Guide to the Records of the Melba Conservatorium of Music
MS Acc09.044, Acc09.085, Acc09.123, Acc10.011
National Library of Australia View Catalogue Record
Online Items
Class MS Acc 09.044. Original consignment received March 2009
Cloth bound scrap and news cutting book, 1917 - 1918 (Item) - Box 38
Containing clippings, correspondence and printed ephemera – programmes, handbills - 1917-1918, New York and Chicago, with ephemera of Dame Nellie performing in the USA during this period and these signed by her. Much of the material also relates to Stella Power, who was a pupil of Melba. Judging by letters tipped in, scrapbook may have belonged to Miss Mary E. Campbell, a teacher at the Conservatorium, who spent three months in the USA, December-March 1917-1918. 32x24cms, 57pp.
Photo album, 15 January 1923 to 8 August 1927, but, not strictly chronological, 1923-1927; 1932 (Item) - Box 38
Combination of clippings, notes, programmes, photographs, signed and unsigned, 37 x 27cms, 65pp. Album likely belonged to Mary Campbell. 1-3 items per page, one inscribed by Nellie Melba to Campbell. Most of the photos seem to be pupils of Mary Campbell. There is a program at the very back from 1932.
Melbourne Music Club visitor's book with entries, 1916 - 1933 (Item) - Box 38
Combination of inscriptions and signatures. Signatories include Rupert Bunny, Percy Grainger, Dame Nellie Melba, Hilda Roberts. Cloth bound, 28 x 22cms., leather label, approximately 45pp.
Prompt script for Gilbert and Sullivan's Princess Ida, 1935 (Item) - Box 41
Carbon, noted as "script typed and compiled by Dick Shortland 1935", 61pp.
Prompt script for Gilbert and Sullivan's Ruddigore, [c. 1935] (Item) - Box 41
Carbon, noted as "script typed and compiled by Dick Shortland", 66pp.
Aida / Giuseppe Verdi, 1928 (Item) - Box 41
Theatre program for 12 May 1928, His Majesty's Theatre, J.C.Williamson in association with Dame Nellie Melba present a season of Grand Opera. Red cover, 13x19 cm.
Manon Lescaut / Giacomo Puccini, 1928 (Item) - Box 41
Theatre program for 23 May 1928, His Majesty's Theatre, J.C.Williamson in association with Dame Nellie Melba present a season of Grand Opera. Red cover, 13x19 cm.
Turandot / Giacomo Puccini, 1928 (Item) - Box 41
Theatre program for 18 June 1928, His Majesty's Theatre, J.C.Williamson in association with Dame Nellie Melba present a season of Grand Opera. Red cover, 13x19 cm.
Thais / Jules Massenet, 1928 (Item) - Box 41
Theatre program for 21 June 1928, His Majesty's Theatre, J.C.Williamson in association with Dame Nellie Melba present a season of Grand Opera. Red cover, 13x19 cm.
Lucia di Lammermoor / Domenico Donizetti, 1924 (Item) - Box 41
Theatre program for 31 March 1924, His Majesty's Theatre, J.C.Williamson in association with Dame Nellie Melba present a season of Grand Opera. Green covers, 14x22 cm.
La Tosca / Giacomo Puccini, 1924 (Item) - Box 41
Theatre program for 17 June 1924, His Majesty's Theatre, J.C.Williamson in association with Dame Nellie Melba present a season of Grand Opera. Green covers, 14x22 cm.
Il Barbiere Di Siviglia / Gioachino Rossini, 1924 (Item) - Box 41
Theatre program for 19 June 1924, His Majesty's Theatre, J.C.Williamson in association with Dame Nellie Melba present a season of Grand Opera. Green covers, 14x22 cm.
Don Pasquale / Domenico Donizetti, 1924 (Item) - Box 41
Theatre program for 15 September 1924, His Majesty's Theatre, J.C.Williamson in association with Dame Nellie Melba present a season of Grand Opera. Green covers, 14x22 cm.
