Dame Nellie Melba
Snow Hill London Greater London
Name
St Sepulchre-without-Newgate Church
Connection
Stained glass window dedicated to Dame Nellie Melba, Australia's original diva queen.
Location
Snow Hill, London EC1A 2DH
How to get there
Nearest underground station: St Pauls (Central Line)
Story
Dame Nellie Melba (born Helen Porter Mitchell in May 1861) was a renowned Australian operatic soprano. She was born in Melbourne but spent various periods of her life in London, Paris and New York. She adopted the pseudonym, Melba, after her home town of Melbourne. You’ll find the stained-glass window for Melba in the Musicians’ Chapel on the left hand side of the nave. It is one of a number of London memorials to this famous singer.
Detail of the Melba window
Creative piece - LISTEN
She made a number of ‘final’ appearances at Covent Garden and also a number of comebacks. She is responsible for the saying 'More comebacks than Nellie Melba'. Her final final performance was recorded and can be listened to – here.
Further information
Wikipedia –here
Biography –here
Note this church also houses the Executioner's Bell from Newgate Prison –here