I am Melba / Marvelous Melba

US Edition - MARVELOUS MELBA

The long awaited US edition has now been published - so readers in the United States and the United Kingdom can find out what all the praise has been about.

MARVELOUS MELBA: the extraordinary life of a great Diva is the US edition title.

Ivan Dee has published Ann's previous book Fanny & Adelaide and has presented a new edition of the Melba book rather than a re-print of the Australian edition.

I am Melba WINS National Biography Prize

At a Prize ceremony at the NSW State Library today (30 Mar) - Ann Blainey was awarded the 2009 National Biography Prize. In the words of the judges -

"Ann Blainey has had to peel away layers of the cult of celebrity to rediscover a woman of contrasts," the judges said in their citation.

"Melba had a robust professional ego but was often fragile."

"It is alive to the mixed blessings of fame, glamour and image," the judges said in their citation at a ceremony in Sydney on Monday.

"It understands the human ego. It explores the history of singing and especially the pivotal years at the end of the nineteenth century when fashions in entertainment were changing and when Melba first made her mark."

The prize, Australia's richest award, was made possible by Dr Geoffrey Cains & Michael Crouch , and is to encourage the highest standards in biographical writing.

coverage here (ABC)

The Age / SMH - Melba Biography of Note

The Australian- Nuanced study of Diva

Ann Blainey - the Best Summer Read

At an award ceremony at the State Library of Victoria, Ann Blainey received the "Best Summer Read for 2008/09", voted by readers of the State Library and presented by ABC broadcaster Alan Brough

The voting occurred online and through entry forms available in the Melbourne Herald-Sun newspaper.

the State Library announcement is here

I am Melba - shortlisted for National Biography Prize

The short list for the Australian National Biography Award has been released, and I am Melba is one of the six finalists from 58 entries. The $20,000 prize will be announced in Sydney at the State Library of NSW on Monday 30th March.

the story on the finalists can be found here

a list of finalists and past winners is available here

I am Melba - State Library Summer Read

As part of the Victorian State Library Summer Read, Ann is blogging in the pre-Xmas time from her cruise ship off the North Australian coastline. Later she will be participating in events for the State Library to promote reading (and the book!)

State Library Summer Read blog

Spotlight on Melba

The Performing Arts Centre - at the Victorian Arts Centre - is holding a public lecture on Monday 17th November at 1pm, "Melba: A Life" to be delivered by Ann Blainey.

Part of the Spotlight series of monthly lectures details can be check on the Arts Centre website here.

Review in 'Opera' Magazine

The September issue of London's 'Opera' magazine has a very positive review of 'I am Melba' -

"With access to a lot of documents previously unconsidered, she is able substantially to sort fact from fiction. More significantly, for the first time we can understand what actually happened…she fills in innumerable gaps, and she does so in fluent, very readable prose."

I AM MELBA - Short Listed for Age Prize

'I am Melba' by Ann Blainey has been short listed for 'The Age' non-fiction prize for 2008. The announcement here lists the nominees for the 35th Book of the Year Awards to be presented at the Melbourne Writers Festival on 22nd August.

AUSTRALIAN BOOK REVIEW - MAY 2008

'When Nellie met Melba' by Michael Shmith - in this months Australian Book Review (May 2008 p.46-7).

"Ann Blainey's thoroughly researched, excellently written and beguilingly human biography of Nellie Melba......"

"Part of the charm of Blainey's account is the balance she maintains between the various aspects of Melba's character. The author never disregards Melba's musicianship, which was considerable, or her technique, which was formidable, instead, she allows these qualities to coexist with the complexities often eclipsed by fame or modified (even completely changed) by the scuttlebutt. This is something of an art-restorer about Ann Blainey: she quietly and deftly, without putting herself in the frame, removes the patina of previous biographers or historical recollections, to recover layers that make one view the result in a different light"

READINGS CONVERSATION WITH BARRY JONES

On Thursday 24th April Ann Blainey was in 'conversation' with Barry Jones at Readings Hawthorn store. The event was videoed, and is now available from Black Inc TV.

A must for all those who have heard the necessarily brief radio interviews but want to hear more of Melba and the writing of this fascinating work.

Black iTV of the Barry Jones - Ann Blainey 'conversation'

the video requires broadband access

COURIER MAIL REVIEW

The Brisbane Courier Mail has published a very positive review in the Saturday (19 Apr) edition. The reviewer, Mark McGinness comments -

Nellie Melba is a glorious subject for biography. With meticulous
research, Blainey has produced a more sympathetic Melba than John
Hetherington's well-regarded study in 1987

TO READ THE COMPLETE REVIEW CLICK HERE

FORMER GG LAUNCHES BOOK

The book was formally launched this evening (17 Apr) at a party hosted by Professor Geoffrey Blainey. A short set by rising star Mary-Jean O'Doherty was met with great applause.

The set was chosen by Ann Blainey to highlight aspects of Melba's career. The first song was the audition piece which convinced Madame Marchesi to accept Melba as a pupil.The second piece was from 'Rigoletto', Melba's first triumphant Opera performance at La Monnaie in Brussels- complete with the Melba's trademark trills! The final piece was the sentimental song "Home! Sweet Home!". The author provided a short commentary before each piece.

The former Governor General Sir Ninian Stephen KG was called upon to complete the proceedings by announcing the launch of the book.

INTERVIEW ON ABC PERTH MORNING

An interview with ABC 720 Perth Morning show host Geoff Hutchinson (Thu 17 Apr). The incident were Melba's Perth concert was interupted by a fake fire alarm, and then a shed collapsed due to fans climbing on to see through the windows is discussed.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD

BRISBANE INTERVIEW NOW ONLINE

A very comprehensive interview with 4 BC presenter Ian Maurice was had on Tuesday 15th April on the 'Evening Show'. Ian Maurice and Ann Blainey discussed Melba's time in Mackay in addition to general comments about the book and Melba's life.

The podcast is of the talkback prompted by the interview

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN