Costumes

Gold velvet cloak draped over a manequin. The bottom of the cloak is embroidered with jewels, gold thread and images of religious figures.

Clothing - Cloak worn by Nellie Melba, Jean-Philipe Worth, c. 1891, Performing Arts Collection The Arts Centre Melbourne

Courtesy of The Arts Centre Melbourne

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Cloak worn by Nellie Melba as Elsa in Lohengrin, c. 1891

Designed by Jean-Phillipe Worth

Gift of Pamela, Lady Vestey, 1977

Detailed view of a segment of a gold cloak. An embroidered silk angel, featuring jewels, is surrounded by a gold beaded circle. Gold thread leaves frame the circled angel.

Clothing - Cloak worn by Nellie Melba as Elsa in Lohengrin (detailed), Jean-Phillipe Worth, c. 1891, Performing Arts Collection The Arts Centre Melbourne

Courtesy of The Arts Centre Melbourne

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Central to the Melba Collection at the Victorian Arts Centre are performance costumes and accessories worn by the singer, which were donated by her grand-daughter Lady Pamela Vestey in 1977.

Two toned pink gown on a black mannequin. The chest region of the gown features gold embroidered detailing.

Costume - Costume worn by Nellie Melba, c. 1924, Performing Arts Collection The Arts Centre Melbourne

Courtesy of The Arts Centre Melbourne

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Costume worn by Nellie Melba as Desdemona in Otello, [detail], c.1924

Gift of Pamela, Lady Vestey, 1977

Zoomed in photograph of gold embroidered detailing on a pink gown.

Costume - Detailing on a Costume worn by Nellie Melba as Desdemona, c. 1924, Performing Arts Collection The Arts Centre Melbourne

Courtesy of The Arts Centre Melbourne

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Melba’s most famous operas are represented, including Otello, Rigoletto, La Traviata, Faust, La Boheme, Romeo and Juliet and I Pagliacci.

The most elaborate item is a gold cloak, hand-painted and sewn with jewels, which was worn by Melba in Lohengrin and designed for her by the Paris-based couturier, Jean-Phillipe Worth.

White floor length gown positioned on a black mannequin. The gown features gold silk floral embroidery, and a train rimmed with gold silk detailing. A tie is positioned around the waist and a white necklace sits around the mannequins neck. Positioned on the ground is a head shaped mannequin with a decorative head piece positioned on top.

Costume - Costume worn by Nellie Melba as Desdemona, c. 1924, Performing Arts Collection The Arts Centre Melbourne

Courtesy of The Arts Centre Melbourne

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Costume worn by Nellie Melba as Desdemona in Otello, c.1924 [detail]

Gift of Pamela, Lady Vestey, 1977

Zoomed in photograph of a white silk gown positioned on a black mannequin. The gown features gold silk embroidered detailing and pearls sewn around the neckline.

Costume - Costume worn by Nellie Melba as Desdemona, c. 1924, Performing Arts Collection The Arts Centre Melbourne

Courtesy of The Arts Centre Melbourne

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Since the time of this generous donation, many additions have been made to the Performing Arts Collection.

Original photographs, many of which are signed by Dame Nellie, illustrate her life and career. Programmes, some printed on silk, trace her Australian and international opera performances and concerts.

Detailed head piece positioned on a black head mannequin. The gold embroidered head band has pearls of alternating sizes around the rim, and covering the ears is a circular attachment, covered in more pearls and hanging beads.

Costume - Head dress worn by Nellie Melba as Desdemona, c. 1924, Performing Arts Collection The Arts Centre Melbourne

Courtesy of The Arts Centre Melbourne

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Head dress worn by Nellie Melba as Desdemona in Otello, c.1924

Gift of Pamela, Lady Vestey, 1977

White gown positioned on a black mannequin. Over the white gown is a blue or purple bolero, clasped at the next with a beaded attachment. Hanging from the waist of the gown are silver chains. Next to the mannequin is a head mannequin with a head piece sitting on top.

Costume - Costume worn by Nellie Melba as Marguerite in Faust, c. 1924, Performing Arts Collection The Arts Centre Melbourne

Courtesy of The Arts Centre Melbourne

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Costume worn by Nellie Melba as Marguerite in Faust, c. 1924

Gift of Pamela, Lady Vestey, 1977

Blue floral dress with full length sleeves positioned on a black mannequin. The dress features an apron type design from the waist down, and a black bow attached to a white collar.

Costume - Costume worn by Nellie Melba as Mimì in La bohème, c. 1928, Performing Arts Collection The Arts Centre Melbourne

Courtesy of The Arts Centre Melbourne

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Costume worn by Nellie Melba as Mimì in La bohème, c.1928

Gift of Pamela, Lady Vestey, 1977

A cream coloured structured bonnet sitting on a wooden head mannequin. The bonnet features pink feathers across the rim and pink silk ribbons hanging off the back.

