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. Meistersinger von Nürnberg (Wagner) Procession of the Guilds, Act 3 (Chorus: Davies, Mummery, Glynne, Hubbard, Halland) D756 (3-0938) HMV, London 1923-07-13
2. Meistersinger von Nürnberg (Wagner) Quintet of Sachs and the lovers (w. Austral, Walker, Davies & Radford) D756 (3-0937) HMV, London 1923-07-13
3. Meistersinger von Nürnberg (Wagner) Walther’s Prize Song (solo Davies, w. chorus: Jones, Walker, Glynne, Mummery, Hubbard & Halland)D758 (3-0941) HMV, London 1923-07-13
4. Pagliacci (Leoncavallo) A clown no more C1419 (2-02237) HMV, London 1927-08-17
5. Pagliacci (Leoncavallo) On with the motley C1300 (2-02176) HMV, London 1926-07-12
6. Pagliacci (Leoncavallo) On with the motley A274 (Z-042158) Zonophone, London 1923-07-10
7. Tosca (Puccini) Ora stammi a sentir… Chi è quella donna (w. Ljungberg) DB752 (2-054144), DB752 (2-054145) HMV, London 1924-05-30
8. Tosca (Puccini) The stars were brightly shining B2724 (6-2859) HMV, London 1927-07-07
9. Tosca (Puccini) When the stars were brightly shining B3160 (7-2527) HMV, London 1929-07-18
10. Traviata (Verdi) Brindisi (with Laye) Movie Record
11. Tristan und Isolde (Wagner) They drink the love potion (w. Davies & chorus: Halland & Hubbard)D912 (4-0571) HMV, London 1924-06-06
12. Tristan und Isolde (Wagner) Tristan! Isolde! (w. Davies & chorus: Trenton, Halland & Hubbard) D912 (4-0572) HMV, London 1924-06-06
13. Trovatore (Verdi) Ai nostri monti (w. Austral) D1302 (2-054182) HMV, London 1927-08-29
14. Trovatore (Verdi) Miserere (w. Austral & chorus) D1302 (2-054181) HMV, London 1927-08-29