Emilie Melville
Emilie Melville (1851?-1932) was an American soprano, actress and company manager.
Contents
Biography
She was married to the American actor, baritone and company manager Guglielmo Verdi (1854-??), generally referred to as Signor Verdi or William Verdi in South African press releases), who toured with her company in the second half of the 19th century, and she is therefore also referred to as Emilie Melville Verdi or Mrs Verdi in some sources.
First appeared at the Melbourne Opera House on 6th October 1875, then formed her own opera company in 1880, and toured the empire, returning to Australia in 1882.
Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance
She visited South Africa with what was billed the Verdi Opera Company in 1890, where they opened with Faust during August.
According to Boonzaier (1923), though the opera production was not popular with the public, Melville did apparently give a remarkable performance in the play Fanchon (Himmel) during this time.
Sources
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/142938956
D.C. Boonzaier, 1923. "My playgoing days – 30 years in the history of the Cape Town stage", in SA Review, 9 March and 24 August 1932. (Reprinted in Bosman 1980: pp. 374-439.)
F.C.L. Bosman. 1980. Drama en Toneel in Suid-Afrika, Deel II, 1856-1916. Pretoria: J.L. van Schaik: pp.301, 391
Go to the ESAT Bibliography
Return to
Return to ESAT Personalities M
Return to South African Theatre Personalities
Return to The ESAT Entries
Return to Main Page
