A FAMOUS SINGER

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 64, 17 March 1933, Page 9

A FAMOUS SINGER

OPERAS AXD COXCEETS

MR. JOHN BROWNLEE ARRIVES

Mr. John Brownlcc, the noted opera- j tic and concert baritone, arrived in Wellington last evening. During the last few weeks ho has seen many of the major scenic attractions of-, the North Island, and is full of praise for tho' beauties of the country and its varied scenery. «<I am touring' by car and the weather so far has been very kind to us," he remarked to a "Post" representative today, "and we all think New Zealand is even more beautiful than it is made out to be. AYe are certainly delighted with pur first visit, and I must say that I am delighted, too, with the responsive audiences I am getting at my concerts." Referring to the broadcasting of records. Mr. Brownlee remarked that the artist's point of view was a' side of the question which did n.ot receive as much publicity as'some other aspects. "Some gf us," he said, "have entered into long-term contracts with the manufacturers of records.- These contracts are on a royalty basis and the size of our cheques depends almost entirely upon the number of records sold. Up to four or five years ago there was no trouble, records being broadcast in moderation only. But recently the broadcasting of records has' been so overdone that the sale of records has been practically killed, and artists' cheques consequently reduced to vanishing point. However marvellously broadcasting companies develop their 'microphones, they cannot get along without the artist. It is ridiculous-for, them, as some do, to look upon t!ic artists as their natural enemy, for obviously there must, be co-operation. Broadcasting has come to stay, and all parties must get together and work things out amicably."

Mr. Brownlee said that ho was not prepared to say whether he. liked singing in opera better than concert work. "The two arc so very different," he said, "but the. latter" is the harder work. In opera you can lose yourself in your part and you have the stage effects, settings, scenery, costumes, and orchestra to help you to create the right atmosphere and feeling. On the concert platform, in the plain boiled shirt, there are no extraneous aids to the creation of atmosphere: you- have got to do it all yourself."

Artists, Mr.' Brownlee opined, would be well advised if they stuck rigidly to their art, which, after all, was their bread and butter, and did not mis themselves up in politics and other matters foreign to their calling. It too often led to difficulties, and he quoted' as an example of what he meant the harm a certain well-known actress had done to her box-office receipts by her participation in outside matters.