Australian singer John Brownlee (1900-1969) was born in Geelong, he was initially encouraged by Nellie Melba while studying in Melbourne, before moving to Paris to work with Dinh Gilly. Following his Paris début in Lakmé in 1926, Melba selected him for her Covent Garden farewell on 8th June that same year when he appeared as Marcello in Acts 3 and 4 of La Bohème. His success on this occasion resulted in his continuing at the house for a number of years, his rôles there including Golaud in Pelléas et Mélisande, Scarpia in Tosca and Renato in Un ballo in maschera.

Concurrently Brownlee sang at the Paris Opéra from 1927 until 1936. His début at the Metropolitan Opera in New York was in the title-rôle of Rigoletto in February 1937 and it was in this house that he would remain, giving in total 348 performances of 33 rôles. His Glyndebourne years were from 1935 until 1939, and his rôles there included Almaviva in Figaro, the title-rôle in Don Giovanni (which he recorded) and Don Alfonso. After retiring from the stage he became Director of the Manhattan School of Music in 1956, and the President a decade later. He was a fine actor and excellent linguist.