Frances Alda became a leading soprano at the Metropolitan Opera Company in New York in the early 20th century.

Ella Caspers, a contralto who was known as ‘the girl with the voice of gold’, was born in Albury, NSW in 1888. In 1902, she made her debut performance at age 14.

Born in Fitzroy, Victoria in 1875, Florrie Forde was an early star of popular music in Australia. She sailed for England in 1897 and debuted in the London music halls later that year.

Florence Austral was born in Richmond, Melbourne in 1892. Famed as a Wagnerian soprano, she received great acclaim for her performances as Brunhilde and Isolde at Covent Garden in London.

This song was composed by the American jazz musician and arranger, Don Redman, and by American songwriter, Buck Ram.

It is performed by Australian jazz and swing singer Barbara James.

Gladys Moncrieff was one of the great stars of the Australian musical stage for more than 35 years – described by many as Australia’s Queen of Song (a title that had originally had been given to Ne

Nellie Melba was born Helen Mitchell in Richmond, an inner suburb of Melbourne, in 1861.