Canadian-American soprano Eliza Jane Johnson has been praised for her honest characterizations, fluid legato, and sparkling upper register. Her current repertoire includes Donna Anna (Don Giovanni), Konstanze (Die Entführung aus dem Serail), and Elettra (Idomeneo); Donizetti heroines such as Anna Bolena, Maria Stuarda, and Elisabetta (Roberto Devereux); Mathilde (Guillaume Tell) and Verdi roles from his early and middle years, including Violetta (La traviata) and Elvira (Ernani).
Past operatic appearances include Susanna (Le nozze di Figaro), Despina (Così fan tutte), Pamina (Die Zauberflöte), Adina (L'elisir d'amore), Rita (Rita), Berta (Il barbiere di Siviglia), Cleopatra (Giulio Cesare), Pulcheria (Riccardo Primo), Governess (The Turn of the Screw), Lucy (The Telephone), and Rob Ford's Mother (Rob Ford: The Opera); concert appearances include Mozart's Exultate, Jubilate!, Beethoven's Mass in C, Handel's Solomon (Solomon's Queen), and excerpts from La traviata (Violetta), La bohème (Mimì), Die Zauberflöte (Königin der Nacht), and Les Contes d'Hoffmann (Antonia), Bach's Hymnbook, and music of Harry Somers, in collaboration with institutions and ensembles such as Opera Lyra Ottawa, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, the Victoria Symphony, the Saint Louis Symphony, Stratford Symphony Orchestra, Stratford Summer Music, Tapestry New Opera, Soundstreams International, Highlands Opera Studio, UofT Opera, and the University of Toronto Symphony Orchestra. Recordings include Eliza Sings Rodgers and Hart and Four New Voices.
In competition, Eliza won first prize and audience choice in the prestigious Brian Law Competition (National Capital Opera Society), and was the winner of the Artist's Diploma category at the OMFA Provincial Finals (Royal Conservatory of Music). She has also appeared as a finalist in the Canadian Opera Company Centre Stage Competition and for the Ryan Opera Center at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.
Eliza is the recipient of numerous awards and scholarships from the University of Toronto, including the Gretta Kraus Award for excellence in Lieder, the Douglas Bodle Graduating Award for Oratorio, the Ruber Mercer Opera Fellowship, and the Mary Morrison Award for vocal excellence.
She holds a Bachelor of Music and Master of Music in Opera from the University of Toronto, and is an alumna of training programs with Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, Opera Lyra Ottawa, Highlands Opera Studio, Queen of Puddings Music Theatre, Tapestry New Opera, Contemporary Opera Lab, St. Andrews-by-the-Sea, and the Victoria Conservatory. She has appeared in masterclasses with Sondra Radvanovsky, Marlena Malas, Steuart Bedford, Richard Margison, Stephen Lord, Warren Jones, Michael Schade, and Edith Wiens.
Eliza has worked as an artistic and music educator for young children with organizations in Canada and Germany including Heart to Art, Arts Alive, and Little Music Makers, and as an early years educator at Phorms Berlin Süd. She has taught voice and piano with Firefly Music Co, Music Academy Berlin, and privately for over a decade. She has a background in ballet, tap, jazz, and contemporary dance.
Eliza is based in Berlin. She currently studies with Michelle Wegwart (Opéra national de Paris, Salzburger Festspiele, Opernhaus Zürich etc). Coaches include Adrian Kelly (Opernhaus Zürich IOS), Rupert Dussmann (Deutsche Oper Berlin, Staatsoper Berlin, etc), and Muriel Corradini (Opéra National de Paris).
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Konstanze - Die Entführung aus dem Serail, Mozart
Donna Anna - Don Giovanni, Mozart
Elettra* - Idomeneo, Mozart
Violetta - La traviata, Verdi
Elvira - Ernani, Verdi
Elena* - I Vespri Siciliani, Verdi
Medora* - Il corsaro, Verdi
Gilda - Rigoletto, Verdi
Anna - Anna Bolena, Donizetti
Maria - Maria Stuarda, Donizetti
Elisabetta - Roberto Devereux, Donizetti
Alcina - Alcina, Händel
Mathilde* - Guillaume Tell, Rossini
* in preparation
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Despina^ - Così fan tutte, Mozart
Pamina^ - Die Zauberflöte, Mozart
Susanna^ - Le nozze di Figaro, Mozart
Rita (cover) - Rita, Donizetti
Lucia (role study) - Lucia di Lammermoor, Donizetti
Adina^ - L’elisir d’amore, Donizetti
Berta^ - Il barbiere di Siviglia, Rossini
Amina (role study) - La Sonnambula, Bellini
Cleopatra^ - Giulio Cesare - G. F. Händel
Pulcheria^ (cover) - Riccardo Primo, G. F. Händel
Lucy^ - The Telephone, Menotti
Governess^- The Turn of the Screw, Britten
Anne Truelove (role study) - The Rake’s Progress, Stravinsky
Manon (role study) - Manon, Massenet
^ performed
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“With Eliza, it’s always legato, it’s always in her control, and it’s always beautiful… her Mozart was liquid and sobbing, but entirely clean using the voice as the sole storytelling device. Eliza is absolutely someone to watch in coming years…” - Jenna Douglas, Schmopera (COC Centre Stage 2014)
“Eliza Johnson’s ‘Caro nome’ had that special mix of technical mastery and emotional oomph that only the best performances have - control and vulnerability, studiousness and rawness… I can’t wait to hear her again.” - Lydia Perovic, Definitely the Opera (COC Centre Stage 2015)
“Eliza Johnson was a delightfully coquettish and vocally sparkling Susanna.” - Dawn Martens, Opera Canada (Highlands Opera Studio, 2015)
“Eliza Johnson was hilarious in the role of Despina. Her fresh, light soprano voice was ideal for the lyrical aspect of the role. Ms. Johnson demonstrated herself to be a fine character actress and took full advantage of the opportunity to do some comedic voice work.” - Keira Grant, Mooney on Theatre (UofT 2012)
“Berta’s engaging aria has the potential to brighten Act 2, and so it did in Eliza Johnson’s spirited performance. An impressive debut… “ - George Loomis, Opera Magazine (OTSL 2015)