1 00:00:00,200 --> 00:00:02,960 Speaker 1: This episode is brought to you by square Space. Start 2 00:00:02,960 --> 00:00:06,680 Speaker 1: building your website today at squarespace dot com. Enter offer 3 00:00:06,760 --> 00:00:09,480 Speaker 1: code History at check out to get ten percent off 4 00:00:09,800 --> 00:00:14,360 Speaker 1: squar Space. Build it Beautiful. Welcome to Stuff you missed 5 00:00:14,360 --> 00:00:24,759 Speaker 1: in History Class from house works dot com. Hello, and 6 00:00:24,800 --> 00:00:28,080 Speaker 1: welcome to the podcast. I'm Holly Frying Tray C V 7 00:00:28,240 --> 00:00:31,200 Speaker 1: Wilson uh And. In the first part of this two 8 00:00:31,200 --> 00:00:34,360 Speaker 1: part episode, we covered the early years of Nellie Melbyn's 9 00:00:34,360 --> 00:00:37,040 Speaker 1: singing career, in her rise to fame and a couple 10 00:00:37,120 --> 00:00:40,280 Speaker 1: of foods named after her, and a disastrous romance with 11 00:00:40,320 --> 00:00:42,199 Speaker 1: a royal. And we're going to pick up after her 12 00:00:42,280 --> 00:00:45,760 Speaker 1: affair with the Duke of Orleon and we'll talk about 13 00:00:45,800 --> 00:00:48,720 Speaker 1: the many travels that her singing career took her on 14 00:00:48,800 --> 00:00:52,320 Speaker 1: from that point. During her career, both before and after 15 00:00:52,400 --> 00:00:55,800 Speaker 1: her balance with the Duke of Orleans, Nellie remained a 16 00:00:55,840 --> 00:00:59,560 Speaker 1: featured performer at Covent Garden, but she did not, of course, 17 00:00:59,640 --> 00:01:03,160 Speaker 1: ownly appear in London. During that time, she was lauded 18 00:01:03,200 --> 00:01:09,360 Speaker 1: repeatedly for spectacular performances in New York and a staging 19 00:01:09,400 --> 00:01:12,039 Speaker 1: of the Barber of Seville in San Francisco. She went 20 00:01:12,080 --> 00:01:14,440 Speaker 1: off lobretto and saying the star spangled banner and a 21 00:01:14,520 --> 00:01:17,080 Speaker 1: music lesson scene and one over an audience that up 22 00:01:17,120 --> 00:01:19,600 Speaker 1: to that point had not really seemed interested in the production. 23 00:01:20,680 --> 00:01:24,479 Speaker 1: I love that bit of what apparently was improvisation, uh 24 00:01:24,520 --> 00:01:27,080 Speaker 1: and kind of wonderfully odd and probably out of place, 25 00:01:27,160 --> 00:01:30,360 Speaker 1: but I love it. And while her star continued to rise, 26 00:01:30,560 --> 00:01:33,800 Speaker 1: both because of her singing and because of her flamboyant personality, 27 00:01:34,920 --> 00:01:37,200 Speaker 1: there was still a degree of divide about her. We'll 28 00:01:37,240 --> 00:01:38,880 Speaker 1: talk a lot about how famous she was, but in 29 00:01:38,959 --> 00:01:43,000 Speaker 1: terms of critics, not everybody universally adored her, and even 30 00:01:43,040 --> 00:01:46,440 Speaker 1: after she went over London, there were always dissenting critics 31 00:01:46,480 --> 00:01:48,840 Speaker 1: who were just put off by her. They just could 32 00:01:48,920 --> 00:01:52,080 Speaker 1: not get into what she had to offer. Uh. And 33 00:01:52,120 --> 00:01:54,600 Speaker 1: while she had many successes, there were also a few 34 00:01:54,600 --> 00:01:56,640 Speaker 1: disasters in the mix. And I point this out just 35 00:01:56,920 --> 00:01:59,480 Speaker 1: because I think we talked about historical figures that had 36 00:01:59,520 --> 00:02:03,000 Speaker 1: certain level of fame, and it paints an unrealistic picture 37 00:02:03,040 --> 00:02:05,320 Speaker 1: that everything they touched turned to gold. But in fact, 38 00:02:06,320 --> 00:02:08,840 Speaker 1: she was in a staging of Wagner's Siegfried at the 39 00:02:08,880 --> 00:02:12,880 Speaker 1: met in eighteen six where she started as Brunhilda, and 40 00:02:12,880 --> 00:02:15,680 Speaker 1: that was considered awful by pretty much everyone that saw it. 41 00:02:16,480 --> 00:02:19,920 Speaker 1: Uh Similarly, a turn in Aida in One was also 42 00:02:20,000 --> 00:02:23,560 Speaker 1: a flop. Charles Armstrong did finally get his divorce from Nellie, 43 00:02:23,560 --> 00:02:27,280 Speaker 1: but it wasn't until nineteen hundred. He had taken their son, George, 44 00:02:27,280 --> 00:02:29,359 Speaker 1: he was a teenager at that point, away to the 45 00:02:29,440 --> 00:02:32,000 Speaker 1: United States. They had settled in Texas and it was 46 00:02:32,040 --> 00:02:35,639 Speaker 1: there that he was finally granted divorce papers. And while 47 00:02:35,720 --> 00:02:37,799 Speaker 1: she had been living in England for some time at 48 00:02:37,800 --> 00:02:41,799 Speaker 1: this point, Nellie really always considered Australia her home, and 49 00:02:41,880 --> 00:02:44,600 Speaker 1: in nineteen o two she returned there for a lengthy tour, 50 00:02:44,840 --> 00:02:47,680 Speaker 1: setting a world record for concert proceeds at one of 51 00:02:47,680 --> 00:02:51,760 Speaker 1: her Sydney shows. She was Australia's Darling into her hometown 52 00:02:51,760 --> 00:02:55,320 Speaker 1: of Melbourne. She was practically royalty. Everywhere she went, she 53 00:02:55,400 --> 00:02:57,880 Speaker 1: was greeted with cheering crowds, and she was seen as 54 00:02:57,919 --> 00:03:02,359 Speaker 1: the utmost in glamorous success, a perfect ambassador from Melbourne 55 00:03:02,440 --> 00:03:06,840 Speaker 1: to the world. The tour ran for months, Nellie didn't 56 00:03:06,880 --> 00:03:10,120 Speaker 1: go back to Europe until the following year n o three. 57 00:03:10,400 --> 00:03:13,840 Speaker 1: Almost as soon as the tour was over, however, newspaperman 58 00:03:14,000 --> 00:03:18,160 Speaker 1: John Ezra Norton started publishing accusations in his paper Truth 59 00:03:18,720 --> 00:03:21,240 Speaker 1: that Nellie was not all that she seemed to be. 60 00:03:21,440 --> 00:03:24,280 Speaker 1: He accused her of being difficult and a drunk and 61 00:03:24,400 --> 00:03:29,400 Speaker 1: a miserly parasite. This wasn't exactly a new style of 62 00:03:29,440 --> 00:03:32,080 Speaker 1: journalism for Norton, although he may have been the first 63 00:03:32,280 --> 00:03:38,520 Speaker 1: um kind of gross tabloid situation that liked to attack celebrities. 64 00:03:39,000 --> 00:03:42,600 Speaker 1: Since he had acquired Truth in the tone of his 65 00:03:42,680 --> 00:03:45,320 Speaker 1: paper had focused to a great degree on creating smear 66 00:03:45,360 --> 00:03:48,920 Speaker 1: campaigns against anyone in a position of power, and the 67 00:03:49,000 --> 00:03:52,160 Speaker 1: sensationalist approach to covering events and people of the day 68 00:03:52,480 --> 00:03:54,520 Speaker 1: had gotten Norton in some pretty hot water, and it 69 00:03:54,520 --> 00:03:57,840 Speaker 1: had actually brought many libel suits, and he expected the 70 00:03:57,880 --> 00:04:00,600 Speaker 1: same from Nellie Melba, And he actually threw that he 71 00:04:00,640 --> 00:04:03,240 Speaker 1: would continue his attacks and that she was welcome to 72 00:04:03,280 --> 00:04:06,880 Speaker 1: take legal action. But as is often the case with trolls, 73 00:04:06,880 --> 00:04:09,440 Speaker 1: what he was really after was attention, and Nelly gave 74 00:04:09,520 --> 00:04:12,360 Speaker 1: him none of that. While eventually he did move on 75 00:04:12,400 --> 00:04:15,680 Speaker 1: to other targets, his writing planted seeds of gossip that 76 00:04:15,720 --> 00:04:18,919 Speaker 1: followed her for quite a number of years, particularly the 77 00:04:18,960 --> 00:04:24,800 Speaker 1: allegations that she was an alcoholic the early nineteen hundreds. 