Description

PETER DAWSON (ADELAIDE, SOUTH AUSTRALIA, 31 JANUARY, 1882 – SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, 27 SEPTEMBER, 1961)

Initially a boxer, he transitioned into music after winning a gold medal at an amateur competition in Ballarat. In 1902, he moved to England, where he studied under the famous baritone Sir Charles Santley. Around 1904, he began performing under the pseudonym Hector Grant, specializing in ballad concerts and collaborating with famous singers, including Emma Albani.

He toured extensively across England, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and even ventured into India, Japan, and China. Though he rarely appeared on the operatic stage, his few performances included comprimario roles at Covent Garden in 1907 and 1909, notably in Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg. He was also a major figure during World War I, where he contributed to many charity concerts in both England and Australia.

In 1926, he performed at prestigious venues such as Wigmore Hall and Aeolian Hall in London. Throughout his career, he maintained a long-standing connection with Australia, completing eight major tours of the country, and in 1931, he toured with the renowned pianist Mark Hambourg.

His musical career extended well into his later years, with performances on English radio in 1955 and recordings made after the age of 70. He was also a respected teacher, with soprano Joan Cross among his students. In addition to performing, he composed songs and ballads under the pseudonym P. MacCall. His autobiography, Fifty Years of Song (1951), chronicles his impressive life and career.

Chronology of some appearances

1907 London Covent Garden

1909 London Covent Garden

TRACKLIST

1. Boots (McCall) HMV Bb 16955-1 6-6-29 C Studio, Small Queen’s Hall, London
2. Carmen (Bizet) Toreador song HMV 02904 HO 4571 af 26-10-20
3. Don Juan’s serenade (Tchaikovsky) HMV C1327 Cc 10502 1927-03-30
4. Hope the Hornblower (Ireland) HMV HO 5697 ae 31-5-20
5. I have twelve oxen (John Ireland) HMV HO 5577 -2ae 5-3-20
6. Ivanho Woo thou thy snowflake (Sullivan) HMV Cc 1472-1 15-6-22 Recordings made at Hayes, Room 1
7. Lovely, kind and kindly loving Op 16 (Gustav Holst)  (piano J. Brath) HMV Bb 2948-2  7-5-23 Recordings made at Hayes, Room 1
8. Messiah (Handel) Why do the Nations HMV C2694 2B 5939 1934-05-08
9. Philemon and Baucis (Gounod) Vulcan’s song HMV Bb 19282-1 1-5-30 C Studio, Small Queen’s Hall, London
10. Songs of Travel Bright is the ring of words (Ralph Vaughan Williams) (piano Mme Adami) HMV Bb 1253-1 26-4-22 Recordings made at Hayes, Room 1
11. Songs of Travel Silent noon (Ralph Vaughan Williams) (piano Mme Adami) HMV Bb 1252-2 26-4-22 Recordings made at Hayes, Room 1
12. Sons of the Sea (S. Coleridge-Taylor) HMV Bb 1373-1 23-5-22 Recordings made at Hayes, Room 1
13. Stabat Mater (Rossini) Through the darkness HMV Cc 20368-1 5-11-30 C Studio, Small Queen’s Hall, London
14. The Creation (Haydn) Rolling in foaming billows HMV Cc 20369-1 5-11-30 C Studio, Small Queen’s Hall, London
15. The little Admiral (Myddleton) HMV 17845e 16-5-14
16. The lost chord (Sullivan) HMV 2EA 1181 1938-09-27 London, Kingsway Hall
17. The Maid of the Mountains (Harris-Valentine-Tate) A bachelor gay HMV Bb 19281-2 1-5-30
18. The Marriage of Figaro (Mozart) Now your days of philandering are over HMV HO 4644 -2af 25-11-20
19. The Midnight Review (Glinka) HMV Cc 15967-1A 5-3-29 C Studio, Small Queen’s Hall, London
20. The miner’s dream of home (Goodwin-Dryden) HMV Bb 1959-1 13-10-22 Recordings made at Hayes, Room 1