Edward Johnson (tenor)

Edward Patrick Johnson (1878 – 1959) was a Canadian opera singer and director of the Metropolitan Opera in New York City.

Early life

Born in Guelph, Ontario, Canada on August 22, Johnson was the son of James Johnson and the former Margaret Jane Brown. The young tenor sang in his local church choir and at events in the Guelph area. At a concert in Stratford in 1897, contralto Edith Miller encouraged him to move to New York and pursue a singing career. After a peripatetic existence for some years, working in a variety of venues and training with several masters, he made his concert debut at Carnegie Hall in 1904.

Johnson became a star in the pantheon of U.S. opera when he sang the lead role in the North American premiere of Oscar Straus's "A Waltz Dream" in 1907. In 1908 he moved to Paris, France and began training under Richard Barthélemy. He married Beatrice d'Arneiro, in London, in August 1909. His only child, Fiorenza, was born 21 Dec 1910. She married George Drew who later became Premier of Ontario and Federal Leader of the Opposition, and died in 1965.

Opera career

Johnson made his opera debut January 10th 1912 as Andrea Chénier at Padua's "Teatro Verdi", calling himself Edoardo Di Giovanni. Johnson made his North American opera debut 20 Nov 1919 as "Loris" in Umberto Giordano's "Fedora" with the Chicago Opera, remained in Chicago for three years. Johnson made his Metropolitan Opera debut 16 Nov 1922, as Avito in Italo Montemezzi's "L'amore dei tre re". He remained with the Met for thirteen years as a singer. His last performance was March 20th, 1935.

Opera Director

In May 1935 Johnson became general manager of the Metropolitan Opera, succeeding Herbert Witherspoon. He held that position for fifteen years.

Retirement

Johnson retired from the Met in 1950 and returned to Guelph, promoting musical education and serving as chairman of the board of the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto. He established the Edward Johnson Music Foundation, sponsor of the annual Guelph Spring Festival. He suffered a heart attack and died while attending a National Ballet recital at the Guelph Memorial Gardens.

Honours and titles

*The University of Toronto's Faculty of Music Building and Music Library were named in his honour and currently house his memorabilia.
*On October 17, 2006 Canada Post issued a set of five domestic rate (51¢) stamps to celebrate great Canadian opera singers, including Edward Johnson.
*The Edward Johnson Elementary School was opened in Guelph in 1955.

*C.B.E
*L.L.D, Mus. Doc.
*Chevalier de la legion D'honneur
*officer of the crour of Italy , Stella Della Solidarita Italiana
*comm. Royal Swedish order of Vasa
*Brazilian Order of Southern Cross

Education

*LLD (University of Western Ontario) 1929
*honorary D MUS (University of Toronto) 1934
*honorary D LITT (Union College, New York) 1943

External links

* [http://www.edwardjohnsonmusicfoundation.org/ The Edward Johnson Music Foundation]
* [http://www2.lib.uoguelph.ca/resources/archives/special_collections/edward_johnson_collection.htm The Edward Johnson collection at the University of Guelph Library]