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Performance TitleFarewell of Dame Nellie Melba 1926
Performance Date25 June 1926
Performance DayFriday
Main PerformersDame Nellie Melba - vocal, piano, speaker
John Brownlee - vocal,
Lionel Tertis - viola
Secondary PerformersHarold Craxton - piano
Orchestra or BandRoyal Albert Hall Orchestra
ConductorsSir Henry J Wood
Set ListOverture: 'Hansel and Gretel', Humperdinck (Royal Albert Hall Orchestra),
Prologue: 'I Pagliacci', Leoncavallo (John Brownlee),
Aria: 'L'Amero' (Il Re Pastore), Mozart (Nellie Melba, Lionel Tertis),
Ballet Music: 'Rosamunde', Schubert (Royal Albert Hall Orchestra),
'Flight of the Bumble Bee', Rimsky-Korsakoff (Royal Albert Hall Orchestra),
Viola Solo: 'Komm Susser Tod', Bach, arr. Tertis (Lionel Tertis),
'Praeludium et Allegro', Pugnani. arr. Kreisler (Lionel Tertis)
INTERVAL
'Two Spanish Dances', Granados (Royal Albert Hall Orchestra),
Air: 'Addio' from La Boheme, Puccini (Nellie Melba),
Prayer: 'Ave Maria' from Otello, Verdi (Nellie Melba),
Songs: 'Blow, Blow Thou Winter Wind', Roger Quilter (John Brownlee),
'O Mistress Mine', Roger Quilter (John Brownlee),
'King Charles', M V White (John Brownlee),
Solo Viola: 'Sunset', Lionel Tertis (Lionel Tertis),
'Le Basque', Marais (Lionel Tertis),
'The Answer', Wolstenholme (Lionel Tertis),
Songs: 'Clair de Lune', Szulc (Nellie Melba),
'Chanson Indoue', Rimsky-Korsakoff (Nellie Melba),
'Serenade', R Strauss (Nellie Melba),
'Home, Sweet Home' (Nellie Melba - piano and vocal),
'Comin Thro' The Rye' (Nellie Melba),
Address (Nellie Melba),
'Auld Lang Syne' (John Brownlee, Audience),
'God Save the King' (The National Anthem)
Performance NotesDame Nellie Melba's final Royal Albert Hall performance.

The Manager's Reception Register mentions that 'a rope was hung across in front of organ with Union Jack in centre and 3 Australian flags at each side.'

According to the Daily Telegraph (26 June 1926) Australian cricketers were among the enormous audience at the Albert Hall and were sat in the Royal Box. Another party of disabled Australian soldiers were in the Prince of Wales' box.

"Each number Melba sang was greeted with tumultuous applause, which reached its climax when, after two earlier encores, she sat at the piano and accompanied herself in 'Home, sweet home.' Her last song was 'Comin' thro' the rye,' and when she had sung this there was dead silence while she adressed the audience.
"Dear friends and dear countrymen." she said. "I am very proud and happy tonight to think that the dear Australian cricketers are here and the Australian soldiers. How it was brought me nearer home. I thank all my firends here for their enthusiastic loyalty and the faithfulness they have shown me for all these years. I am sorry to go, but I regret nothing, for you have made me so happy all that time by your dear loyalty. Perhaps some day you will find another idol whom you will love and adore as you have loved me. All I ask is that you will give me a thought and say, 'We loved Melba, too.'"
(The Manchester Guardian, 26 June 1926)
Related Archival MaterialProgramme (RAHE/1/1926/56)
Catalogue
Reference NumberTitleDate
RAHE/1/1926/56Farewell of Dame Nellie Melba25 June 1926
Work
Ref NoTitleNo of Performances
Ainoroipoikip_TFarewell of Dame Nellie Melba 19261
Performers
CodeName of Performer(s)
DS/UK/3315Brownlee; John Donald Mackenzie (1900-1969); Australian operatic baritone
DS/UK/161Melba; Dame; Nellie (19 May 1861-23 February 1931); GBE; Australian operatic soprano
DS/UK/39Wood; Sir; Henry (3 March 1869 – 19 August 1944); CH; English conductor
DS/UK/228Royal Albert Hall; Royal Albert Hall Orchestra; 1915-c1931; Orchestra
DS/UK/1825Tertis; Lionel (1876-1975); English violinist
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