Lohengrin / Richard Wagner, 1911 (Item) - Box 41
Theatre program, Her Majesty's Theatre, The Melba Grand Opera Season. White cover, 10x25 cm.
Dame Nellie Melba and J.C. Williamson Grand Opera Season [souvenir book], 1924 (Item) - Box 41
Theatre program, His Majesty's Theatre, Melbourne. Brown cover, 25x 32 cm. Photographs of the principals, including Melba with signatures.
Cavalleria Rusticana / Pietro Mascagni followed by Pagliacci / Ruggero Leoncavallo, 1924 (Item) - Box 41
Theatre program for 31 July 1924, Her Majesty's Theatre, Sydney, Dame Nellie Melba and J.C. Williamson Grand Opera Season. Orange cover, 14x22 cm.
La Tosca / Giacomo Puccini, 1924 (Item) - Box 41
Theatre program for 22 September 1924, Theatre Royal, Adelaide, Dame Nellie Melba and J.C. Williamson Grand Opera Season. Orange cover, 14x22 cm.
Cavalleria Rusticana / Pietro Mascagni followed by Pagliacci / Ruggero Leoncavallo, 1924 (Item) - Box 41
Theatre program for 9 October 1924, Theatre Royal, Adelaide, Dame Nellie Melba and J.C. Williamson Grand Opera Season. Orange cover, 14x22 cm.
His Majesty's Theatre, Melbourne, J.C. Williamson Limited, Opening Souvenir Programme, 1934 (Item) - Box 41
Williamson & Musgrove's Royal Comic Opera Company programme, [c. 1895] (Item) - Box 41
Program for season held at the Opera House, Auckland, New Zealand.
Marshall - Hall Orchestral Concert programme, 1910 (Item) - Box 41
14 May 1910, Town Hall, Melbourne.
Souvenir Programme of Farewell Concert by John Brownlee, 1928 (Item) - Box 41
13 September 1928, Palais Royal, Geelong.
Nightbirds / Johann Strauss, 1942 (Item) - Box 41
Theatre program for 4 April 1942, His Majesty's Theatre.
Dame Nellie Melba, Melba Method, Chappell & Co., London, 1926 (Item) - Box 57
Printed wrappers. Qto. 64pp. 2 copies.
Frederic Griffith ed., Notable Welsh Musicians (Of Today), Francis Goodwen, London, 1896 (Item) - Box 57
Inscribed by Griffiths, "To Madame Melba, the most glorious of all singers. Frederic Griffith, June 29th / 96" Small qto. Vellum. Cover rubbed.
Melba's Gift Book of Australian Art and Literature, George Robertson, Melbourne, 1915 (Item) - Box 57
Tipped in sheet between frontispiece and title page, "To dear Fritz-Hart (?) from his sincere friend Nellie Melba, Coombe 1915".
Melba's Gift Book of Australian Art and Literature, George Robertson, Melbourne, 1915; 1932 (Item) - Box 57
Handwritten note on front pastedown, "From the collection of the late Harold S. Elaine / Presented by Mrs. Aimee Elaine". Also includes newspaper clippings re the scholarship left in Melba's will.
School project scrap book labelled Miss Osmond, 1925 - 1931 (Item) - Box 58
Containing news clippings from 17th - 29th September, 1925 plus 1 of Melba's body Lying in State, 26 February 1931.
Newspaper clippings and photos regarding Melba and the Conservatorium, 1915 - 2001 (File) - Box 58
Biographical, commemorative, handbills of performances, recipe for Peach Melba, envelope of funeral photos, other photos etc. Most original clippings, some photocopies, some whole papers and magazines. Signed photo of Gustav Holst.
Negative removed from 'Newspaper Clippings and photos regarding Melba and the Conservatorium' (Item [Unnumbered]) - Negative-Box (Shared)
Negative of photo of Gustave Holst removed from 'Newspaper Clippings and photos regarding Melba and the Conservatorium' (Item [Unnumbered]) - Negative-Box (Shared)
Theatre programs, 1924 (File)
Grand Opera Season Souvenir program, 1924 (Item) - Box 59
Her Majesty's Theatre, Sydney. Dame Nellie Melba and J C Williamson Ltd Grand Opera.
