Stella Power

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Stella Power, c.1934

Stella Power (27 June 1896 – 16 January 1977) was an Australian soprano.

Early life and education[]

Tertia Stella Power was born on 27 June 1896 to customs officer Edward John and Annie Elizabeth Power, née O'Brien.

Power was an early student of Nellie Melba at her school of singing in Albert Street, East Melbourne and was given the name "the Little Melba" by Melba herself.[1]

Career[]

She travelled to the United States in 1918, to join Melba. She made her American debut in Philadelphia, then sang with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Mischa Elman. Her tour ended in Los Angeles.[2] While in the USA, she was recorded by Thomas A. Edison Inc. and on a later tour of England she was recorded by His Master's Voice.[1] Her London debut was on 23 November 1919, when she appeared at the Albert Hall with Landon Ronald's orchestra.[3] In 1926 she returned to the USA on a ten-year contract to Paramount Films to sing in picture theatres, touring for 45 weeks a year and performing four or five shows every day.[4][5]

Personal[]

Power married William O'Rourke at St Patrick's Cathedral, Melbourne on 17 December 1918.[6][7] She received a monogrammed suitcase as a wedding gift from Dame Nellie Melba.[8]

They had one son, known as Billy.[1]

Power died at Charman Private Hospital in Cheltenham.[9] Survived by her son, she was buried at the Cheltenham Memorial Cemetery.[10]

References[]

  1. ^ a b c Dunbar-Hall, Peter, "Power, Stella (1896–1977)", Australian Dictionary of Biography, Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, retrieved 2021-06-29
  2. ^ "At the Threshold of Fame". Graphic of Australia (127). Victoria, Australia. 21 June 1918. p. 13. Retrieved 29 June 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  3. ^ "Our London Letter". Advocate. LII (2468). Victoria, Australia. 10 January 1920. p. 23. Retrieved 30 June 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. ^ "PERSONAL". The Herald (15, 271). Victoria, Australia. 30 April 1926. p. 5. Retrieved 30 June 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. ^ Australasian Radio Relay League (1935-03-01), "STELLA POWER In America (1 March 1935)", The wireless weekly : the hundred per cent Australian radio journal, Wireless Press, 25 (9), retrieved 30 June 2021
  6. ^ "Family Notices". Table Talk (1743). Victoria, Australia. 19 December 1918. p. 29. Retrieved 29 June 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. ^ "Australian Song Bird Takes a Mate". Table Talk (1744). Victoria, Australia. 26 December 1918. p. 15. Retrieved 29 June 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  8. ^ "YOUNG SINGER MARRIED". The Herald (13, 375). Victoria, Australia. 17 December 1918. p. 3. Retrieved 29 June 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  9. ^ "Deaths". The Age (Melbourne). 1977-01-19.
  10. ^ "Stella Power (1896–1977)". Find A Grave. Retrieved 2021-06-29.
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