Forgotten Opera Singers

Forgotten Opera Singers

Dec 21, 2014

Browning Mummery (Tenor) ( Carlton, Melbourne 1888 – Canberra 1974)




First he was active as a mechanic, but then took singing lessons. He made his debut as a member of the Italian traveling opera company in his Australian native country as Faust. Additionally, he studied in London and appeared there first with the British National Opera Company, then in  the 1925-1928 seasons at the Covent Garden, where he had a special success as an Italian singer in "Rosenkavalier". After he had accompanied prima donna Nellie Melba in 1924 on her Australia tour, she selected him to sing the role of Rodolfo at the Covent Garden as her partner in 1926. He appeared in London also in the operetta ''Madame Pompadour'' of Leo Fall and in musical Comedies and was to be heard in the promenade Concerts. He travelled around in 1928 with the Melba-Williamson Company Australia. Then he undertook an USA tour and appeared there in the 1929-1931 seasons at the NBC Radio in New York. Two years of a similar activity followed in the 1931-1933 seasons with the English broadcasting company BBC in London and the participation in a music film ''Evensong'' with Evelyn Laye. In 1934 he went back to Australia. Here he was active as a concert singer and appeared still with the Fuller Grand Opera Company. Later he worked as a pedagogue in Melbourne, then in Canberra.

Chronology of some appearances

1925-1928 London Covent Garden

RECORDINGS FOR SALE









HMV, London 1927-08-29
Trovatore (Verdi): Miserere with Austral & chorus D1302 2-054181
Trovatore (Verdi): Ai nostri monti with Austral D1302 2-054182

HMV, London 1929-07-18
Tosca (Puccini): When the stars were brightly shining B3160 7-2527
Manon Lescaut (Puccini): Never did I behold B3160 7-2528
















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