MR BROWNLEE’S CONCERT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21920, 4 April 1933, Page 9

MR BROWNLEE’S CONCERT

Mr John Brownlee’s first concert will take place to-night in the Concert Chamber of the Town Hall. Regarding one of Mr Brownlee’s Wellington concerts, the Evening Post said: —“Mr Brownlee gave his first Wellington concert in the Town Hall Concert Chamber on Saturday night, and he presented an enraptured audience with a programme worthy of his art. This young singer does not stoop to conquer his audiences with shop ballads. He sings compositions worthy of his beautiful voice and his prestige. German lieder occupied a conspicuous place on his programme, and to its interpretation he brought knowledge, intelligence, and emotion. His operatic arias were sung in a fine free style, and in his ballads there was an admirable balance between music and words.” A glance at the numbers selected for to-night’s concert reveals the fact that Mr Brownlee is giving Dunedin splendid concert fare. The baritone’s principal operatic number will be the great aria “Vision Fugitive,” from Massenet’s “ Herodiadi,” an opera in which John Brownlee has appeared on many occasions at the Paris Opera House. Handel’s lovely air, “ Silent Worship,” and the old English “ Phyllis Has Such Charming Graces,” are included, together with a group of German songs. These will comprise Strauss’s great song “ Deyotion ” and two Schumann lieder, ‘ Du bist wei einc blume ” and “ Ich Grolle nicht.” In response to innumerable requests Schubert's “ Erl King ” will be sung. Mr Brownlee will also be associated with Miss Rita Miller in several operatic duets. A feature of the Brownlee concerts is the brilliant pianoforte solos by M. Raymond Lambert, the young Belgian pianist. At to-night’s concert M. Lambert will play the Bach-Tausig “ Toccata and Fugue,” Ravel’g “ Jeux d’Eaux, and a scherzo by de Boeck, the modern Belgian composer. Miss Rita Miller will sing a group of old English songs and the “Bell Song” from Lakme (Delibes). The box plan arrangements are advertised.