Browning Mummery

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For the Australian electronic musician Andrew Lonsdale, see Browning Mummery (Electronic sound works).

Joseph Browning Mummery (12 July 1888 – 16 March 1974), was an Australian opera tenor of the 1920s and 1930s who achieved a considerable reputation in Europe and America. He appeared on stage with Dame Nellie Melba on various occasions at her request.[1]

Career

Mummery was born in Carlton, Melbourne,[2] the only son of Joseph Ernest Mummery,[3] jeweller, and his wife Matilda Louise Mummery,[4] née Henry.[5] He embarked on a career in engineering, but switched to his first love, singing, tutored by baritone A. C. Bartleman, a near-contemporary.[a]

In 1919 he made his grand opera debut with Frank Rigo's opera company, under Gustave Slapoffski, as the title character in Faust. His old tutor A C. Bartleman was in the cast as Valentine.[8] He was a member of J. C. Williamson's Grand Opera Company later that same year.[9] He was later accepted into the Gonzales Opera Company.[10]

Throughout his career he played

lyrical leading roles in a host of operas, including Madama Butterfly, The Magic Flute, La bohème and Tosca,[11] which was one of his favorites. He sang with Dame Nellie Melba in La bohème. The role he enjoyed most was David in Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg
.

He worked with conductors Sir John Barbirolli, Sir Malcolm Sargent, Sir Thomas Beecham and Sir Henry Wood.

He sang extensively in America, appearing regularly on

Australian Broadcasting Commission for a series of concerts.[12]
He later taught in Melbourne.

He retired to Canberra, where he died in 1974, aged 85.

Notes

  1. protégé of Melba and studied in Germany and Italy.[7]

References

  1. ^ "Melba at Old Vic". The Daily Standard (Brisbane). No. 4337. Queensland, Australia. 4 December 1926. p. 9. Retrieved 7 April 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  2. ^ "Football and Grand Opera Stars Meet". The News (Adelaide). Vol. X, no. 1, 526. South Australia. 5 June 1928. p. 9. Retrieved 5 April 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  3. ^ "Mr J. E. Mummery". The Age. No. 25, 055. Victoria, Australia. 3 August 1935. p. 19. Retrieved 7 April 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. ^ "Family Notices". The Argus (Melbourne). No. 28, 972. Victoria, Australia. 1 July 1939. p. 6. Retrieved 7 April 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. ^
    ISSN 1833-7538
    . Retrieved 7 April 2022.
  6. ^ "Music". Melbourne Punch. Vol. CXVI, no. 2957. Victoria, Australia. 28 March 1912. p. 45. Retrieved 6 April 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. Mount Alexander Mail
    . No. 15, 179. Victoria, Australia. 24 February 1908. p. 1. Retrieved 6 April 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  8. ^ "Amusements". The Age. No. 19, 988. Victoria, Australia. 17 April 1919. p. 8. Retrieved 7 April 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  9. ^ "Grand Opera". The Age. No. 20, 173. Victoria, Australia. 22 November 1919. p. 12. Retrieved 7 April 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  10. ^ "Profili di Artisti". Italian Bulletin of Australia. Vol. 6, no. 9. New South Wales, Australia. 15 June 1928. p. 24. Retrieved 7 April 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  11. ^ "La Tosca". Table Talk. No. 3135. Victoria, Australia. 7 June 1928. p. 18. Retrieved 5 April 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  12. ^ a b "Browning Mummery Engaged". The Queenslander. Queensland, Australia. 29 December 1937. p. 34. Retrieved 7 April 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  13. IMDb Edit this at Wikidata

External links
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