78 00:04:25,160 --> 00:04:27,960 Speaker 1: Despite this weird stumbling block and these weird rumors that 79 00:04:28,000 --> 00:04:31,839 Speaker 1: were started about her, were extremely successful for Nelly Melba. 80 00:04:32,120 --> 00:04:34,560 Speaker 1: She continued to be in high demand around the world, 81 00:04:34,760 --> 00:04:37,760 Speaker 1: singing for heads of state as well as theater audiences 82 00:04:38,440 --> 00:04:40,919 Speaker 1: pretty much everywhere around the globe, and she had become 83 00:04:41,000 --> 00:04:44,000 Speaker 1: so well known for playing certain roles and singing certain 84 00:04:44,040 --> 00:04:47,400 Speaker 1: pieces of music that she allegedly learned no new parts 85 00:04:47,400 --> 00:04:50,320 Speaker 1: from nineteen o four on because people demanded those same 86 00:04:50,360 --> 00:04:53,680 Speaker 1: things over and over. She also began recording her songs 87 00:04:53,680 --> 00:04:57,039 Speaker 1: in nineteen o four, and her hundreds of recordings were 88 00:04:57,120 --> 00:04:59,920 Speaker 1: so popular that she is credited with helping to pop 89 00:05:00,000 --> 00:05:03,400 Speaker 1: arized the gramophone. During a tour in the United States 90 00:05:03,440 --> 00:05:05,840 Speaker 1: in nineteen o six and nineteen o seven, she up 91 00:05:05,960 --> 00:05:08,159 Speaker 1: ended the New York opera scene when she opted to 92 00:05:08,240 --> 00:05:10,960 Speaker 1: appear at the new Manhattan Opera House rather than at 93 00:05:10,960 --> 00:05:15,080 Speaker 1: the Met, and she gave the fledgling theater a huge 94 00:05:15,160 --> 00:05:18,719 Speaker 1: financial boost in doing so. Yeah, she just wasn't happy 95 00:05:18,760 --> 00:05:20,880 Speaker 1: with how the Met was handling some things, and she 96 00:05:21,000 --> 00:05:23,120 Speaker 1: just thought, fine, I'll go to your competitor then, And 97 00:05:23,200 --> 00:05:27,320 Speaker 1: the Manhattan Opera House was really happy about that decision. 98 00:05:28,520 --> 00:05:31,159 Speaker 1: After that North American tour and her season at Covent 99 00:05:31,240 --> 00:05:34,960 Speaker 1: Garden concluded in nineteen o seven, Nelly went to Australia. 100 00:05:35,120 --> 00:05:37,360 Speaker 1: She was under the weather and needed to recover because 101 00:05:37,400 --> 00:05:40,760 Speaker 1: she had pneumonia, and while she was away from London, 102 00:05:41,200 --> 00:05:45,039 Speaker 1: another soprano, Luisa Tetrazini, made her London debut at Covent 103 00:05:45,080 --> 00:05:49,839 Speaker 1: Garden as Violetta in La Traviata, and Tetrasini was a 104 00:05:49,880 --> 00:05:53,720 Speaker 1: sensation and some suspected that she might unseat Melba as 105 00:05:53,760 --> 00:05:57,440 Speaker 1: the Prima Donna of London. This, however, was something Nelly 106 00:05:57,520 --> 00:05:59,760 Speaker 1: once again was not having any of and it was 107 00:05:59,800 --> 00:06:02,520 Speaker 1: not the case. When she returned from Australia to the 108 00:06:02,520 --> 00:06:07,000 Speaker 1: English stage, recovered from her illness, she continued to dazzle crowds, 109 00:06:07,040 --> 00:06:10,279 Speaker 1: although she and Tetrasini did on occasion still compete for 110 00:06:10,320 --> 00:06:14,440 Speaker 1: really prized roles. But eventually Louisa moved to the US 111 00:06:14,560 --> 00:06:17,440 Speaker 1: because she experienced great success when she appeared there, and 112 00:06:17,480 --> 00:06:21,040 Speaker 1: Nellie Melba was once again the unopposed Queen of Covent Garden. 113 00:06:21,760 --> 00:06:24,760 Speaker 1: As a side note on how Nelly Melba sometimes dealt 114 00:06:24,760 --> 00:06:27,599 Speaker 1: with her rivals when a performer she didn't care for 115 00:06:27,800 --> 00:06:30,480 Speaker 1: had a part in a show. Nellie, with her very 116 00:06:30,520 --> 00:06:34,040 Speaker 1: recognizable and very skilled voice, would stand in the wings 117 00:06:34,160 --> 00:06:42,360 Speaker 1: and then loudly stay sing over her on stage competitors. Yeah, 118 00:06:42,560 --> 00:06:45,480 Speaker 1: that's a serious diva move right there. I'm like, that's 119 00:06:45,520 --> 00:06:48,840 Speaker 1: not very nice. It's not, but you know, it's very 120 00:06:48,839 --> 00:06:50,880 Speaker 1: cutthroat at that point, I guess if you want to 121 00:06:50,880 --> 00:06:56,280 Speaker 1: stay the number one lady singer, you gotta make yourself 122 00:06:56,320 --> 00:06:59,400 Speaker 1: known and not let anybody think for a moment that 123 00:06:59,480 --> 00:07:01,360 Speaker 1: someone else might be better. You have to give them 124 00:07:01,360 --> 00:07:03,359 Speaker 1: the comparison right then and there so they hear that 125 00:07:03,440 --> 00:07:07,400 Speaker 1: your voice is that much better. Nellie then decided to 126 00:07:07,440 --> 00:07:10,040 Speaker 1: go on another tour of Australia. But before we get 127 00:07:10,080 --> 00:07:12,080 Speaker 1: to that, let's have a word from one of our 128 00:07:12,120 --> 00:07:15,320 Speaker 1: awesome sponsors. So to get back to Nellie Melba. At 129 00:07:15,360 --> 00:07:17,360 Speaker 1: this point she was in her late forties, but she 130 00:07:17,440 --> 00:07:20,400 Speaker 1: showed no sign of slowing down and she's still really 131 00:07:20,560 --> 00:07:23,840 Speaker 1: drew crowds with her singing. She struck out on another 132 00:07:23,880 --> 00:07:27,280 Speaker 1: Australian tour in nineteen o nine, despite the bad press 133 00:07:27,360 --> 00:07:30,200 Speaker 1: that Norton had tried to smear her with in previous years. 134 00:07:30,640 --> 00:07:33,680 Speaker 1: She wound up being as adored as ever, and by 135 00:07:33,720 --> 00:07:36,720 Speaker 1: some accounts even more so. She handed out gifts of 136 00:07:36,760 --> 00:07:39,760 Speaker 1: Thai pins to people and issues of certificates to shops 137 00:07:39,760 --> 00:07:43,000 Speaker 1: that they could display showing her approval of their establishments. 138 00:07:43,680 --> 00:07:46,239 Speaker 1: I sort of love that, like she's giving her blessing 139 00:07:46,280 --> 00:07:50,400 Speaker 1: to the crowds as she goes. And unlike the previous tour, though, 140 00:07:50,440 --> 00:07:52,720 Speaker 1: this time it really appeared that Nellie wanted to set 141 00:07:52,760 --> 00:07:55,880 Speaker 1: down roots in Australia rather than just returned back to Europe. 