1909 Page 10
