Foster, Muriel

1877-

Prominent English vocalist, a niece of the late Birket Foster, the artist, and a cousin of Myles Birket Foster, the composer and organist. She was born in Sunderland, and pursued her musical studies under Anna Williams at the Royal College of Music, London, gaining a scholarship in 1897. Her debut was made in oratorio, at Bradford, in King Saul, since when she has sung at most of the English and Welsh Festivals, has been heard in concert in London, in Russia, Holland, Germany and in America, being received everywhere with enthusiasm. In 1900, Miss Foster was made an Associate of the Royal College of Music and the same year sang by special command before the late Queen Victoria. The following year she made a tour of Canada with Mme. Albani, sang at the Lower Rhine Festival in 1902, at the Worcester Festival the same year, and before King Edward VII. and Queen Alexandra. Probably Miss Foster's most successful appearance was at the production of Elgar's Gerontius at the Roman Catholic Cathedral of Westminster. In London she is extremely popular in concert and has been heard in the Bach Choir, the Royal Choral Society, London Symphony and Ballad concerts and the Popular concerts. She appeared in the United States in 1905 and sang in Chicago with the Theodore Thomas Orchestra. She has a magnificent voice, which is a rich, deep, perfectly-schooled contralto, used with finished art. She is besides strikingly beautiful in face and figure.