A SINGING LORD

New Zealand Listener, Volume 1, Issue 14, 29 September 1939, Page 37

A SINGING LORD

William Brownlow Owes Much To His Friend Melba

selves more to people all over the world than did Dame Nellie Melba. In half the countries of the globe, discriminating audiences echoed her praises. A short time ago it was proposed that Dame Nellie Melba. should be given a fitting memorial in Sydney, were she died. | artists have endeared themThe man who made this gesture is also a singer; one whom many listeners must have heard under the name of William Brownlow. We have heard all about jazz singers, street ‘singers and others, and now here is a singing lord, for William Brownlow is also Lord Lurgan.

Dame Nellie Melba was.a good friend to the handsome young bachelor peer during her lifetime. In an_interview he explained, "JT owe her so much. She gave me most helpful encouragement when I sought her advice as to whether I should take up singing professionally, and afterwards she actually helped me with my singing." Lord Lurgan knew Dame Nellie Melba from his childhood. She was a friend of his grandfather, Earl

Cadogan, and of his parents. she c--en came to their house in London, where she sang for them. While Lord Lurgan was studying singing later he used to see her frequently when she returned to London from tours. "I remember," he said, "spending a day with her in the country, when she played for me the records made during her farewell performance at Covent Garden, just a short t'me before. My last memory of Dame Nellie Melba was having lunch with her in Paris just before she sailed for Australia." Many singers start as sopranos and end up basses (in the ordinary ‘course of transition from boy to man), but it is not so usual for a man’s voice to change. When Lord Lurgan first started to sing, he was a tenor. Then, later, Courtland MacMahon placed his voice as that of a baritone; and for two years Lord Lurgan worked with him on speech and the position of the voice.

His first musical experience came at Eton. First he tried his voice with the light songs and lilting musical comedy airs of the day, accompanied by Edward Sackville West, a clever pianist who was in the same house. Irene Scharer, the well-known pianist, and wife of the housemaster at Eton, also encouraged his musical efforts. But while at Eton he did not take his singing seriously. This was to happen at Oxford, At Oxford, he lived at the Clergy House, St. Margaret’s, and studied under Father Pullam, the choirmaster there. Then came disaster. He developed

throat trouble which would not respond to _ treatment. He despaired of being able to sing again. Then by chance he went to Courtland Mace. Mahon who had done much to remedy the King’s voice difficulties. It was due to MacMahon that Lord Lurgan was able to continue with his singing. Lord Lurgan has, besides a fine voice, a remarkably generous spirit. He devotes all the professional fees he

receives from singing to the Home of St. Giles for British Lepers. Every record of his which is sold goes directly to helping this haven for sick people. "He is a knight errant, rescuing our native songs from the monster Neglect." Thus wrote Christopher Stone, of the BBC, in praise of the good-looking young lord. There has been a definite prejudice, Lord Lurgan feels, against English art songs; and believing in English songs as he does, he has been breaking lances for his cause ever since he started his singing career. Listeners in this country will have an opportunity of hearing him in a studio broadcast if they tune in to 2YA Wellington at 2 p.m. on Monday, October 16.