ANOTHER SUCCESS

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 68, 22 March 1933, Page 12

ANOTHER SUCCESS

MR. JOHN BROWNLEE

The Australian baritone, Mr. John Brownlee, gave his second Wellington concert at the Town Hall Concert Chamber last night, and confirmed the great impression he made at his initial appearance, feis magnificent voice was a Ways eMueut and never for a moment did h*. aitistiy desert him. In aria and sonj-*e carried Lis audience with him, and at the conclusion of an exacting and varied programmehe received a prolonged ovation. The singer's bis number last mglit was the aria, "Eri Tu." from. \.erdi's 'Ojn Ballo in Maschera." This ana provides ■^reat opportunities for a- bantoue, but it is also a severe test. The intense and changing emotions of the first part call for dramatic singing, and it isin sharp contrast with the fine and simple melody of the second section, which demands absolute control of the voice. Mr. Brownlee delineated every mood of the air, and his fresh resonant voice never lost its ncli, musical quality. As an enc°r r e, h% sau 3 Mereutio's difficult "Queen Mab bong, from Gounod's "Romeo and Juliet, but lost some of the gossamer-like theme o| the music. Two old -French songs, '1 laisir d'Amour" (Martini) and "Bojs J'-pais (Lully) were exquisitely sung, ami- Hulin s setting of Henley's poem, "Invictus,' was defiantly declaimed. From the moderns Mr. Brownlee chose "The Vagabond (Vaughan Williams), "Do Not Go. ly Love" (Richard Hageman), and kaclv maninoff's "Spring Waters," aud to each he gave a distinctive interpretation. Graphic' utterance was given to Koeneman's bitter denunciation of war, 'When the King Went Forth to War," and among the encores were "On the' Day I Get to Heaven" (Lehmanu), "List to the Rosebud," a charming Hungarian folk-song, arranged by Corbay, "The Pretty Creature, and "The Boid Unbiddnble Child." The duet, "Dite alia Giovinc,' from Verdi's opera, "La -Traviata," was beautifully sung by Mr. Brownlee and Miss Kita Miller, the young lyric soprano, and they were twice recalled, encores being the dainty "La Ci Darcrri La Mano. from Mozart's "Don Giovanni," aud "D'Asqua Aspergimi," from Massenet's "Thais. Mrs. Miller sang with ease and fluency the cuvatina, "Una Voce Poco Fa," from Rossini's "Barber of Seville," and was twice recalled by a delighted audience. Her other numbers included "Che I'iero Costume" (Caccini), "La. Danza" (Durante) "TJic Owl," "The Wedding Morn," and "Comin' Thro' the Eye." The young pianist of the party, M. Raymond Lambert, again created a deep impression. His rendering of Liszt's "Hungarian Rhapsody," No.. i, was satisfying technically and musically, and his playing of the cascade of octaves in the climax was electrifying. Other items by M. Lambert included "Pastoral and Capriccio" (Scarlatti-Tausig) and "Gavotte, "Variations" (Rameau-Leeheteski) and "Berceuse" (Palmgren). As an accompanist he gave the singers admirable support. Mr. Brownlee will gh;e the third concert of tbc season tomorrow evening, when another interesting and varied programme will'be presented. The baritone's principal numbers will be the merry "Largo al factotum." from Rossini's "Barber of Seville," "Wherever You Walk" (Handel), "In Questa Tomba" (Beethoven), "Danny "Deever" (Damroseh), and a'French group which will include the popular "Dause Macabre," by Saint-Saens. A number of operatic: duets will also be sang with Miss .Rita Miller, whose solo numbers will include an old English group, and the aria, "A fors e lui." from "La Traviata." Mr. Raymond Lambert will act as accompanist, and will play as solo the G minor Ballade of Chopin and Balakirev's great fantasia, "Islamcy." a composition adjudged as being the most difficult pianoforte work yet composed. The box plan and day sales are at The Bristol.