Great Australian Speeches: Dame Nellie Melba's Farewell

Dame Nellie Melba, born Helen Porter Mitchell, was an Australian operatic soprano and was the first Australian classic musician to receive international recognition and became one of the most famous singers of the late 1800s and early 20th century. She adopted the stage name 'Melba' based on her home town of Melbourne. Throughout the 1920s, Melba was remembered for an ongoing series of 'farewell' appearances, resulting in the expression 'more farewells than Dame Nellie Melba' This famous Farewell speech was given by Dame Nellie Melba following a performance of Puccini's 'La Boheme' at Her Majesty’s Theatre in Melbourne, 13 October 1924. For this MTC Audio Lab episode it is read by Marg Downey.