FAMOUS SINGER.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11684, 24 February 1931, Page 5

FAMOUS SINGER.

DEATH OF DAME MELBA A PICTURESQUE PERSONALITY. United Press Assn—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. SYDNEY. February 23. Dame Nellie Alelbn paissed away at five o’clock this afternoon, at St. Vincent’s private hospital. By her Australia, loses her most prominent representative daughter and world singer who followed Adelina Patti as the reigning operatic singer of her generation and her century in Europe. The golden voice which inspired the world, and the picturesque personality that charmed thousands have passed beyond. Her passing was as courageous and as fine as her public life. Her condition last night was extremely low and towards morning the dying diva, who had previously refused to see a minister, murmured gently. “Get me clergyman.” Canon Lea. of St. Alarks, Darling Point, was summoned and stayed for some time praying with her. By 10 a.m. she was beyond speech, her pulse became mor© feeble and she waved farewells.

Outside the quiet room was John Lemmone. flautist, who had been, a faithful friend and business manager for nearly fifty years. He waited patient Iv for the end. Aleiba’s father. David Mitchell, a dogged old North Country Scotsman, came to Australia in 1857. He was a poor man but died a millionaire in 1916, aged 87. Alelba, otherwise Nellie Alitehel 1, was born Alav 19, 1861 in 3 r ictoria. She cam© of musical parents. She married Captain Charles Armstrong, son of an Irish baronet in 1882 but the union proved unhappy. There was a long separation and finally divorce. There was one son, George. In her early teens, Alelba studied at organ harmony and composition. She was taught singing bv Aladanie Lucy Chambers, a local celebrity, who had sung in Italy. Later she studied in Alelbournei under Signor Cecehi, an Italian tenor and she made her debut_ at Alelbourne ’Town Hall in

Damo Nellie Alelba was born in Alelbourne., Australia in 1861, the daughter .of a Scottish contractor named Mitchell. She was educated at the Presbyterian Ladies’ College Alelbourne, and her gifts as a singer wer 0 soon evident, hut it was o.nlv .after her marriage in 1882 to Charles Nesbitt, youngest son of Sir Andrew Armstrong, that she undertook the study of singing under Mme Arar-c-hesi of Paris. In Brussels in 1887 she made her debut as Gilda (Rigo-let-to) and the following veai appeared in London in Lucia. Thereafter she sang regularly at Covent Garden and in all the principal capitals of the world, the purity and flexibility of her voice making her a favourite everywhere. She" was created D.B.E in 1918.