142 00:07:56,440 --> 00:07:58,520 Speaker 1: She had a new home built in Victoria, which was 143 00:07:58,600 --> 00:08:01,720 Speaker 1: christened Combe Cottage, and she ended up splitting her time 144 00:08:02,000 --> 00:08:05,520 Speaker 1: in the years after comb Cottage was completed about fifty 145 00:08:05,560 --> 00:08:08,880 Speaker 1: fifty between Australia and England, and she was also continuing 146 00:08:08,920 --> 00:08:11,960 Speaker 1: to tour the world during that time. In addition to 147 00:08:12,040 --> 00:08:14,800 Speaker 1: building a home in Australia, and Nellie also began building 148 00:08:14,800 --> 00:08:18,520 Speaker 1: a reputation as a teacher. She used the Marquesi method 149 00:08:18,560 --> 00:08:21,400 Speaker 1: as the basis of her own, making slight changes to 150 00:08:21,440 --> 00:08:24,880 Speaker 1: the technique. In nineteen eleven, Nellie became the head of 151 00:08:24,880 --> 00:08:28,560 Speaker 1: the Melbi Williamson opera company in Melbourne, and her leadership 152 00:08:28,560 --> 00:08:32,160 Speaker 1: in the company was primarily focused on recognizing and booking talent. 153 00:08:33,000 --> 00:08:36,360 Speaker 1: For the anniversary of her first performance at Covent Garden, 154 00:08:36,480 --> 00:08:39,720 Speaker 1: her the Theater mount at a gala with Nellie singing 155 00:08:39,800 --> 00:08:44,320 Speaker 1: Mimi in Labo m This is this triumphant events that 156 00:08:44,400 --> 00:08:47,360 Speaker 1: in really sharp contrast to her early visits to London 157 00:08:47,360 --> 00:08:49,000 Speaker 1: when she was told she would need to get a 158 00:08:49,000 --> 00:08:51,280 Speaker 1: lot of practice to get an even minor role at 159 00:08:51,280 --> 00:08:55,160 Speaker 1: the Opera House. And you may notice as we're sort 160 00:08:55,200 --> 00:08:57,640 Speaker 1: of marching through her accomplishments in her life, they were 161 00:08:57,640 --> 00:09:00,760 Speaker 1: getting pretty close in the timeline to World War One 162 00:09:01,200 --> 00:09:03,880 Speaker 1: was going to be a global concern, and Nellie had 163 00:09:03,920 --> 00:09:06,240 Speaker 1: just arrived in Australia for a stay there when the 164 00:09:06,240 --> 00:09:10,120 Speaker 1: war began. But her career wasn't really slowed down very 165 00:09:10,240 --> 00:09:13,479 Speaker 1: much by the difficulties that this conflict brought to the globe. 166 00:09:13,600 --> 00:09:17,000 Speaker 1: Despite some tricky logistics and some danger while traveling, she 167 00:09:17,120 --> 00:09:20,480 Speaker 1: toured Europe three times during the war, in America once. 168 00:09:21,080 --> 00:09:24,480 Speaker 1: She also used her fame to rally excitement and allegiance 169 00:09:24,520 --> 00:09:27,720 Speaker 1: to the Allies. She worked on war charities, included auctions, 170 00:09:27,800 --> 00:09:30,760 Speaker 1: including auctioning off flags at the curtain of her shows. 171 00:09:31,240 --> 00:09:34,400 Speaker 1: It's estimated that she raised hundreds of thousands of dollars 172 00:09:34,440 --> 00:09:37,520 Speaker 1: for war charities by using her popularity for the cause. 173 00:09:38,960 --> 00:09:41,480 Speaker 1: During her wartime American tour. There's a little bit of 174 00:09:41,520 --> 00:09:44,840 Speaker 1: a weird blip that happens because Nellie became convinced that 175 00:09:44,960 --> 00:09:47,800 Speaker 1: German agents were trying to kill her because of her 176 00:09:47,840 --> 00:09:51,360 Speaker 1: work to support the Allies. Every time something went wrong 177 00:09:51,400 --> 00:09:53,840 Speaker 1: along the way, whether it was some like a travel 178 00:09:53,880 --> 00:09:56,680 Speaker 1: plan that went awry, or a delay in their travel, 179 00:09:56,840 --> 00:09:59,880 Speaker 1: or a theater setup that wasn't quite right, basically anything 180 00:10:00,000 --> 00:10:03,440 Speaker 1: no matter how big or small, she attributed these issues 181 00:10:03,520 --> 00:10:06,840 Speaker 1: to German sympathizers, but no real evidence of such a 182 00:10:06,840 --> 00:10:11,280 Speaker 1: plot was ever found. During the war, Nellie also became 183 00:10:11,320 --> 00:10:14,680 Speaker 1: more engaged with the Albert Street Conservatorium and her classes 184 00:10:14,720 --> 00:10:17,840 Speaker 1: became extremely popular. She became known as a task master 185 00:10:17,960 --> 00:10:20,760 Speaker 1: of a teacher, and her goal was to firmly establish 186 00:10:20,840 --> 00:10:24,920 Speaker 1: a legacy of bel Kantos singers. She used once again 187 00:10:24,960 --> 00:10:27,320 Speaker 1: the tradition of her teacher mar Casey, and her drive 188 00:10:27,400 --> 00:10:30,800 Speaker 1: to do so sometimes pushed her students to their breaking 189 00:10:30,800 --> 00:10:36,000 Speaker 1: points emotionally. Nellie once wrote of singing quote, there is 190 00:10:36,040 --> 00:10:39,559 Speaker 1: no royal road to success in singing. I rate correct 191 00:10:39,640 --> 00:10:42,600 Speaker 1: breathing before even the possession of a beautiful voice, for 192 00:10:42,679 --> 00:10:46,480 Speaker 1: this can be marred by faulty breath control, phrasing, tone, 193 00:10:46,720 --> 00:10:51,160 Speaker 1: residents and expression. All these depend upon respiration. Here we 194 00:10:51,240 --> 00:10:53,680 Speaker 1: have one of the old Italian secrets which so many 195 00:10:53,720 --> 00:10:57,960 Speaker 1: singers of our day have never found. Madame Melba, never 196 00:10:58,040 --> 00:11:01,720 Speaker 1: shy of the spotlight, had special uniforms designed for students 197 00:11:01,720 --> 00:11:04,400 Speaker 1: at the Conservatory with the blue letter M embroidered on 198 00:11:04,480 --> 00:11:08,400 Speaker 1: them so everyone would recognize her students. Eventually, the Albert 199 00:11:08,400 --> 00:11:12,679 Speaker 1: Street Conservatorium published a book on her technique titled Melbourne Method, 200 00:11:12,840 --> 00:11:16,840 Speaker 1: and that was in nine Eventually the school was renamed 201 00:11:16,880 --> 00:11:21,480 Speaker 1: the Melbourne Memorial Conservatorium. Once World War One ended, Nellie 202 00:11:21,520 --> 00:11:24,400 Speaker 1: Melba did indeed return to London. She was actually made 203 00:11:24,600 --> 00:11:27,880 Speaker 1: a Dame of the British Empire in nineteen eighteen, and 204 00:11:27,960 --> 00:11:30,440 Speaker 1: she also was there for the reopening of Covent Garden 205 00:11:31,280 --> 00:11:33,840 Speaker 1: because they were relaunching the opera house. It had been 206 00:11:33,840 --> 00:11:37,200 Speaker 1: closed and used for other purposes during the conflict. But 207 00:11:37,480 --> 00:11:39,880 Speaker 1: this was not the same place that it had been 208 00:11:40,040 --> 00:11:41,920 Speaker 1: in the wake of war. It was not the opera 209 00:11:41,920 --> 00:11:44,640 Speaker 1: house she remembered. There was certainly a more somber tone 210 00:11:44,679 --> 00:11:48,000 Speaker 1: to the entire city and that really did not agree 211 00:11:48,000 --> 00:11:51,360 Speaker 1: with the soprano diva. She was so depressed by her 212 00:11:51,360 --> 00:11:53,839 Speaker 1: return to London that she actually didn't sing at Covent 213 00:11:53,880 --> 00:11:58,240 Speaker 1: Garden again until nineteen. In the meantime, she sang almost 214 00:11:58,360 --> 00:12:04,080 Speaker 1: constantly in performances and Australia, including discounted performances aimed at 215 00:12:04,120 --> 00:12:07,640 Speaker 1: making the arts affordable and accessible. She also toured with 216 00:12:07,679 --> 00:12:11,400 Speaker 1: the Melbolle Williamson Company. Although there was some competition from uh, 217 00:12:11,800 --> 00:12:13,760 Speaker 1: you know, young singers who were new on the scene, 218 00:12:14,679 --> 00:12:18,079 Speaker 1: Melba held her own, but the constant touring and performing 219 00:12:18,160 --> 00:12:21,880 Speaker 1: and teaching started to take its hole. In addition to 220 00:12:21,920 --> 00:12:25,360 Speaker 1: her other appearances, Melba also welcomed in a new era 221 00:12:25,520 --> 00:12:29,079 Speaker 1: in entertainment in nineteen That year, she became the first 222 00:12:29,120 --> 00:12:34,040 Speaker 1: international artist to embrace direct radio by participating in various broadcasts, 223 00:12:34,400 --> 00:12:37,000 Speaker 1: and this really helped her to maintain her status as 224 00:12:37,000 --> 00:12:40,520 Speaker 1: a well known modern performer, you know, reaching out to 225 00:12:40,760 --> 00:12:43,880 Speaker 1: as many people as possible, More people than ever could 226 00:12:43,880 --> 00:12:46,440 Speaker 1: hear her voice without her having to tour and travel 227 00:12:46,480 --> 00:12:51,800 Speaker 1: to them. In October four, Nellie Melba announced that she 228 00:12:51,840 --> 00:12:54,439 Speaker 1: would be saying farewell to her life as a performer 229 00:12:54,480 --> 00:12:56,920 Speaker 1: but she didn't turn around to give a final performance 230 00:12:57,000 --> 00:12:59,680 Speaker 1: right away, and stead she made a series of final 231 00:12:59,720 --> 00:13:02,319 Speaker 1: perform it says, but those didn't even start and saw 232 00:13:02,320 --> 00:13:05,839 Speaker 1: almost four years after this announcement. Yeah. It kind of 233 00:13:05,880 --> 00:13:08,360 Speaker 1: reminds me of when actors go, I'm retiring and then 234 00:13:08,360 --> 00:13:12,920 Speaker 1: they make like six more movies. Uh So, while preparing 235 00:13:12,960 --> 00:13:16,320 Speaker 1: for her farewell series and possibly part of why they 236 00:13:16,320 --> 00:13:19,480 Speaker 1: were postponed for so long, Nellie's memoirs were published in 237 00:13:20,559 --> 00:13:23,839 Speaker 1: under the title Melodies and Memories, and in this book, 238 00:13:24,240 --> 00:13:27,120 Speaker 1: uh she wrote, the first rule in opera is the 239 00:13:27,160 --> 00:13:30,839 Speaker 1: first rule of life. That is, to see to everything yourself. 240 00:13:30,880 --> 00:13:33,280 Speaker 1: You must not only sing, you must not only act, 241 00:13:33,600 --> 00:13:37,160 Speaker 1: You must also be stage manager, press agent, artistic advisor. 242 00:13:37,880 --> 00:13:41,839 Speaker 1: She attributed her success very plainly to a drive that 243 00:13:41,920 --> 00:13:44,840 Speaker 1: she had to simply be the best. She was sometimes 244 00:13:44,840 --> 00:13:48,160 Speaker 1: described as being snobby or having a superiority complex, but 245 00:13:48,320 --> 00:13:51,360 Speaker 1: from her point of view, she simply demanded that all 246 00:13:51,360 --> 00:13:54,040 Speaker 1: of the people around her recognized both her gifts and 247 00:13:54,080 --> 00:13:59,040 Speaker 1: talents as well as her professional dedication. When asked inn 248 00:13:59,040 --> 00:14:02,640 Speaker 1: by reporters about the nature of her farewell concert, Dame 249 00:14:02,720 --> 00:14:06,160 Speaker 1: Nelly replied, there will be a personal touch about my 250 00:14:06,200 --> 00:14:09,319 Speaker 1: farewell like this, For on the operatic stage, one is 251 00:14:09,360 --> 00:14:13,760 Speaker 1: aloof from the audience and another atmosphere. On the concert platform, however, 252 00:14:13,800 --> 00:14:16,680 Speaker 1: it is different. It is the woman herself who is singing, 253 00:14:16,840 --> 00:14:20,840 Speaker 1: not a character from a play. And at the same time, 254 00:14:21,560 --> 00:14:23,800 Speaker 1: it seemed that now that she was preparing to leave 255 00:14:23,840 --> 00:14:28,440 Speaker 1: the spotlight, she also began helping to promote younger singers. 256 00:14:28,480 --> 00:14:31,480 Speaker 1: She no longer really considered them rivals, and so there 257 00:14:31,520 --> 00:14:34,560 Speaker 1: was one event where she was waving off press photographers 258 00:14:34,600 --> 00:14:37,400 Speaker 1: that had kind of approached her at a railway station, 259 00:14:37,880 --> 00:14:40,440 Speaker 1: and she used this younger performer that was traveling with 260 00:14:40,480 --> 00:14:43,720 Speaker 1: her to sort of distract them, but also to promote 261 00:14:43,800 --> 00:14:47,000 Speaker 1: this up and coming singer. She said, quote, take her 262 00:14:47,040 --> 00:14:51,760 Speaker 1: photograph instead. My professional career is ending. Hers is just beginning. 263 00:14:52,240 --> 00:14:54,240 Speaker 1: She must go abroad, and that will mean a lot 264 00:14:54,280 --> 00:14:56,080 Speaker 1: of work and the raising of a lot of money, 265 00:14:56,120 --> 00:14:57,920 Speaker 1: but it will be worth it, for she has a 266 00:14:58,000 --> 00:15:00,480 Speaker 1: career ahead of her. I predict at it when I 267 00:15:00,520 --> 00:15:02,640 Speaker 1: heard her singing at Government House here when she was 268 00:15:02,720 --> 00:15:07,320 Speaker 1: only fourteen. I like that she went from singing over people. 269 00:15:10,080 --> 00:15:11,800 Speaker 1: I did have that moment though, where I'm like, is 270 00:15:11,840 --> 00:15:13,880 Speaker 1: she just pushing this poor girl out in front of 271 00:15:13,920 --> 00:15:15,880 Speaker 1: other people, so they'll leave her alone because she wants 272 00:15:15,880 --> 00:15:18,680 Speaker 1: a moment of peace. Like, was this really a magnanimous gesture? 273 00:15:18,720 --> 00:15:22,320 Speaker 1: I have no idea. Well, regardless, we will talk about 274 00:15:22,320 --> 00:15:25,160 Speaker 1: her farewell performances next, but before we do, we will 275 00:15:25,160 --> 00:15:28,720 Speaker 1: have a brief word from a sponsor. On August seven 276 00:15:28,840 --> 00:15:34,080 Speaker 1: of night, Nellie Melbay gave her first farewell performance in Sydney, Australia, 277 00:15:34,680 --> 00:15:37,200 Speaker 1: and this program consisted of songs from a variety of 278 00:15:37,320 --> 00:15:39,560 Speaker 1: roles that had been famed that she had been famous 279 00:15:39,560 --> 00:15:42,240 Speaker 1: for playing. And she's sang the same program at her 280 00:15:42,240 --> 00:15:46,840 Speaker 1: Melbourne farewell on September seven of that year. But even 281 00:15:46,880 --> 00:15:50,320 Speaker 1: that wasn't her final performance. She took the Australian stage 282 00:15:50,320 --> 00:15:55,000 Speaker 1: one last time in November in Geelong, but those were 283 00:15:55,080 --> 00:15:59,400 Speaker 1: just her Australian farewell performances. Then she went to England 284 00:15:59,640 --> 00:16:03,040 Speaker 1: and the end gave performances in Paris and Egypt. All 285 00:16:03,080 --> 00:16:06,040 Speaker 1: in all, she spent about two years touring after her 286 00:16:06,080 --> 00:16:11,280 Speaker 1: Australian farewell concert series. Also during there was a little 287 00:16:11,280 --> 00:16:15,040 Speaker 1: bit of diva drama because English contralto Dame Clara Butt's 288 00:16:15,040 --> 00:16:18,680 Speaker 1: biography was published and in it she claimed that Dame 289 00:16:18,720 --> 00:16:21,760 Speaker 1: Nellie Melbah gave her advice right before the English singer 290 00:16:21,840 --> 00:16:25,720 Speaker 1: began her Australian tour. So allegedly Nellie had told her 291 00:16:25,840 --> 00:16:30,800 Speaker 1: quote sing a muck. It's all they understand. So Nellie Melba, 292 00:16:31,000 --> 00:16:36,360 Speaker 1: who was always extremely patriotic about her home country, was furious. 