The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-07-13

johnson his great reputation, was an
interpolated song entitled II Love and
the World Is Nine" which was written
by Charles Gilbert Spross, the well
known American composer and ac-
companist. for Anna Case.
With such success johnson now
turned his attention to grand opera.
With the money he made he babe
good-by to New York in the fall Of
1909 and set sail for Italy, where he
became a pupil of Lombard, the
teacher of many famous singers. He
studied with this instructor in Flor
ence and Milan. When Johnson ar
rived in Italy his voice was Of lyric
quality, but lombard saw that Is was
really dramatic voice, and he began
preparing Johnson for such roles.
Johnson made his debut in Andrea
Chenier" in 1911. He made a tremen-
dous success, and to-day is looked
upon as the greatest interpreter that
the title role has ever had. No season
would be complete in Italy IL johnson
was not heard in 1t. He began tour
ing the different cities. singing in tho
standard operas, and in due time was
brought to Rome, where he made his
In the Holy City he sang many operas.
among them being Aida" The
Jewels of the Madonna" "Pagliacci,"
Don Giovanni" Butterfly" "Tosca"
and 1.-THE Girl Of the Golden West"
In the last named opera johnson made
n tremendous success. He was looked
upon as an example Of what a West
ern bad man could be.
Triumphs fn Wagnerian Operas.
In 1913 Johnson went to Bologna
the great Wagnerian centre of Italy.
There he was called upon to sing many
OF the Wagnerian operas. His work
in "Tannhauser," "Lohengrin,' and
Tristan and Isolde" brought him
immediate success. When the season
ended he was proclaimed the greatest
Wagnerian tenor not only in Italy
but the whole of Europe. The next
] season Johnson went to La Scala,
where he sang in both Wagnerian and
Italian opera. In one season he sang
twcnty-seven performances of Par
| sifal." He then returned to Rome.
where he sang several new works,
| including some Of the Wagnerian
operas. Upon his return to La Scala
he was heard in "L'Amore del Ire Rs,Y
and from that time on no dramatic
| tenor in Italy has become so popular
/ in many years.
| His fame had now reached South
America, and the director of the Teatfo
Colon, Buenos Ayres, requested that he
| go there for a season. In 1915 he
went to the Argentine capital, where
he became the idol OF the Buenos Ayres
| public. He sang Andrea Chenier''
with such success that II had to be re
| pcatcd several times. He was also
heard in "Manon Lescaut," Tam
| hauser' and THE MeistersinRer"
johnson sings Wagner only in Italian.
and says that by having such good
translations he has no desire to sing II
in German. The Italian has no effect
upon his vocal cords as would the
original language. He was reengaged
for the next season, when he was to
have sung In several new operas, but
war conditions prevented Upon his
return TO Italy he was kept busy
preparing new operas already named
Gives Services for Soldiers.
During the war johnson did a great
deal of war work He was continually
giving his services in behalf OF the
soldiers For his interest in Italy's
cause he received several decorations
from the King and Queen. He has
given many concerts and recitals
since his going abroad.
| All during his career Johnson has
been very much OF a home man. He
never travels without his wife and
daughter. and when in a foreign city
they always rent n small apartment
and make OF il a home where they
can entertain their friends. He in
sists that married life is the only real
life for a singer, and that the greater
part Of his success has been due to n
loving and faithful wife who has
helped him in every way,
The young American girls engaged
for the Metropolitan Opera House will
be employed chiefly in THE Blue Bird"
when that new opera is sung. 1t has
many roles. Formerly every Ameri-
can singer In the Metropolitan looked
forward eagerly TO a chance as one OF
the Valkyrie in Die Walkuere." That
opera was removed from the repertoire
and there remained for the expression
OF their genius only the small roles In
That's" and Francesca da Rimini"
J Now there will be the new Belgian
lopNretta To helm them To fama