whiteglovesandcaringawhiteumbrelas

Dame Nellie Melba outside the Gresham Hotel, Brisbane

from State Library of Queensland

• Vesna Verencevic said:

  Famous opera singer wearing a white elegant dress, white hat, and gloves, and carrying a white umbrella.

• Vesna Verencevic said:

  Dame Nellie Melba (1861–1931) Portrait of Dame Nellie Melba. World-renowned soprano. Dame Nellie Melba's voice was remarkable for its even quality over a range of nearly three octaves, and for its pure, silvery timbre. She had international renown as a soprano, performing in many cities including Milan, Brussels, London, Paris, and New Yrk.

• Vesna Verencevic said:

  Source: banknotes.rba.gov.au/australias-banknotes/people-on-the-b...

• Vesna Verencevic said:

  1914–1918: Based in Australia during World War I, Melba worked tirelessly to raise funds for war charities. She also gave wartime concerts in North America. For her services to the war effort, Melba was made a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1918. During this period she established a singing school at the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music in Albert Street, later renamed the Melba Memorial Conservatorium of Music, providing her services free of charge. She often travelled from Lilydale to teach her ‘Melba's Girls'. 1920: She became the first artist of international standing to participate in direct radio broadcasts. 1926: Melba gave a number of supposedly ‘final’ performances. Her final Covent Garden performance was in 1926. 1927: She sang at the opening of Parliament House in Canberra, and was made a Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire. 1928: Her final and emotional concerts took place in in Australia. 1931: Melba died in Sydney on 23 February 1931 and was buried at the Lilydale Cemetery in Victoria. 2008: The private conservatorium, Melba Memorial Conservatorium of Music, ceased teaching and became the Dame Nellie Melba Opera Trust. Source: banknotes.rba.gov.au/australias-banknotes/people-on-the-b...