Background
FOSTER, Muriel was born on November 22, 1877 in Sunderland. Niece of late Birket Foster.
FOSTER, Muriel was born on November 22, 1877 in Sunderland. Niece of late Birket Foster.
Muriel and Hilda studied at the Royal College of Music in London.
Grove"s Dictionary describes her voice as "one of the most beautiful voices of her time". Muriel"s oratorio debut was in Hubert Parry"s King Saul in 1896. The Foster sisters performed at the Popular Concerts in 1899 in duets, Hilda retiring in 1900 upon marriage.
Muriel Foster performed in Edward Elgar"s The Dream of Gerontius under Julius Buths in Düsseldorf in May 1902, of which the Manchester Guardian wrote: "The part of the Angel was given by Mission Muriel Foster with the wonderfully beautiful and genuine voice.." She had previously sung in Elgar"s Sea Pictures.
She was also memorable in Brahms" Alto Rhapsody. Elgar dedicated his song "A Child Asleep" to Muriel Foster"s son Anthony Goetz "for his mother"s singing".
She also performed in lieder recitals, her regular accompanist being Anthony Bernard. Muriel Foster performed regularly in London and the provinces, as well as in Germany, the Netherlands, Russia and the United States of America. She had a command of a number of languages.
Charles Villiers Stanford wrote about her
“She has not got the whopping voice of Clara Butt, but she has more poetry and is musical to her fingertips”.