JOHN BROWNLEE

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 72, 27 March 1933, Page 3

JOHN BROWNLEE

FAREWELL CONCERT

The young Australian baritone John Brownlee gave his final concert in Wellington on Saturday night, and for the fourth time he delighted his audience with his voice and his artistry. The programme he presented was a well-balanced one, and in response to insistent recalls he sang several favourites as encores. In fact had the audience had its way he would be singing yet.

The singer's big number was the famous "Prologue" from Leoncavallo's opera "I Pagliacei," which was interpreted with telling dramatic fire. Among his other numbers were "Come, Let's Be Merry" (Traditional), "The Jolly Tinker" (17th Century), "Sea Fever" (John Ireland), "Five Eyes" (Armstrong Gibbs), which was repeated after sustained applause, "If I Were King" (Campbell Tipton), "Route Marchin'" (Stock), "Zueigmihg" (Richard Strauss), "Kitty, My Love," "The Bold Unbiddable Cliild," and "Invictus" (Huhn). A duet from "Pogoletto" (Verdi) by Mr. Brownlee and Miss Rita Miller, the charming lyric soprano, was followed by three encores, -which included the delightful, "La ci darem, la mano" from Mozart's "Don Giovanni." Miss Miller sang convincingly the difficult coloratura aria "Je Suis_ Titania" from Thomas's "Mignon." Her other numbers included "Songs My Mother Taught Me" (Dvorak) and " A Persian Song of Spring" (Mcßurney). The young pianist of the party, M. Raymond Lambert, again created a deep impression. Among his numbers were "Nocturne in. F -Sharp Major (Chopin), "Valse Brillante" in A Flat (Chopin). "Xocturne for Left Hand" (Scriabin). ; "Toccata" (Debussy)/ and "Rituel Fire Dance" (Manuel de Falla). His accompaniments to the singers were most responsive. -~...