Madame Melba Loses Control of Her Voice

1914

Great Prima Donna, It Is Feared, May Never Sing Again

BOSTON, March 8. — Madame Nellie Melba, the famous prima donna, has lost her voice and there is danger that she will never be able to sing again. She was scheduled to appear here last night and when she appeared on the stage her voice failed her and she was only able to speak in a whisper. Physicians were called at once, but they have expressed no certainty that she will be able to sing again.

Madame Melba, whose maiden name was Helen Porter Mitchell, was born at Melbourne, Australia, in 1866. Her father was Scotch and her mother of Spanish descent. She received her education at the Presbyterian Ladies' College in Melbourne, and later studied in Paris under Mme. Marchesi. In 1882 she married Charles Armstrong, a son of Sir Andrew Armstrong. She made her debut in Brussels in 1887. She took a part of the name of her native city as her stage name.