Role

:

Composer

Country

:

United Kingdom

Birth

:

ca. 1555

Death

:

ca. 1601

Period

:

Renaissance

 

 

Romantic

Genre

:

Chamber

 

 

Opera

 

 

Symphony

 

Edward Johnson was a Canadian composer and tenor who was born on November 23, 1878, in Guelph, Ontario. He was the son of a Methodist minister and grew up in a musical family. His mother was a pianist, and his father played the organ. Johnson began his musical training at an early age, studying piano and singing in the church choir. In 1896, Johnson moved to Toronto to study at the Toronto Conservatory of Music. He studied piano with Frank Welsman and voice with Luigi von Kunits. After completing his studies, Johnson began his career as a tenor, performing in concerts and operas throughout Canada and the United States. In 1909, Johnson made his debut at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City, singing the role of Don Ottavio in Mozart's "Don Giovanni." He quickly became a favorite of audiences and critics alike, and he went on to sing many leading roles at the Met, including the title role in Verdi's "Otello," Radames in "Aida," and the Duke in "Rigoletto." In addition to his career as a singer, Johnson was also a prolific composer. He wrote over 200 songs, as well as several operas and choral works. His most famous opera is "Bluebeard's Castle," which he composed in 1911. The opera is based on the French fairy tale of the same name and tells the story of a young woman who marries a wealthy nobleman with a dark secret. "Bluebeard's Castle" premiered in Budapest in 1918 and was an immediate success. The opera has since become a staple of the modern repertoire and is considered one of the greatest operas of the 20th century. Johnson's other notable works include the choral piece "The Triumph of St. Joan," which he composed in 1924, and the opera "Lament for Beowulf," which he wrote in 1925. "The Triumph of St. Joan" is a setting of a poem by Alfred Noyes and tells the story of Joan of Arc. "Lament for Beowulf" is based on the Old English epic poem "Beowulf" and tells the story of the hero's death. In addition to his work as a composer and singer, Johnson was also a respected conductor. He served as the music director of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra from 1922 to 1931 and conducted many other orchestras throughout his career. Johnson retired from singing in 1935 and devoted himself to composing and conducting. He continued to write music until his death on April 21, 1959, in Toronto. Today, he is remembered as one of Canada's greatest composers and as a pioneer of modern opera.

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