Edward L. Johnson

Johnson, Edward L.

Edward L. (Leslie) Johnson. Tenor, b Hamilton, Ont, 28 Mar 1923. At 18 he began studying singing with Margaret Moreland in Toronto. He was a member of the chorus and sang minor roles 1947-51 at the Metropolitan Opera and studied there with Giuseppe Giuffrida. He also appeared in La Traviata, Gianni Schicchi, Carmen and in Britten operas on tour with various US opera companies (including lead parts opposite Beverly Sills) and sang in light opera and concert. In 1952, as a substitute for the indisposed William Morton, he sang the title role in the CBC Opera Company's broadcast of Peter Grimes. For the same company he sang the Jailer in Dallapiccola's The Prisoner (1952) and Tom Rakewell in Stravinsky's The Rake's Progress (1953), repeating the latter role on the CBC L'Heure du concert in 1954.

His debut with the COC came in 1953 as Ferrando in Cosi fan tutte. In the same year he sang and recorded the role of the Evangelist in the St. Matthew Passion under Sir Ernest MacMillan, repeating the role during the TSO's visit to Carnegie Hall in 1954.

Johnson returned to Hamilton in 1959 and in the following year began to sing with the Dofasco Male Chorus. He was a founding member, leading tenor and director 1962-7 of the Hamilton Opera Company. In 1976 Johnson moved to Fergus, Ont where in 1990 he continued to teach voice. He is no relation to the tenor Edward Johnson.