293 00:16:36,720 --> 00:16:40,200 Speaker 1: In an interview with The Daily Telegraph, Dame Clara claimed 294 00:16:40,240 --> 00:16:43,240 Speaker 1: she had never seen a manuscript and would never have 295 00:16:43,320 --> 00:16:45,800 Speaker 1: approved of such a thing to go to print in 296 00:16:45,880 --> 00:16:49,800 Speaker 1: the end, but biography biographer Winnifred Ponder was the person 297 00:16:49,840 --> 00:16:52,360 Speaker 1: who wound up being thrown under the bus for this gaff. 298 00:16:53,040 --> 00:16:56,200 Speaker 1: Nellie accepted the excuse and was quoted by the Press 299 00:16:56,240 --> 00:16:59,320 Speaker 1: is saying it is merely a stupid mistake. I would 300 00:16:59,320 --> 00:17:02,000 Speaker 1: never dream of saying such a thing. I am delighted 301 00:17:02,040 --> 00:17:04,480 Speaker 1: to see that Dame Clara Butt has issued a denial. 302 00:17:06,119 --> 00:17:09,560 Speaker 1: And as Nellie's time singing abroad reached the two year mark, 303 00:17:09,800 --> 00:17:12,800 Speaker 1: her health really took a turn. There was a fever 304 00:17:12,880 --> 00:17:15,119 Speaker 1: that plagued her, though she sang once again at a 305 00:17:15,200 --> 00:17:18,040 Speaker 1: charity event in the Hyde Park Hotel before she headed 306 00:17:18,040 --> 00:17:22,480 Speaker 1: home to Melbourne via steamer. Nellie's condition deteriorated over the 307 00:17:22,480 --> 00:17:24,879 Speaker 1: course of her journey home from Europe. Once she was 308 00:17:24,920 --> 00:17:28,359 Speaker 1: back in Australia, things did not get better. Eventually, she 309 00:17:28,400 --> 00:17:31,320 Speaker 1: went to Sydney to be admitted to St Vincent's Hospital 310 00:17:31,359 --> 00:17:35,400 Speaker 1: at Darlinghurst, but unfortunately she never left. It turned out 311 00:17:35,440 --> 00:17:37,680 Speaker 1: that the fever was the result of an infection from 312 00:17:37,680 --> 00:17:40,240 Speaker 1: a facial surgery she had had while she was in Europe. 313 00:17:40,480 --> 00:17:45,960 Speaker 1: She died of sept semia on February one. Nellie was 314 00:17:46,000 --> 00:17:49,639 Speaker 1: buried three days later on February she was interred at 315 00:17:49,720 --> 00:17:52,400 Speaker 1: lily Dale, the small town where her home, comb Cottage 316 00:17:52,400 --> 00:17:56,119 Speaker 1: was built. Friends, family and members of the public visited 317 00:17:56,160 --> 00:17:58,840 Speaker 1: Scott's Church, where her coffin was displayed draped in the 318 00:17:58,880 --> 00:18:03,040 Speaker 1: Australian flag, in the morning before her memorial service, and 319 00:18:03,080 --> 00:18:05,199 Speaker 1: that church was the same one she had visited as 320 00:18:05,200 --> 00:18:07,880 Speaker 1: a child. Her father had actually built it, and as 321 00:18:07,920 --> 00:18:11,240 Speaker 1: you recall, he sang in the choir there, and the 322 00:18:11,320 --> 00:18:14,879 Speaker 1: Reverend Dr W. Borland's memorial speech he said, as we 323 00:18:14,920 --> 00:18:17,760 Speaker 1: pay our last tribute to the memory of our great countrywoman, 324 00:18:17,920 --> 00:18:19,960 Speaker 1: let us keep in mind with the Lord gave when 325 00:18:19,960 --> 00:18:23,480 Speaker 1: he raised up in our nation Dame Nellie Melba. No 326 00:18:23,560 --> 00:18:26,400 Speaker 1: one in these two generations which most of us here 327 00:18:26,440 --> 00:18:30,080 Speaker 1: have known, has been so wonderfully gifted as she whose 328 00:18:30,160 --> 00:18:34,560 Speaker 1: voice thrilled the hearts of millions, whose understanding directing that 329 00:18:34,680 --> 00:18:38,879 Speaker 1: voice made possible that matchless sympathy for all things human 330 00:18:39,280 --> 00:18:42,600 Speaker 1: and for many things divine, which enabled her to interpret 331 00:18:42,880 --> 00:18:47,040 Speaker 1: the very soul of true music, just as was the 332 00:18:47,080 --> 00:18:49,920 Speaker 1: case with any of her tours as a performer. As 333 00:18:49,960 --> 00:18:53,399 Speaker 1: Nellie's funeral procession moved from Scott's Church, through town and 334 00:18:53,440 --> 00:18:56,640 Speaker 1: out to the cemetery, the streets were filled with admirers, 335 00:18:56,760 --> 00:18:59,240 Speaker 1: though at this point they were somber instead of cheering. 336 00:19:00,040 --> 00:19:02,440 Speaker 1: Took three hours to get to make the way through, 337 00:19:02,560 --> 00:19:05,320 Speaker 1: just because there were so many people crowded around, and 338 00:19:05,320 --> 00:19:09,320 Speaker 1: there were also simultaneous memorial services held in Sydney and Melbourne, 339 00:19:09,359 --> 00:19:13,320 Speaker 1: Impact chapels so filled with mourners that people had to stand, 340 00:19:13,960 --> 00:19:17,760 Speaker 1: and a memorial service was also held later in London 341 00:19:17,880 --> 00:19:21,720 Speaker 1: on March six. Some of our listeners may have recognized 342 00:19:21,760 --> 00:19:23,959 Speaker 1: Nellie Melba's name right out of the gate because she 343 00:19:24,000 --> 00:19:26,720 Speaker 1: appeared as a character on Downton Nattie. She was played 344 00:19:26,720 --> 00:19:29,760 Speaker 1: by opera star Dame Carrie to Knawa, and there's some 345 00:19:29,880 --> 00:19:33,320 Speaker 1: criticism that the very idea that the star, a star 346 00:19:33,520 --> 00:19:37,120 Speaker 1: of Dame Nellie Melba's stature, would sing at Lady Grantham's 347 00:19:37,160 --> 00:19:41,000 Speaker 1: home was utterly preposterous. Uh, and have to have been 348 00:19:41,040 --> 00:19:44,080 Speaker 1: treated as a tradesperson as she was in that episode 349 00:19:44,200 --> 00:19:48,720 Speaker 1: rather than as the creme de la creme is just unimaginable. Yeah, 350 00:19:48,760 --> 00:19:51,920 Speaker 1: there were some rather scathing reviews, both of the way 351 00:19:51,960 --> 00:19:56,280 Speaker 1: that she was integrated into the show and of Dame 352 00:19:56,400 --> 00:20:03,359 Speaker 1: Takanawa's the portrayal of her uh performance too. Yeah, I 353 00:20:03,400 --> 00:20:05,399 Speaker 1: read one of those before I came in here, and like, 354 00:20:05,480 --> 00:20:08,320 Speaker 1: the review was just scathing, both of the portrayal of 355 00:20:08,359 --> 00:20:10,439 Speaker 1: the character and the actual singing that happened at the 356 00:20:10,440 --> 00:20:13,720 Speaker 1: episode and then abound. At the very bottom was this 357 00:20:13,840 --> 00:20:17,400 Speaker 1: link that was like read our exclusive interview with her 358 00:20:17,440 --> 00:20:20,960 Speaker 1: about this, and I was like, really, yeah, it was 359 00:20:21,040 --> 00:20:23,159 Speaker 1: a little really happy that you raked her over the 360 00:20:23,160 --> 00:20:25,520 Speaker 1: coals after you gave her, after she gave you the 361 00:20:25,560 --> 00:20:29,000 Speaker 1: courtesy of having an interview with you about it. Yeah, 362 00:20:29,119 --> 00:20:33,480 Speaker 1: it wasn't super kind. Some people took offense at how 363 00:20:33,520 --> 00:20:35,959 Speaker 1: it was stage. Like people that are are really big 364 00:20:36,000 --> 00:20:38,720 Speaker 1: opera fans and particularly fans of Dame Nelly Melba because 365 00:20:38,760 --> 00:20:41,760 Speaker 1: you can't still hear her work online because she didn't 366 00:20:41,800 --> 00:20:44,479 Speaker 1: make so many recordings that they were very upset that 367 00:20:44,560 --> 00:20:47,160 Speaker 1: she was. You know, she's so rarely given the spotlight, 368 00:20:47,280 --> 00:20:49,199 Speaker 1: even though she was so huge in her day, but 369 00:20:49,280 --> 00:20:52,040 Speaker 1: that when she was it was juxtaposed against It's a 370 00:20:52,040 --> 00:20:54,120 Speaker 1: little bit of a spoiler, but it's been long ago 371 00:20:54,160 --> 00:20:56,760 Speaker 1: now that I hope nobody minds. It was juxtaposed against 372 00:20:56,800 --> 00:20:58,800 Speaker 1: a rape scene and it cut back and forth between 373 00:20:58,800 --> 00:21:00,359 Speaker 1: the two, and people were like, that is not the 374 00:21:00,400 --> 00:21:02,320 Speaker 1: way we want to see Nellie Melba brought back into 375 00:21:02,320 --> 00:21:05,840 Speaker 1: the spotlight. So there were a lot of issues. Yeah, 376 00:21:06,160 --> 00:21:08,560 Speaker 1: the top of that, it was portrayed as a as 377 00:21:08,560 --> 00:21:11,680 Speaker 1: a performance that the people watching were not really enjoying 378 00:21:11,800 --> 00:21:15,320 Speaker 1: because it wasn't very good, right, uh, Yeah, there were 379 00:21:15,359 --> 00:21:19,320 Speaker 1: a lot of problems with that portrayal apparently. Um I 380 00:21:19,320 --> 00:21:21,399 Speaker 1: remember watching that episode and I knew nothing about her 381 00:21:21,400 --> 00:21:23,639 Speaker 1: at the time, so it didn't strike me as particularly odd. 382 00:21:24,320 --> 00:21:26,000 Speaker 1: But it had I known all of this about her, 383 00:21:26,040 --> 00:21:28,160 Speaker 1: I think I would have been like, huh, really they 384 00:21:28,160 --> 00:21:31,640 Speaker 1: made her stay in her room, but that doesn't I 385 00:21:31,720 --> 00:21:34,960 Speaker 1: also have seen that episode when it originally was on 386 00:21:35,080 --> 00:21:39,119 Speaker 1: in the US, and did not remember the name at all. Uh, Like, 387 00:21:39,160 --> 00:21:41,960 Speaker 1: I definitely remembered the episode in the performance and how 388 00:21:42,000 --> 00:21:44,720 Speaker 1: it was portrayed, but it wasn't until you gave me 389 00:21:44,800 --> 00:21:48,440 Speaker 1: this outline that I was like, oh right, that okay. Yeah. 390 00:21:48,720 --> 00:21:52,119 Speaker 1: So one of the things that I really noticed shines 391 00:21:52,200 --> 00:21:55,840 Speaker 1: through when you read Nellie Melby's writings and you read 392 00:21:55,920 --> 00:21:59,919 Speaker 1: quotes from her, is it. Uh. She believed as a performer, 393 00:22:00,160 --> 00:22:03,879 Speaker 1: you have to work hard always, and this certainly played 394 00:22:03,920 --> 00:22:06,639 Speaker 1: out in her work schedule. She was constantly touring right 395 00:22:06,720 --> 00:22:08,960 Speaker 1: up to the end of her life, and though she 396 00:22:09,200 --> 00:22:11,960 Speaker 1: was a diva, she really felt as though success came 397 00:22:12,040 --> 00:22:15,080 Speaker 1: from always putting in effort. She wanted to be treated 398 00:22:15,119 --> 00:22:18,120 Speaker 1: as opera royalty, but she also did everything she could 399 00:22:18,160 --> 00:22:20,159 Speaker 1: to earn that status. She was not a person that 400 00:22:20,200 --> 00:22:25,280 Speaker 1: showed up unprepared or just assuming that things would go well. 401 00:22:25,840 --> 00:22:28,960 Speaker 1: She just didn't think talent was enough. So to wrap up, 402 00:22:29,000 --> 00:22:31,359 Speaker 1: I thought, because he was shown a little bit of her, 403 00:22:31,640 --> 00:22:34,160 Speaker 1: her less delightful qualities as well as her good ones. 404 00:22:34,200 --> 00:22:36,240 Speaker 1: But I thought this was a really good snippet that 405 00:22:36,359 --> 00:22:38,760 Speaker 1: she wrote as part of a larger essay intended to 406 00:22:38,840 --> 00:22:43,160 Speaker 1: encourage younger singers She wrote this in nine She wrote, 407 00:22:43,160 --> 00:22:45,720 Speaker 1: consider my own case. I quote it with no vanity 408 00:22:45,760 --> 00:22:48,960 Speaker 1: at all, but only to illustrate my meaning. The gift 409 00:22:49,000 --> 00:22:51,280 Speaker 1: of song was certainly mine. I was born with a 410 00:22:51,359 --> 00:22:55,280 Speaker 1: natural trill and absolute breath control. Consequently, as a child 411 00:22:55,280 --> 00:22:58,119 Speaker 1: of seven, I was as far advanced as more mature 412 00:22:58,160 --> 00:23:01,119 Speaker 1: students are after years of study and actue. Yet for 413 00:23:01,160 --> 00:23:04,640 Speaker 1: all that, I had everything to learn. And I kind 414 00:23:04,640 --> 00:23:06,800 Speaker 1: of love that quote because she she did, she wasn't 415 00:23:06,880 --> 00:23:10,280 Speaker 1: arrest on her laurels kind of at all. Uh So 416 00:23:10,280 --> 00:23:12,520 Speaker 1: it's kind of there's a lot of work ethic behind 417 00:23:12,560 --> 00:23:14,720 Speaker 1: all of the diva behavior, which I have to respect. 418 00:23:14,760 --> 00:23:16,720 Speaker 1: Whether do you like that she did some of the 419 00:23:16,760 --> 00:23:20,040 Speaker 1: things she did? Uh? Like I said, I have to 420 00:23:20,040 --> 00:23:22,600 Speaker 1: respect her work ethic. So that was Dame Nellie Melba. 421 00:23:23,280 --> 00:23:25,560 Speaker 1: Do you also have some listener mails? Of course I do. 422 00:23:26,280 --> 00:23:30,840 Speaker 1: These are actually about our Carampus and Friends episodes, which 423 00:23:30,840 --> 00:23:33,359 Speaker 1: were so fun to record and research, and I've been 424 00:23:33,359 --> 00:23:35,879 Speaker 1: really delighted because we have gotten a raft of listener 425 00:23:35,880 --> 00:23:38,280 Speaker 1: mail from people that really really enjoyed them and had 426 00:23:38,320 --> 00:23:41,040 Speaker 1: their own stories related to them well. And then we've 427 00:23:41,080 --> 00:23:45,760 Speaker 1: also gotten a lot of suggestions for other Winter holiday, 428 00:23:46,280 --> 00:23:49,720 Speaker 1: Christmas time holiday figures. So maybe this will become a 429 00:23:49,800 --> 00:23:53,160 Speaker 1: tradition question. That's fine with me, because there's plenty more 430 00:23:53,160 --> 00:23:56,119 Speaker 1: to talk about. Uh. And I've just loved it. And 431 00:23:56,119 --> 00:23:59,320 Speaker 1: people have sent us pictures of their little Bafana witches 432 00:23:59,400 --> 00:24:02,760 Speaker 1: that they have oven. I think that's everybody's favorite heard 433 00:24:02,840 --> 00:24:05,479 Speaker 1: because she is so charming. Uh. And they sent us 434 00:24:05,480 --> 00:24:09,040 Speaker 1: pictures of their crampus stuff and talked about their personal experiences. 