Gertrude Johnson

Gertrude Emily Johnson OBE (13 September 1894 – 28 March 1973) was an Australian coloratura soprano and founder of the National Theatre Movement in Melbourne.

On the advice of Nellie Melba, Johnson enrolled at the age of 17 in the University of Melbourne Conservatorium of Music as a student of Anne Williams.

The director of Albert Street, Fritz Hart, had a particular interest in Mozartian opera and was responsible for introducing Johnson to what was to be the core of her repertoire.

Through introductions from Melba, Johnson begun touring outback Queensland and New South Wales in 1917 with Count Ercole Filippini's troupe, and in 1919 to Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide and New Zealand with the Rigo Grand Opera Company.

[2] The company grew rapidly, and protected from international competition during World War II, managed to produce 15 operas through this period.

After the war the company continued to tour nationally, and in 1954 gave a Royal Command Performance at Melbourne's Princess Theatre in front of Queen Elizabeth II.

Two fires in premises occupied by the NTM sapped morale, until finally a permanent home was found in the former Victory Cinema in St Kilda.