Performance | Operas & Roles
Introduction
Despite her early lack of in-depth knowledge of languages, when in Europe, Melba worked tirelessly to learn and master French, German and Italian, an achievement audiences around the world recognised and applauded.
Melba studied roles in 26 operas, some of which she was fortunate to be able to work with the composer to give her a greater understanding of the role and what the composer wanted to achieve.
Melba herself wrote:
The study of the French, German and Italian languages, so necessary to the operatic artist, is always more thoroughly carried out in the countries where they are the native tongue. The chances to study under the most famous masters, and the opportunities to hear the greatest works interpreted by the greatest artists, are also comparatively easy and numerous in Europe.
Reference: A.G. Murphy, Melba: A Biography in the section Melba’s Advice on the selection of Music as a Profession p 322.
Melba’s Repertoire
Melba’s operatic repertoire was extensive, with her most famous role being Mimi in La Boheme.
Her roles and the operas were:
- Aida – Aida (Verdi) – View images
- Brünnhilde – Siegfried (Wagner) – No identified images
- Desdemona – Otello (Verdi) – View images
- Elaine – Elaine (Bemberg) – View images
- Elisabeth – Tannhäuser (Wagner) – View images
- Elsa – Lohengrin (Wagner) – No identified images
- Esmeralda – Esmeralda (Goring Thomas) – No identified images
- Gilda – Rigoletto (Verdi) – View images
- Hélène – Hélène (Saint Saëns) – View images
- Juliette – Romeo et Juliette (Gounod) – View images
- Lakmé – Lakmé (Debiles) – View images
- Leonora – Il Travatore (Verdi) – No identified images
- La Infanta – Le Cid (Massenet) – No identified images
- Lucia – Lucia di Lammermoor (Donezetti) – View images
- Manon – Manon (Massenet) – View images
- Marguerite – La Damnation of Faust * (Berlioz) – No identified images
- Marguerite – Faust (Gounod) – View images
- Marguerita de Valois – Les Hugenots (Meyerbeer) – No identified images
- Micaela – Carmen (Bizet) – View images
- Mimi – La Bohème (Puccini) – View images
- Nedda – I Pagliacci (Leoncavello) – View images
- Ophelia – Hamlet (Thomas) – View images
- Rosina – Barber of Seville (Rossini) – View images
- Semiramide – Semiramide (Rossini) – View images
- Violetta – La Traviata (Verdi) – View images
- Luisa – I Rantzau (Mascagni) – No identified images
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Email us your info (and images) to:
[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: [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]