Jeff Jenkins - Jesus Take the Wheel

MELBA (Melba) Nelly (real name and family name - Helen Porter Armstrong, Porter Armstrong; nee. Mitchell, Mitchell) (19 V 1861, Burnley, near Melbourne - 23 II 1931, Sydney) - Australia. singer (coloratura soprano). Scottish by nationality; stage name M. took in memory of Melbourne. Systematic wok. I didn’t get an education. Since childhood, participated in concerts. In 1885 she performed a solo part in Sydney in the oratorio "Messiah" by Handel. In 1887, she successfully made her debut in the party of Gilda in Brussels (tr "De la Monnet"). She has performed at major opera houses in Europe, America, Australia, including in “Grand Opera” (1889; here she prepared the parts of Margarita in “Faust” and Juliet in “Romeo and Juliet” under the direction of S. Gounod), “La Scala” (1893), “Metropolitan Opera” (1893). In 1891 she sang on the stage of the Mariinsky Theater (Petersburg). In 1926 left the scene. Then she returned to Australia,where she was elected president of the Melbourne Conservatory. M.'s exceptionally even voice was distinguished by a clear sound, silver timbre. With a developed upper register (up to the 3rd octave), M. possessed virtuoso color mastery (Lucia, Rozina, Lakme, etc.). Unlimited singing possibilities and dramatic. giftedness allowed the singer to turn to decomp. parties (Elsa - "Lohengrin", Mimi; Nedda - "Pagliacci"). Lit. op .: Melodies and memories, L., 1925.