My Recollection of Gertrude Johnson and The National Opera School
Although I wasn’t good enough to make it as a professional opera singer, the teachings at the opera school and my singing lessons from the charismatic Gertrude Johnson inspired me to write my first novel. Originally titled Vissi d’arte, on the advice of my publisher, I changed it to an English title Cup of Affliction. Gertrude Johnson was the inspiration for the character of Harriet Shaw.
Blair Edgar, Peter Rourke and Harold Badger were some of the teachers I was fortunate to study under. Jonathan Summers who had leading roles at The English National Opera was one of the opera school’s great success stories.
Joanna Stephen-Ward
