Baritone sings of peace, understanding in East Asia

Nanchong, China, and Sapporo, Japan

As the last note hung in the otherwise silent auditorium, listeners sat in wonder of Anthony Brown's voice, wiping tear-damp eyes. Then the crowd burst into applause, the sound of their hands ringing into the building's rafters.

Brown, well versed in opera, oratorio, art song, contemporary works and spirituals, made his Asian debut on a tour May 9 through June 13. Hosted by Mennonite Church Canada Witness partners China Educational Exchange (CEE) and Mennonite Mission Network (MMN), the baritone gave concerts and lectures in China and Japan at universities, concert halls, churches and Mennonite centres. In each venue, Brown's goal was to …