435 00:24:09,080 --> 00:24:14,840 Speaker 1: So I have a few uh listener mails covering that 436 00:24:14,880 --> 00:24:16,239 Speaker 1: since I want to give them all a little bit 437 00:24:16,240 --> 00:24:17,639 Speaker 1: of play. Like I said, we were away for a 438 00:24:17,680 --> 00:24:19,639 Speaker 1: long time and getting lots of mail, and I hate 439 00:24:19,680 --> 00:24:22,040 Speaker 1: knowing that those people aren't getting a little bit of 440 00:24:22,080 --> 00:24:24,080 Speaker 1: a light shown on them. So first we're going to 441 00:24:24,160 --> 00:24:27,399 Speaker 1: hear from Cynthia, who says, uh, thank you for your 442 00:24:27,400 --> 00:24:30,480 Speaker 1: delightful podcast. Many and Onerous Drive has passed more lights 443 00:24:30,480 --> 00:24:33,040 Speaker 1: with you two along. I just listened to your podcasts 444 00:24:33,040 --> 00:24:36,240 Speaker 1: in which you mentioned Father Whipper's origin story as salting 445 00:24:36,320 --> 00:24:39,080 Speaker 1: and curating murdered children. I had to send you mail 446 00:24:39,160 --> 00:24:41,960 Speaker 1: because it reminded me of something I had read about St. Nicholas. 447 00:24:42,240 --> 00:24:44,119 Speaker 1: I teach at a Catholic school and I have to 448 00:24:44,160 --> 00:24:45,960 Speaker 1: confess that I love to read about the lives of 449 00:24:46,000 --> 00:24:48,199 Speaker 1: the saints, especially if I can get my hands on 450 00:24:48,240 --> 00:24:50,919 Speaker 1: an older compendium of the stories, which are usually way 451 00:24:50,960 --> 00:24:54,640 Speaker 1: creepier and bloodier than the modern, more sanitized versions allah 452 00:24:54,720 --> 00:24:57,800 Speaker 1: original Grimm Brothers versus modern day versions of fairy tales, 453 00:24:58,640 --> 00:25:00,560 Speaker 1: and one of these was the Life of Aunt Nicholas, 454 00:25:00,640 --> 00:25:02,679 Speaker 1: and I was horribly thrilled to read there in the 455 00:25:02,720 --> 00:25:05,040 Speaker 1: tale of him stopping for dinner at an end during 456 00:25:05,040 --> 00:25:08,240 Speaker 1: a famine, and in which somehow always had meat to 457 00:25:08,280 --> 00:25:12,240 Speaker 1: offer travelers even during the general lack of food. After 458 00:25:12,320 --> 00:25:15,280 Speaker 1: eating dinner, st Nick discovered that he had been served 459 00:25:15,359 --> 00:25:19,200 Speaker 1: cured child, and then he resurrected the Tykes. My takeaway, 460 00:25:19,240 --> 00:25:24,840 Speaker 1: of course, Santa eats children. I just love that so much. Cynthia, 461 00:25:24,880 --> 00:25:29,120 Speaker 1: that was really delightful and funny. I love it's. The 462 00:25:29,160 --> 00:25:32,000 Speaker 1: next one we have is from our listener Neil, and 463 00:25:32,040 --> 00:25:35,160 Speaker 1: he says, greeting's Tracy and Holly, longtime listener, big time fan. 464 00:25:35,280 --> 00:25:37,480 Speaker 1: I just finished listening to your podcast, The Crampus and 465 00:25:37,520 --> 00:25:40,160 Speaker 1: Friends Holiday Special Part one, and I knew I had 466 00:25:40,160 --> 00:25:42,840 Speaker 1: to write in to share my American experience with Crampus 467 00:25:42,840 --> 00:25:46,000 Speaker 1: and St. Nicholas. Most listeners to the podcast could safely 468 00:25:46,040 --> 00:25:48,560 Speaker 1: assume that the episode was all about holiday traditions in 469 00:25:48,600 --> 00:25:51,679 Speaker 1: European countries, and for the most part, that is true. However, 470 00:25:51,720 --> 00:25:54,640 Speaker 1: in small parts of Wisconsin, St. Nicholas and Crampus are 471 00:25:54,640 --> 00:25:58,240 Speaker 1: still observed every December six. Green Bay and the surrounding 472 00:25:58,240 --> 00:26:01,120 Speaker 1: communities have a strong German hair titch. Growing up there, 473 00:26:01,160 --> 00:26:03,400 Speaker 1: it was not uncommon to hear names like Hans Eric 474 00:26:03,400 --> 00:26:06,960 Speaker 1: Regretchen eat space will in verse sidebar of me yum 475 00:26:07,000 --> 00:26:10,359 Speaker 1: I love Spaceland verse, or have a last name that 476 00:26:10,440 --> 00:26:13,639 Speaker 1: ended in sc h. There were many German holiday traditions 477 00:26:13,640 --> 00:26:15,960 Speaker 1: that we all enjoyed, and one of those was St. 478 00:26:16,040 --> 00:26:19,360 Speaker 1: Nicholas and Crampus. Every first week of December, we were 479 00:26:19,359 --> 00:26:22,119 Speaker 1: reminded by our parents, grandparents, and teachers to be on 480 00:26:22,160 --> 00:26:25,280 Speaker 1: our best behavior because St. Nick was coming. Depending on 481 00:26:25,359 --> 00:26:27,640 Speaker 1: what town you were in, children would either hang stockings 482 00:26:27,640 --> 00:26:29,840 Speaker 1: on the fireplace or leave their shoes by the front 483 00:26:29,840 --> 00:26:33,000 Speaker 1: door on the eve of St. Nicholas December five. Crampus 484 00:26:33,040 --> 00:26:36,160 Speaker 1: knocked actually is something I had never heard of until recently, 485 00:26:36,320 --> 00:26:38,159 Speaker 1: probably having something to do with the release of this 486 00:26:38,240 --> 00:26:41,080 Speaker 1: year's Crampas movie. Although It's possible that part of the 487 00:26:41,080 --> 00:26:44,399 Speaker 1: folklore simply never made it across the pond. When you 488 00:26:44,440 --> 00:26:46,880 Speaker 1: woke up on December six, St Nick would have left 489 00:26:46,880 --> 00:26:49,159 Speaker 1: you candy and small gifts in your stockings or shoes 490 00:26:49,200 --> 00:26:51,040 Speaker 1: if you were good, and if you were bad, he 491 00:26:51,119 --> 00:26:53,600 Speaker 1: left you cold. If you were really bad, that's when 492 00:26:53,640 --> 00:26:55,560 Speaker 1: Crampus would come to you while you were asleep and 493 00:26:55,640 --> 00:26:58,320 Speaker 1: drag you off to his lair. Pretty terrifying to a child, 494 00:26:58,320 --> 00:27:01,320 Speaker 1: but that's a German holiday, right. I never realized this 495 00:27:01,400 --> 00:27:04,400 Speaker 1: was a local holiday until I moved to Milwaukee for college. 496 00:27:04,800 --> 00:27:09,159 Speaker 1: To my shock and dismay, nobody celebrated Nicolaus fests. They 497 00:27:09,200 --> 00:27:12,000 Speaker 1: didn't even know what I was talking about. Feeling homesick 498 00:27:12,040 --> 00:27:14,439 Speaker 1: and craving an excuse to eat chocolate, I decided to 499 00:27:14,480 --> 00:27:17,120 Speaker 1: share my tradition with my friends and peers. I would 500 00:27:17,119 --> 00:27:19,280 Speaker 1: buy miniature stockings in bulk and then leave them in 501 00:27:19,359 --> 00:27:22,800 Speaker 1: people's lockers or desks, filled with candies. I would proudly 502 00:27:22,840 --> 00:27:26,160 Speaker 1: exclaim from nicolas Fess down the halls to officially bring 503 00:27:26,160 --> 00:27:28,960 Speaker 1: in the Christmas season. I now live in Chicago and 504 00:27:28,960 --> 00:27:31,600 Speaker 1: continue to give little candy stuff stockings to my friends 505 00:27:31,600 --> 00:27:34,240 Speaker 1: and co workers. Every December six. I found it's a 506 00:27:34,240 --> 00:27:36,439 Speaker 1: great way to share something about myself as well as 507 00:27:36,440 --> 00:27:39,440 Speaker 1: get everyone else to share their own holiday memories and traditions. 