Summary

Souvenir theatre programme issued by J.C. Williamson Ltd for the 'Melba Grand Opera Season', featuring the opera Otello with Madame Nellie Melba playing Desdemona at Her Majesty's Theatre in Melbourne on 2 December, 1911. The programme contains mainly retail advertisements, with images of cast and crew scatterd through the programme with the centre double page listing the production's performers.

Physical Description

Long, thin format programme, 36 pages including cover, with salmon-coloured paper, stapled at spine. Black printed text and advertisements and images of performers throughout. Front cover features bust profile portrait of Nellie Melba.

Significance

Statement of Historical Significance:
Dame Nellie Melba is one of Australia's most famous cultural icons and exports. Her operatic achievements were acknowledged both nationally and internationally and her World War I fundraising efforts earned her Dame Commander of the British Empire. This item enhances the Museum's modest collection relating to Melba by documenting her Melbourne performances. Theatre programmes of Melba's Melbourne performances are particularly significant being hard to find in the market.

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