Edward Johnson Collection

Collection of correspondence, photographs of operatic roles,  family photographs, broadsides, theatre programs, speeches, postcards, diaries, slides, postcards, certificates, artifacts, music scores, several books on opera. 

Edward Johnson was born in Guelph in 1878. Edward married Beatrice D’Arneiro (known as “Bebe”). They had one daughter Fiorenza, who married George Drew. Edward Johnson studied opera with Vincenzo Lombardi in Florence. His made debut as Eduardo di Giovanni, in 1912 in Padua. He was engaged for the Milan season from 1913-1914  Between 1914 and 1919 he created in Milan and Rome leading tenor roles in Montemezzi's La Nave, Pizzetti's Fedra, and Alfano's L'Ombra di Don Giovanni; also the first Italian Rinuccio and Luigi, Seigfried and Tannhauser.

Edward performed for the Chicago Opera Company 1919-1922; New York Metropolitan Opera Company 1922-1929, sole appearance London, as Faust 1923.  Edward Johnson was the manager of the Metropolitan Opera Company 1935-1950. He was also very active in establishing several music foundations and music scholarship programs, including The Edward Johnson Music Foundation (Guelph) and the Guelph Spring Festival.

Edward Johnson died on April 20, 1959 in Guelph.