508 00:27:39,640 --> 00:27:41,119 Speaker 1: I can't wait to have children on my own to 509 00:27:41,119 --> 00:27:43,760 Speaker 1: pass this tradition onto them. Thank you for making me 510 00:27:43,800 --> 00:27:46,280 Speaker 1: audibly squeal with glee during my evening commute on a 511 00:27:46,280 --> 00:27:48,520 Speaker 1: public train at the mention of Crampas, and for making 512 00:27:48,520 --> 00:27:51,359 Speaker 1: every podcast you'd do so fun and enjoyable. I love that. 513 00:27:51,400 --> 00:27:54,879 Speaker 1: I love the idea that, in the absence of the 514 00:27:54,960 --> 00:27:58,640 Speaker 1: Crampas and st nick lore, he just brought it in himself. 515 00:27:59,200 --> 00:28:02,600 Speaker 1: That's a bias for action I can get behind, so 516 00:28:02,720 --> 00:28:07,000 Speaker 1: long as he's not stealing bad children. That would be uh. 517 00:28:07,000 --> 00:28:08,560 Speaker 1: And then I have one more. It's a short one 518 00:28:08,600 --> 00:28:11,680 Speaker 1: from our listener, Robin Uh, and it is about bell Snickel. 519 00:28:12,040 --> 00:28:13,880 Speaker 1: She says, Hello, my name is Robin and I'm writing 520 00:28:13,920 --> 00:28:16,280 Speaker 1: to you from Oklahoma. I was so excited to hear 521 00:28:16,320 --> 00:28:18,520 Speaker 1: you talk about the Bells Nickel on your recent podcast 522 00:28:18,560 --> 00:28:21,480 Speaker 1: about different holiday characters. I was excited to hear him 523 00:28:21,480 --> 00:28:24,120 Speaker 1: mentioned because none of my friends are classmates ever knew 524 00:28:24,119 --> 00:28:26,280 Speaker 1: what I was talking about when I mentioned him. This 525 00:28:26,400 --> 00:28:29,440 Speaker 1: was pre the office days. My family has a strong 526 00:28:29,480 --> 00:28:31,960 Speaker 1: German heritage, and his kids we were always told the 527 00:28:32,000 --> 00:28:34,119 Speaker 1: bell Snickel watched you, and if you were bad between 528 00:28:34,160 --> 00:28:36,560 Speaker 1: Christmas and New Year's he would come and steal the 529 00:28:36,560 --> 00:28:38,640 Speaker 1: toy Santa brought you and drag you up and down 530 00:28:38,680 --> 00:28:41,800 Speaker 1: the stairs by your toes. I strongly suspect the stair 531 00:28:41,840 --> 00:28:44,080 Speaker 1: portion was in there because my grandparents had stairs in 532 00:28:44,120 --> 00:28:46,720 Speaker 1: their home and had told the tales of my dad 533 00:28:46,760 --> 00:28:49,400 Speaker 1: and his brothers and sisters. The story was always told, 534 00:28:49,440 --> 00:28:51,480 Speaker 1: though with a smile, so we knew not to take 535 00:28:51,480 --> 00:28:54,120 Speaker 1: it very seriously. Thank you for adding the bell Nickel 536 00:28:54,160 --> 00:28:56,000 Speaker 1: into your list of characters. It was nice to know 537 00:28:56,120 --> 00:28:58,000 Speaker 1: there are others out here who have stories for the 538 00:28:58,040 --> 00:29:01,080 Speaker 1: same one. I love it, Robin, thank you. Thank you 539 00:29:01,120 --> 00:29:03,240 Speaker 1: to all of our people that wrote us about all 540 00:29:03,280 --> 00:29:06,520 Speaker 1: of their holiday traditions and suggested, as Tracy mentioned, new 541 00:29:06,600 --> 00:29:09,160 Speaker 1: characters that we could cover next year. I'm super excited 542 00:29:09,200 --> 00:29:11,480 Speaker 1: about it. I thought that was a really fun episode. Yes, 543 00:29:11,840 --> 00:29:13,040 Speaker 1: it was like a good way to get in the 544 00:29:13,080 --> 00:29:17,320 Speaker 1: holiday spirit without getting just sort of retreading the usual stuff. 545 00:29:17,320 --> 00:29:20,720 Speaker 1: So it was fun for me. Yeah, Well, often when 546 00:29:20,760 --> 00:29:22,480 Speaker 1: we do when we do episodes like that, that that are 547 00:29:22,560 --> 00:29:25,760 Speaker 1: kind of like a collection of things. I worry that 548 00:29:25,800 --> 00:29:29,200 Speaker 1: people are gonna think that that it was not as 549 00:29:29,280 --> 00:29:32,480 Speaker 1: robust as as what we typically do, but so many 550 00:29:32,560 --> 00:29:34,800 Speaker 1: people love those I was so happy about it. Me too, 551 00:29:34,840 --> 00:29:37,640 Speaker 1: I always worry as well, so I'm always grateful when 552 00:29:37,640 --> 00:29:40,320 Speaker 1: it turns out. Okay, If you would like to share 553 00:29:40,360 --> 00:29:43,800 Speaker 1: any of your holiday memories suggestions for next year's Holiday 554 00:29:43,880 --> 00:29:46,440 Speaker 1: Characters podcast, because I'm planning to do it next year, 555 00:29:46,440 --> 00:29:48,920 Speaker 1: I'm compiling a list. You can do so at History 556 00:29:48,920 --> 00:29:51,840 Speaker 1: Podcast at housetu works dot com. You can also connect 557 00:29:51,880 --> 00:29:54,120 Speaker 1: with us at Facebook dot com, slash mist in History, 558 00:29:54,520 --> 00:29:57,360 Speaker 1: on Twitter at mist in History, at pinterest dot com, 559 00:29:57,400 --> 00:29:59,959 Speaker 1: slash mist in History, and mist in History dot tumbled 560 00:30:00,000 --> 00:30:03,240 Speaker 1: dot com. We're also on Instagram at mist in History. 561 00:30:03,600 --> 00:30:05,280 Speaker 1: You would like to learn a little bit about what 562 00:30:05,320 --> 00:30:07,080 Speaker 1: we talked about today, you can, once again, as we 563 00:30:07,120 --> 00:30:10,400 Speaker 1: suggested in our first episode on Dame Nelly Melba, go 564 00:30:10,560 --> 00:30:12,280 Speaker 1: to our parents site house to works type in the 565 00:30:12,280 --> 00:30:16,000 Speaker 1: word opera. This time, the article that you are looking 566 00:30:16,040 --> 00:30:18,720 Speaker 1: for is one just about the Sydney Opera House, since 567 00:30:18,800 --> 00:30:21,800 Speaker 1: that is closer to home for Dame Nelly's life story. 568 00:30:22,320 --> 00:30:25,000 Speaker 1: Uh and if you would like to visit us at 569 00:30:25,040 --> 00:30:27,360 Speaker 1: misston history dot com. You will find show notes for 570 00:30:27,400 --> 00:30:29,800 Speaker 1: this and every other episode that Tracy and I have 571 00:30:29,840 --> 00:30:32,360 Speaker 1: worked on together, as well as every episode of the 572 00:30:32,480 --> 00:30:35,480 Speaker 1: podcast that has ever happened, including all previous hosts. So 573 00:30:35,520 --> 00:30:37,720 Speaker 1: there's plenty to enjoy and go through if you are 574 00:30:37,760 --> 00:30:40,320 Speaker 1: into history, which I presume you are if you have 575 00:30:40,400 --> 00:30:44,320 Speaker 1: gotten this far in this episode, so we welcome you 576 00:30:44,640 --> 00:30:47,160 Speaker 1: to visit us at mist in history dot com and 577 00:30:47,200 --> 00:30:53,440 Speaker 1: our parents site, how stup works dot com for lare 578 00:30:53,520 --> 00:30:55,800 Speaker 1: on this and thousands of other topics because it how 579 00:30:55,880 --> 00:31:00,440 Speaker 1: to works dot Com in