Countries | Canada
Melba often combined her American tours with a visit to Canada for concerts. Melba’s October 1903 and 1906 tours of America included a visit to Canada. The latter included Winnipeg. (1)
Her 1915 USA tour included a detour to Toronto, Canada and a couple of months later on October 14, Melba was in Montreal where she gave a Red Cross concert which raised $10,000.
After touring America’s midwest and east coast, in December 1915 Melba was back in Canada – this time in Ottawa, where the Governor General, the Duke of Connaught, presented her with the Insignia of Lady Grace of St John of Jerusalem, in recognition of Melba’s services to that order and to the war effort.
Nellie asked Evie and George to join her for the last part of her tour, and in January 1926 they visited Charles Armstrong in Vancouver Island first. (2)
On the morning of 8 March 1916, Melba’s party left for Australia in the Wilhelmina. Calling in at Honolulu, where they were joined by Peggy Center, who was to study singing in Melbourne as Melba’s protegee.
Soon after leaving Hawaii, Melba received a telegram telling her that her father faced another operation. He came through the operation but was very weak. He died on Saturday afternoon 25 March 1916. (3)
Nellie was desolated by her father’s death, she tried to hide her grief, throwing herself into her work. (4)
Melba gave all the proceeds from her concerts in Australia and Canada to charity. (5)
Later in 1916 Melba returned to America and again toured in 1917. Melba’s friend Lady Susan FitzClarence accompanied Melba on the 1917 tour which began in Vancouver where, in September 1917, she sang in the Horse Show building. (6)
Melba loved Canada, and in June 1921 Melba embarked from London on the Magantic, a White Star Liner, to have a month’s rest in Canada. She did not give any concerts. George, Evie and baby Pamela, met Nellie in Vancouver and all returned to Sydney in the Niagara. (7)
Melba returned to Canada in 1923. Her first concert was at Quebec on September 28, 1923. She went on to Ottawa in the Private Canadian Pacific Railway Car Montmerency. The tour continued with concerts in Toronto, Hamilton, Niagara, Jamestown, Buffalo, Pittsburgh, Newcastle, Detroit, London (Ontario), Winnipeg, Calgary, and Vancouver. (7)
References
(1) P. Vestey, Melba A Family Memoir, Pamela Vestey, Coldstream, 2000, pg 115 and 128.
(2) Op. Cit., pg 149.
(3) Op. Cit., pg 153.
(4) Op. Cit., pg 155.
(5) Op. Cit., pg 157.
(6) Op. Cit., pg 159.
(7) Op. Cit. pg 186.
(8) Op. Cit. pg 203.
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Our home is the Old Lilydale Court House:
61 Castella Street, Lilydale 3140
Hours of opening:
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Fridays 1 to 4pm and Saturdays to Mondays 11am to 4pm.
Sundays are preferred.
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Nellie Melba Museum
Contact Details:
Sue Thompson: 0475 219 884
Email: [email protected]
Share your info with us:
[email protected]
Our home is the Old Lilydale Court House:
61 Castella Street, Lilydale 3140
Hours of opening:
By Appointment only:
Fridays 1 to 4pm and Saturdays to Mondays 11am to 4pm.
Sundays are preferred.
Closed Public Holidays
Nellie Melba Museum
Contact Details:
Sue Thompson: 0475 219 884
[email protected]
Nellie Melba Museum
Contact Details:
Sue Thompson: 0475 219 884
[email protected]
Our home is the Old Lilydale Court House:
61 Castella Street, Lilydale 3140
Hours of opening:
By appointment only:
Fridays 1 to 4pm and Saturdays to Mondays 11am to 4pm.
Sundays are preferred.
Closed Public Holidays
Share Your Information
with Nellie Melba Museum!
Sue Thompson: 0475 219 884
[email protected]