A film about an opera singer falling in-love, only to fall out of love and pursue her career, is perfect for the screen. Produced in 1953 by American playwright and producer Harry Kurnitz, the embellished biopic “Melba“ is the story of the famed figure of operatic history Nellie Melba who was personified by an equally great actress-singer, Patrice Munsel. Although a {…}
The Melba Opera Trust, in association with Melbourne Digital Concert Hall, will offer “Her Legacy in Concert,” to celebrate 160 years of the birth of Australian artist Dame Nellie Melba, next May 19 at 7 p.m. The concert will be broadcast live from the Athenaeum in Melbourne, Australia, and will be hosted by Mairi Nicolson of The Opera Show on {…}
During the early twentieth century, Australian soprano Nellie Melba was one of the most in-demand singers in the world. Born May 19, 1861 as the eldest of seven children, Helen Porter Mitchell eventually adopted the name “Melba” in honor of her hometown, Melbourne. She studied music in Paris and debuted at La Monnaie in 1887 as Gilda in “Rigoletto.” After {…}
The Metropolitan Opera is set to open “Manon” on Sept. 24, 2019. The work has been featured over 270 times in its history and remains a major staple of the standard repertory The main draw in the opera is the title role, one of the most challenging in all of opera, requiring not only a vocal master, but a strong {…}
Rossini’s “Semiramide” is arguably one of the finest operas that the composer created. Being his final Italian work, Rossini had attained a depth of craft that represented the culmination of years and years of steady work. Unfortunately, “Semiramide” is also monstrously difficult to mount and when it opens at the Metropolitan Opera on Feb. 19, 2018, the performance count for {…}