Australian baritone John Brownlee first studied in Melbourne, then with Dinh Gilly in Paris, and was introduced to Covent Garden by his countrywoman Dame Nellie Melba, at whose farewell concert (June 8, 1926) he made his London debut as Marcello in the last two acts of La bohème. The following February he made his first appearance at the Paris Opera, remaining a prominent member there until 1936. At Covent Garden he sang Golaud in the 1930 revival of Pelléas et Melisande and was also successful in such Verdi roles as Renato and Amonasro. Brownlee was among the first group of artists who sang at Glyndebourne. Under Fritz Busch he sang Don Alfonso in 1935, Don Giovanni in 1936, as well as the Speaker in Die Zauberflöte and the Count in some later performances of Figaro. He first appeared at the Metropolitan Opera as Rigoletto 1937 and remained a valued member of the company until 1958, singing 348 performances of 33 roles. He also appeared widely elsewhere in North and South America, and became director (1956) and president (1966) of the Manhattan School of Music. As can be heard on this 1936 Glyndebourne recording, his Don Giovanni, if not irresistibly seductive in tone or manner, was musically very sensitive; and his singing in general, while neither so rich nor so resonant as to place him among the greatest baritones, was admirably schooled and always distinguished in style. (Desmonde Shawe-Taylor)
Audrey Mildmay studied in London and in Vienna with Jani Strasser, then toured Canada and the USA as Polly in 1927-28. On her return to England she joined the Carl Rosa company, singing such roles as Zerlina, Gretel, Micaela, Olympia, Musetta and Nedda and remaining with the company until her marriage to John Christie in 1931. He built the Glyndbourne theater on his estate, and founded Glyndebourne Festival in 1934. Performing at the festival from 1934-39, Mildmay’s Susanna, Zerlina and Norina were much admired for their vivacity and charm. In 1940 she sang Polly on Glyndebourne’s wartime tour. She retired from the stage in 1943 after singing Susanna in Montreal.