Muriel Foster

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Born in Sunderland, Muriel Foster (1877 - 1937) became a contralto, excelling in oratorio. She performed in The Dream of Gerontius in Düsseldorf in May 1902, of which the Manchester Guardian wrote: 'The part of the Angel was given by Miss Muriel Foster with the wonderfully beautiful and genuine voice...' She was also memorable in Brahms' Alto Rhapsody.

She was a personal friend of Edward Elgar and sang in the first performance of his Coronation Ode of 1902; The Apostles (1903); The Kingdom (1906); The River (1910) and The Music Makers (1912), which was co-dedicated to Nicholas Kilburn. Elgar dedicated his song 'A Child Asleep' to Anthony Goetz (Muriel Foster's son) 'for his mother's singing'. In January 1914 she sang at a Royal Philharmonic concert the aria 'Aus der Tiefe des Grames' from Achilleus by Max Bruch, under the baton of Willem Mengelberg, and achieved the distinction of the Gold Medal of the Royal Philharmonic Society.[1]

Muriel Foster performed regularly in London and the provinces, as well as the USA.

[edit] Sources

  1. ^ R Elkin, Royal Philharmonic (Rider, London 1946), 135, 140. At least 11 gold medals were awarded to singers between 1871 and 1914, but none from 1915-1944.

Miss Muriel Foster [1] The Musical Times, Vol. 45, No. 733 (Mar. 1, 1904), pp. 153-155


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