Costume - Bonnet worn by Nellie Melba as Mimì in La bohème, Pauline et Cie, c. 1924, Performing Arts Collection The Arts Centre Melbourne

Courtesy of The Arts Centre Melbourne

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Bonnet worn by Nellie Melba as Mimì in La bohème, c.1924

Made by Pauline et Cie

Gift of Pamela, Lady Vestey, 1977

Highly decorated silk dress with full length tiered skirt. Featuring silver and gold sequins, lace, bows and flowers. Pearl necklaces are draped over the mannequins neck.

Costume worn by Nellie Melba as Violetta in La traviata, Doucet (Paris), c. 1900, Performing Arts Collection The Arts Centre Melbourne

Courtesy of The Arts Centre Melbourne

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Costume worn by Nellie Melba as Violetta in La traviata, [detail] c.1900

Designed by Doucet, Paris

Gift of Pamela, Lady Vestey, 1987

Zoomed in photograph of the detailing of the bodice of a cream colored dress. the bodice features silver sequins, lace, cream bows and flowers and a ruffled silk neckline.

Costume - Costume worn by Nellie Melba as Violetta in La traviata, Doucet (Paris), c. 1900, Performing Arts Collection The Arts Centre Melbourne

Courtesy of The Arts Centre Melbourne

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Letters and cards written by Melba to friends and pupils provide an insight into the personality of this great performer.

Opera scores (including Madame Butterfly signed by Puccini), books, monogrammed items, records and Melba’s own travelling commode are also part of this important collection.

Purple velvet floor length dressing gown with white fluffy trim.

Costume - Dressing gown worn by Nellie Melba as Desdemona in Otello, Jean-Phillipe Worth, c. 1924, Performing Arts Collection The Arts Centre Melbourne

Courtesy of The Arts Centre Melbourne

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Dressing gown worn by Nellie Melba as Desdemona in Otello, c.1924

Designed by Jean-Phillipe Worth

Gift of Pamela, Lady Vestey, 1977

Zoomed in photograph of part of a cream coloured dress, On the bodice of the dress is embroidered flowers in blue and pink. The selves and neckline feature beaded adornments.

Costume - Costume (detail) worn by Nellie Melba as Juliette in Roméo et Juliette, c. 1900, Performing Arts Collection The Arts Centre Melbourne

Courtesy of The Arts Centre Melbourne

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Costume (detail) worn by Nellie Melba as Juliette in Roméo et Juliette, c. 1900

Gift of Pamela, Lady Vestey, 1977

White silk layered collar and cuffs with small red hearts attached to the edges.

Costume - Collar and cuffs worn by Nellie Melba as Nedda in I Pagliacci, c. 1900, Performing Arts Collection The Arts Centre Melbourne

Courtesy of The Arts Centre Melbourne

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Collar and cuffs worn by Nellie Melba as Nedda in I Pagliacci, c.1900

Gift of Pamela, Lady Vestey, 1977

Gold beaded head dress positioned on a wooden head mannequin.

Costume - Head dress worn by Nellie Melba, c. 1920s, Performing Arts Collection The Arts Centre Melbourne

Courtesy of The Arts Centre Melbourne

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Head dress worn by Nellie Melba, 1920s

Gift of Pamela, Lady Vestey, 1977

Pair of blue satin shoes with a pointed heel, ankle buckle and small stiletto heel.

Costume - Shoes worn by Nellie Melba, Farmer's (Sydney), ca. 1920s, Performing Arts Collection The Arts Centre Melbourne

Courtesy of The Arts Centre Melbourne

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Shoes worn by Nellie Melba, 1920s

Made by Farmer’s, Sydney

Gift of Pamela, Lady Vestey, 1977

Gold chain belt wrapped around the waist of a mannequinn. From the centre drapes a gold chain trailing towards the floor.

Costume - Belt worn by Nellie Melba, c. 1890, Performing Arts Collection The Arts Centre Melbourne

Courtesy of The Arts Centre Melbourne

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Belt worn by Nellie Melba, c.1890

Gift of Pamela, Lady Vestey, 1977

Beaded belt made up of gold and blue jewels and beads.

Costume - Belt worn by Nellie Melba, c. 1920, Performing Arts Collection The Arts Centre Melbourne

Courtesy of The Arts Centre Melbourne

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Belt worn by Nellie Melba, c.1920

Gift of Pamela, Lady Vestey, 1977

Circular brooch with three triangle points. The brooch is made of small white beads and larger blue gems.

Costume - Brooch worn by Nellie Melba, c. 1920, Performing Arts Collection The Arts Centre Melbourne

Courtesy of The Arts Centre Melbourne

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Brooch worn by Nellie Melba, c.1920

Gift of Pamela, Lady Vestey, 1977

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