Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-04-29

NeEBay contest. II, was announced today.
b essayists wrote sketches u
life and work q Edward Johnson.
tenor. who IL to sing here the opening
night Of the festival.
Second prize was won by Miss
Mabel Olson, EdHnore. and third prize
by Miss Lillian. S&gAn Of Edmore.
Miss Sagen won the first prize In the
Anna Case essay contest a year ago..
The winning Edward johnson essay
follows:
10 one Of the greatest Of singing
American actors and to the principal
Italy. the people Of the music loving
world need no introduction.
Edward, Johnson is a self made
artist and his career Is very interest.
ing. He was born Of Canadian par
ents of Scottish descent. about thirty
years ago. who educated him to be a
lawyer. However. the study Of law
favored the studies of music and
French. Though he tried hard to
cope with the will of his parents, he
finally ave up his law course andNde-
termined to become a singer. Upon
hearing this, his parents withdrew all
aid. saying that II he was going to be
a singer. he would have to do so by
himself. -
So he left home and went TO the
inevitable New York, where he otaxtaA
as a choir boy in the Presbyterian
1 church on Fifth emu TAseo he
had ample time to devote to the study
Of music and made rapid progress.
on several tours throughout the United
0tatss and Canada, appearing In con-
cert in all of the principal cities.
In 1917. when a group of theatrical
operators were casting about for q
suitable tenor for the Waltz Dream"
they selected Edward johnson as the
best tenor in the country: The role
no American singer was capable of
taking it.. But Mr.. johnson played his
role to perfection and his success wa
so great that he determined upon a
future in grand opera.
Then he dropped suddenly and
completely out Of sight. Producers
throughout the country sought him
friends knew that he had gone to
Italy and vas studying under the
famed teacher, Lombardo, who also
taught Enrico Caruso. For two years
he studied consci ously, then, in 1912,
made his debut.
While studying he met a beautiful
Italian girl and married her, and they
! - IA AAA~ N~NoA ~s
married life dbl not last long, as his
wife died during the world war.
Partly to conceal his identity until
he had made good in grand opera and
partly due to the prejudice the italians
have for American tenors, he trans
lated his name into Italian and was
known throughout Europe as Edward
de Giovanni.
The next seve nyears OF his life
were composed of one triumph after
i another as a world famous opera
tenor. He created a number Of i'm.
portant roles. including III Tabarro''
saS;c Mays;" A ,Ted hs was and the "G aEst n
introduce Wagnerian roles in Italy
He also took the tenor part ir
Il Amore del Ire Re-" at Monte
meyze's urgent request. Mr.. johnson
was the first man to play Parisfal II
Italy, and he played 1t to perfection
His voice is the romantic type--clear
sweet, powerful and thrilling, which
In July. 1920. after his renowned
winter season of 10 and 20, as .
) 'i.nal token of appreciation and as 8
supreme acknowledge of his superior
ity as a tenor. King Victor Emarue
ii conferred upon" him the cross o
the officer tx the rownn4of Italy.
Their Edward johnson came home
= ll'GA 'tAc ASS
Chicago Opera association In Fedors
: and his success was overwhelming
/, He certainly experienced a genuine
: welcome home"
) The American people hailed hin
with delight. ~
The Chicago Tribune said The ap
plause which Numbered through tn
! house silenced the orchestra ant
stopped the performance. 1t was {
triumph such as few singers have
+ scored in this country"
: II fact, his success in Fedora wa!
so great that he was forced to pla!
= it over again within the next forty
eight hours.
:. In Mr.. Johnson the American au
.dience was given n complete sur
prise. They expected him to sing II
| Italian only. But when his poWertu
, sweet voice went out and faed tn
opera house, e~nuncfating the English
language perfectly. the American
{ people felt that they were indeed
: listening to a great personage-no
only was he a great singer but he wa
l an American.
:. Something happened then that ha
never before happened in the histor'
of the Chicago Opera COMPANY
tenor had starred with Career
: 1t was almost incredible-yet true
, Mr.. Devries in the Chicago American
said This new and astonishing teno
!, sang his aria with such beautiful
saurity Of tone, such ease OF produc
: ton and such thrilling warmth tina
!, he was given one of the creates
: ovations L have ever. witnessed
: But Edward johnson had yet an
, other surprise in store for the Amerl
cans. He could sing French. At one
- Cali -Curci called for a revival o