Description

BROWNING MUMMERY (CARLTON, MELBOURNE, 12 JULY, 1888 – CANBERRA, 16 MARCH 1974)

 

 

 

 

He first worked as a mechanic but later took singing lessons. He made his debut as a member of an Italian traveling opera company in his native Australia, performing the role of Faust. Additionally, he studied in London and first appeared there with the British National Opera Company. From 1925 to 1928, he performed at Covent Garden, where he achieved special success as an Italian singer in Der Rosenkavalier. After accompanying prima donna Nellie Melba on her 1924 Australian tour, she selected him to sing the role of Rodolfo as her partner at Covent Garden in 1926. In London, he also appeared in the operetta Madame Pompadour by Leo Fall, in musical comedies, and was heard in the Promenade Concerts. In 1928, he toured Australia with the Melba-Williamson Company. He then undertook a U.S. tour and appeared on NBC Radio in New York during the 1929–1931 seasons. For the following two years, from 1931 to 1933, he was similarly active with the BBC in London, and he participated in the musical film Evensong with Evelyn Laye. In 1934, he returned to Australia, where he continued to perform as a concert singer and appeared with the Fuller Grand Opera Company. Later, he worked as a pedagogue in Melbourne and then in Canberra.

 

 

TRACKLIST

 

 

1. Boheme (Puccini) Addio dolce svegliare with Melba, Brownlee and Frederick Collier HMV Unpubl. CR 413 HMV, London 1926-06-08 (live Covent Garden)
2. Boheme (Puccini) Morte di Mimi (w. N. Melba, J. Brownlee, F. Collier and E. Cotreuil) HMV Unpubl. CR 416 HMV, London 1926-06-08 (live Covent Garden)
3. Boheme (Puccini) Sono andati (w. N. Melba) HMV Unpubl. CR 415 HMV, London 1926-06-08 (live Covent Garden)
4. Bohème (Puccini) Your tiny hand is frozen HMV C1300 (2-02175) HMV, London 1926-06-08 (live Covent Garden)
5. Bohème (Puccini) Your tiny hand is frozen A274 (Z-042157) Zonophone, London 1923-07-10
6. Bohemian Girl (Balfe) Comrade, your hand (w. Richardson) A281 (Z-044025) Zonophone, London 1923-08-23
7. Boris Godounov (Moussorgsky) The death of Boris Boris Godounov (Moussorgsky): The death of Boris (solo Chaliapin, w. chorus: Jones, Peel, Valli, Leach, Walker, Coltham, Glynne, Hubbard, Dawson & Halland, short solo by N Walker) DB100 (2-022020) HMV, London 1923-07-02
8. Contes d’Hoffmann (Offenbach) Legend of Kleinsach A293 (Z-042171) Zonophone, London 1924-02-14
9. Contes d’Hoffmann (Offenbach) When love is but tender (Drinking song) A293 (Z-042172) Zonophone, London 1924-02-14
10. Faust (Gounod) Le veau d’or (solo Chaliapin, w. male chorus: Coltham, Glynne, Hubbard, Dawson & Halland, short solo by Dawson) DA554 (7-32080) HMV, London 1923-07-02
11. Elisir d’amore (Donizetti) A furtive tear A278 (Z-042160) Zonophone, London 1923-09-05
12. Judas Maccabaeus (Händel) Sound an alarm A278 (Z-042159) Zonophone, London 1923-09-05
13. Madama Butterfly (Puccini) Death of Butterfly (w. Sheridan) 2-054180 CR1439-2 HMV, London 1927-07-07
14. Madama Pompadour (Fall) By the light of the moon (w. Hilliard) C1143 (04345) HMV, London 1924-01-28
15. Madame Pompadour (Fall) Carnival Time (w. chorus Hilliard, Baker, Walker & Coltham) C1142 (2-02029) HMV, London 1924-01-28
16. Madame Pompadour (Fall) Love’s sentry (w. Hilliard) C1143 (04344) HMV, London 1924-01-28
17. Manon Lescaut (Puccini) Never did I behold (Donna non vidi mai) B3160 (7-2528) HMV, London 1929-07-18
18. Maritana (Wallace) I am the King of Spain (w. Richardson) A281 (Z-044024) Zonophone, London 1923-08-2