Dame Nellie Melba was an Australian operatic soprano who became one of the most famous singers of the late Victorian era and the early 20th century. She was the first Australian to achieve international recognition as a classical musician, gaining prominence throughout Europe and the United States. Taking her stage name from her hometown of Melbourne, she made her Covent Garden debut in 1888 and became the leading lyric soprano there for decades. Her legacy endures not only through her prolific recordings but also through the culinary dishes created in her honor, Peach Melba and Melba toast.