Faust / Charles Gounod, 1924 (Item) - Box 59
Theatre program for 26 May 1924, part of Dame Nellie Melba and Williamson Grand Opera Season, His Majesty's Theatre, Melbourne.
Romeo et Juliette / Charles Gounod, 1911 (Item) - Box 59
Theatre program for 20 November 1911, Her Majesty's Theatre, Melbourne (Victoria). Melba Grand Opera Season Starring Madame Melba.
Theatre program for Aida / Giuseppe Verdi, 1911 (Item) - Box 59
Theatre program for 6 December 1911, Her Majesty's Theatre, Melbourne (Victoria). Melba Grand Opera Season Starring Madame Korolewicz-Wayda and Signor Zeni.
Faust / Charles Gounod, 1911 (Item) - Box 59
Theatre program for 6 November 1911, Her Majesty's Theatre. Melba Grand Opera Season.
Theatre program for the Bradford Subscription Concerts' Sixth Concert of the Season, 1911 (Item) - Box 59
Theatre program for 3 February 1911, St. George's Hall. Starring Madame Melba.
Melba Grand Opera Season Farewell Matinee, [n.d.] (Item) - Box 59
Theatre program for 9 December [no year], Her Majesty's Theatre.
Dame Nellie Melba's Concerts for the People, 1921 - 1922 (Item) - Box 59
8 December 1921 – 24 January 1922. Nellie Melba with others.
Dame Nellie Melba's Home Coming Concert, 1921 (Item) - Box 59
Theatre program for 10 September, Town Hall, Melbourne. Nellie Melba with others. Includes newspaper clippings.
Carmen / Georges Bizet, 1911 (Item) - Box 59
Theatre program for 30 November 1911, Her Majesty's Theatre, Melbourne (Victoria). Melba Grand Opera Season Starring Madame Eleanora de Cisneros, Signor Ciccolini and Signor Rossi.
Sansone e Dalila / Camille Saint-Saëns, 1911 (Item) - Box 59
Theatre program for 8 December 1911, Her Majesty's Theatre, Melbourne (Victoria).
Dame Nellie Melba Farewell Concert, 1922 (Item) - Box 59
Theatre program for 1 August 1922, Town Hall, Melbourne. Includes newspaper cuttings.
Dame Nellie Melba's Concerts for the People, 1921 - 1922 (Item) - Box 59
8 December 1921 – 24 January 1922. Nellie Melba with others. Three copies with two including newspaper clippings.
Dame Nellie Melba and Lady Northcote Permanent Orchestra Concert, 1918 (Item) - Box 59
Theatre program for 23 November 1918, Town Hall, Melbourne. To aid the funds of the Permanent Orchestra Trust.
Dame Nellie Melba's Home Coming Concert (The First Concert of the Farewell Tour!), 1927 (Item) - Box 59
Theatre program for 2 March 1927, The Auditorium, Melbourne.
La Traviata / Giuseppe Verdi, 1911 (Item) - Box 59
Theatre program for 28 October 1911, Her Majesty's, Melbourne. Part of Melba Grand Opera Season.
La Boheme / Giacomo Puccini, 1911 (Item) - Box 59
Theatre program for 14 November 1911, Her Majesty's, Melbourne. Part of Melba Grand Opera Season.
Andrea Chenier / Umberto Giordano, 1924 (Item) - Box 59
Theatre program for 11 September 1924, performance part of Melba and Williamson Grand Opera Farewell Season, His Majesty's Theatre, Melbourne.
Faust / Charles Gounod, 1924 (Item) - Box 59
Theatre program for 30 July 1924, Her Majesty's Theatre, Sydney. Performance part of Melba and Williamson Grand Opera Season.
Melba: First Concert, 1907 (Item) - Box 59
Program for 21 December 1907, Exhibition Building, Melbourne.
Matinee organised by Madame Melba and Mr. Cyril Maude, 1917 (Item) - Box 59
Program for performance held in aid of State War Council's Amelioration Fund for Wounded Soldiers and their Families in Want or Distress, 24 July 1917.
Dame Nellie Melba's Concert to Anzacs, Returned Invalid Soldiers and Nurses, [c. 1916] (Item) - Box 59
Program for 19 December, Town Hall, Melbourne.
Bound copy of Eleventh Bristol Musical Festival, 1905 (Item) - Box 59
Programs, participants, words, music, commentaries. Held at Colston Hall, 11-14 October 1905. Signed 'Nellie Melba 1905' at the front. c. 200pp.
Farewell of Dame Nellie Melba program, 1924 (Item) - Box 59
13 October 1924, His Majesty's Theatre, Melbourne. Dame Nellie Melba and JC Williamson Ltd Grand Opera. La Boheme (Puccini). Proceeds will be given to the Limbless and Tubercular Soldiers' Appeal.
Bound volume relating to Melba tour of England, 1912 - 1914 (Item) - Box 60A
Tour of England, 1st concert London, 5th October 1912, ending in Bradford, 6th December 1912. Includes clippings, programmes, photographs, some of latter two signed or inscribed. Then similar combination for Melba and Jan Kubelik (violin) from 4th May 1913 to 24th March 1914, from England and onto USA; last few pages re Melba and Gabriel Lapierre. 187pp. in total. Index by place name at the back.
Melba ephemera including newspaper clippings and programs, originals and photocopies, [c. 1920's-c. 1990's] (File) - Box 60A
Orchestral and conductor parts of aria 'Voi che sapete' (Figaro - Mozart), 1895 - 1897 (File) - Box 74
Parts manuscript, conductor published. Includes scores for piano, violin, flute and other instruments. Performance markings. Also a folder labeled 'Piano conductor' which contains a printed copy including 'Non so piu cosa son'. Printed label "Dame Nellie Melba".
Orchestral parts for 'Rosebuds (Valse song)' by L. Arditi, [n.d.] (File) - Box 74
Outer cover labelled 'Dame Nellie Melba set of parts'. Performance markings.
Orchestral and piano parts for 'Waltz Song' from Romeo and Juliette by Gounod, [n.d.] (File) - Box 74
Performance markings.
Orchestral and conductor parts of aria 'Caro Nome' from Rigoletto by Verdi, [n.d.] (File) - Box 75
2 bound 'Conductor' copies and two sets of orchestral parts, one set stamped 'C.A.Ellis' and the other stamped 'Madame Melba'. Performance markings.
Orchestral and conductor parts of aria 'L'Allegro ed il pensieroso' by Handel, [n.d.] (File) - Box 75
Set 2. Conductor's copy bound, orchestral parts as manuscripts. All stamped 'Madame Melba Set 2'.
Orchestral and conductor parts of 'Mad Scene' from Hamlet, A. Thomas, [n.d.] (File) - Box 75
2 bound conductor scores. Set of manuscripts for orchestral parts. All well marked.
Orchestral and conductor parts of 'Preghiera di Tosca' from Tosca by Puccini, [n.d.] (File) - Box 75
Bound piano score plus manuscript orchestral parts.
Orchestral and conductor parts of 'Mad Scene' from Lucia di Lammermoor by Donizetti, 1904 - 1907 (File) - Box 75
Bound piano score plus manuscript orchestral parts. Cover labeled 'Madame Melba 1907' . Some of the orchestral parts stamped 'Madame Melba 1904'. Piano score has lots of marking and some parts pasted over with tissue paper.
Orchestral and conductor parts of aria 'L'Allegro ed il pensieroso' by Handel, [n.d.] (File) - Box 76
Set 1. Manuscripts orchestral parts. All stamped 'Madame Melba Set 1' except the flute part. It is in a different hand and has 'Nellie Melba' written across the bottom. It is extensively marked.
