Viola Wilson AM (1 November 1911 – 6 February 2002) was a Scottish singer, the leading soprano for J. C. Williamson's Gilbert and Sullivan company in Australia during World War II.
[3] She joined the Carl Rosa Opera Company, touring South Africa, and played Gilbert and Sullivan (G.& S.) with D'Oyly Carte in London and on Broadway.
[9] He announced that the company would be kept together for the duration of the war, though it might mean departing from the G.& S. canon to play such as Balfe's opera, The Bohemian Girl, Wallace's Maritana and the operetta Lilac Time.
Viola's friend Sara Gregory was bridesmaid, and her singing teacher Francesca Duret sang Grieg's "I Love Thee" during the signing of the register.
[15] Marie Bremner took Wilson's place in the company[16] while the couple was on their brief — taking a holiday was not in Tait's nature — honeymoon in Brisbane, the Gold Coast and Sydney.
[17] Still billed as "Viola Wilson", she was back with the company in Melbourne for a week from 6 September, playing Princess Ida, Evelyn Gardiner attracting particular praise.
In that year a G.& S. opera was broadcast for the first time in Australia, live and in full, though some dialogue was excised; The Gondoliers in January[22] with Pirates and Iolanthe in February.
When Gladys Moncrieff was unable to appear at that year's Carols by Candlelight, due to commitments with the troops in New Guinea, Wilson volunteered.
[28] She returned to the popular stage in June 1946 as Maria Ziegler in Ivor Novello's The Dancing Years with Max Oldaker, produced by Leontine Sagan to good but not glowing reviews.