Nellie Melba
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"Dame Nellie Melba" Order of the British Empire/GBE, born "Helen" ""Nellie"" "Porter Mitchell", was an Australian operatic soprano. She became one of the most famous singers of the late Victorian era and the early 20th century. She was the first Australian to achieve international recognition as a classical musician. She took the pseudonym "Melba" from Melbourne, her home town.

Melba studied singing in Melbourne and made a modest success in performances there. After a brief and unsuccessful marriage, she moved to Europe in search of a singing career. Failing to find engagements in London in 1886, she studied in Paris and soon made a great success there and in Brussels. Returning to London she quickly established herself as the leading lyric soprano at Royal Opera House/Covent Garden from 1888. She soon achieved further success in Paris and elsewhere in Europe, and later at the Metropolitan Opera, New York, debuting there in 1893. Her repertoire was small; in her whole career she sang no more than 25 roles and was closely identified with only ten. She was known for her performances in French and Italian opera, but sang little German opera.

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My voice has been raised not only in song, but to make the big world outside through me, understand something of the spirit of my beloved country.

One of the drawbacks of fame is that one can never escape from it.

If I'd been a housemaid I'd have been the best in Australia -- I couldn't help it. It's got to be perfection for me.