Orchestral parts of 'Recit et Air de Lia' from L'Enfant Prodigue by Claude Debussy and orchestral and conductor parts of 'Lo Hear the Gentle Lark' by William Shakespeare and Sir Henry Bishop, 1906 - 1914 (File) - Box 76
Bound score and parts. 'Property of Mme Melba' on the cover.
Selection of music scores, [c.1896] (File) - Box 76
Includes scores and orchestral parts for 'Bell-Song' by Delibes from Lakme, 'May-Time' by Hancock and Tosti dedicated to and sung by Mdme. Melba and 'Home Sweet Home' by Henry Bishop.
Orchestral and conductor parts of 'Ah! Fors e lui che l'anima' from La Traviata by Giuseppe Verdi, 1904 (File) - Box 76
Bound score, heavily marked. Manuscript parts all labelled 'Madame Melba'. Score stamped 'Madame Melba 1904'.
Orchestral and conductor parts of 'Divinities du Styx' from Alceste by Gluck, [n.d.] (File) - Box 76
Bound score, heavily marked, manuscript parts.
Full score and orchestral parts of 'Regnava nel Silenzio' from Lucia di Lammermoor by Donizetti, 1907 (File) - Box 77
Manuscript, full score and parts, all stamped 'C.A.Ellis'. Cover stamped 'Madame Melba 1907'.
Full bound score of Titus by Mozart, [c. 1872] (File) - Box 77
Manuscript orchestral parts for 'Sextus Aria'.
Orchestral and conductor parts of 'Gavotto' from Manon by Massenet, [n.d.] (File) - Box 77
Bound score which has two loose manuscript pages in it. Also includes manuscript orchestral parts with performance markings.
Orchestral and conductor parts of 'Elizabeth's greeting' from Tannhauser by Wagner, [n.d.] (File) - Box 77
Bound score and manuscript parts with performance markings. All stamped 'C.A.Ellis'.
Bound piano and vocal score for Otello by Giuseppe Verdi, [n.d.] (Item) - Box 78
Signed by Nellie Melba with performance markings. Also includes script for performance.
Bound piano and vocal score for Tosca by Giacomo Puccini, 1899 (Item) - Box 78
Signed by Nellie Melba with performance markings.
Bound piano and vocal score for La Tosca by Giacomo Puccini, 1902; 1911 (Item) - Box 78
Signed by Nellie Melba with performance markings. Includes newspaper clippings with reviews.
Bound piano and vocal score for Cingallegra by Armando Seppilli, 1912 (Item) - Box 78
Signed by Nellie Melba.
Bound piano and vocal score for La Nave Rossa by Armando Seppilli, 1908; 1913 (Item) - Box 79
Signed by Nellie Melba. Inside the front cover is a small paper bound version with just the words.
Bound piano and vocal score for Nada Delwig by Emilia Gubitosi, 1911 (Item) - Box 79
Signed Nellie Melba on the cover.
Bound piano and vocal score for Old English Melodies by H. Lane Wilson, 1899 (Item) - Box 79
Signed Nellie Melba on the cover.
Bound piano and vocal score for Thais by Jules Massenet, 1894 (Item) - Box 79
Inscribed to Nellie Melba on the cover by Jules Massenet. Some performance markings.
Bound piano and vocal score for Le Cid by Jules Massenet, [n.d.] (Item) - Box 79
Title page signed 'Nellie Armstrong'. English translation of some of the songs penciled underneath the original, mostly towards the back.
Bound piano and vocal score for Songs by Johan Backer-Lunde, 1911 (Item) - Box 80
Inscribed in front cover 'To Lady Melba with thanks from Johan Backer-Lunde. Includes performance markings.
Bound piano and vocal score for Les Trois Mousquetaires by Isidore De Lara, 1921 (Item) - Box 80
Inscribed 'To Dame Nellie Melba from her friend and admirer Isidore De Lara, Cannes March 1921'
Bound piano and vocal score for Standard and Traditional Songs. Concert Edition by G.H. Clutsam, 1921 - 1922 (Item) - Box 80
Embossed 'Dame Nellie Melba' on the cover.
Bound piano and vocal score for Aida by Giuseppe Verdi, [n.d.] (Item) - Box 80
Heavily used and marked, including some translations. 'Nellie Armstrong 32 Rue [Pas?] Paris' inscribed on the first page.
Portrait photograph of Melba, signed Nellie Melba 1904 on image, 1904; 1945 (Item) - Folio-Box 3, Folio-Box 18
Image 18 x 10cms. Mounted, framed and glazed. Inscription on back, 'A personal gift, from the late Dame Nellie Melba to the late Rev. David Morris of Castlemaine and presented to the Conservatorium of Music by his daughters. 16.7.45'
Section of red fabric curtain from the Metropolitan Opera House, 1905 (Item) - Folio-Box 3
Includes plaque, 'The curtain of which this is a part, hung at the Metropolitan Opera House for 35 years. It first rose on a performance of "La Gioconda" which opened the season of 1905 on November 20. In the cast were William Nordica, Louise Homer, Enrico Caruso, Antonio Scotti'
Small box containing a piece of wood, 13 x 20cms., with plaque identifying it "This is a piece taken from the old floor of the Metropolitan Stage Opera", 1939 (Item) - Folio-Box 6
Includes letter from Maria Savage to Mr. J. Brownlee, 'Here is a piece of the stage of the Metropolitan Opera where our dear and glorious Nellie Melba had so many unforgettable triumphs', 17 April 1939. Letter in French and English.
Photo of 'Music to the People' event with Hector Crawford, 1930s (Item) - Folio-Box 6
Photo, 35 x 38cms.
"Marguerite Faust" portrait, 1915 (Item) - Folio-Box 7
Signed on mount "Nellie Melba, April 11th 1915". Image 23 x 19cms., mount 29 x 23cms. Image faded.
"Coombe 1906" portrait, 1906 (Item) - Folio-Box 7
Signed on mount, "Coombe 1906 / Nellie Melba" signed by photographer. Image 27 x 19cms., mount 33 x 24cms.
Portrait photograph, signed on mount, "Nellie Melba 1908", 1908 (Item) - Folio-Box 7
Image 36 x 18cms., mount 40x20cms.
Original photographs and copies of life and times of Melba – concert audiences, rural life, gravesides, 1915; 1928-1932 (File) - Folio-Box 7
Postcard size and larger.
Portrait photograph of Melba, 1924 (Item) - Folio-Box 8, Folio-Box 18
Inscribed on mount, "To Vida Lytton / with love from / Nellie Melba. October 13th 1924." Image 23 x 19cms., mount 27 x 22cms. Mounted, framed and glazed. Note on reverse re recipient.
Certificate to Miss Marguerite Henderson from the Lord Mayor of London for her musical and other entertainments at the King's Dinner to the Poor in Celebration of His Coronation, 1902 (Item) - Folio 10b
28 x 38cms.
Plaque commemorating the funds raised by Nellie Melba in aid of the Belgian Relief Fund, 1915 (Item) - Folio 10b
Melbourne Town Hall, 27 April 1915. Includes list of contributors who donated £100 each.
Photograph – Dame Nellie Melba, in costume, [n.d.] (Item) - Folio-Box 14
Signed by Nellie Melba, 23 x 17cms.
Photo of Nellie Melba, 1909 (Item) - Folio-Box 14
Inscribed, "To Dear Bernard from Nellie Melba". 25 x 18cms.
Autograph note signed by Nellie Melba, [n.d.] (Item) - Folio-Box 15, Folio-Box 19
From Nellie Melba, unable to attend exhibition, 1p., nd. Written on stationery of Government House, Adelaide. Note 18 x 11cms., mounted, framed and glazed.
Three flags sold by Melba at her concert in aid of the Belgian Relief Fund, 1915 (File) - Folio-Box 17
Flags in vertical blocks of black, yellow and red (one signed by Melba and dated 'Melbourne April 27th 1915), the other in horizontal blocks of red and white (also signed and dated 'Sydney June 3rd 1915').