Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1911-04-07
SCHUSTER'S CAREER
BrattIeboro Boy Widely Known
as Grand Opera Singer
Warmly Praised by the crltlcs-Boy-
hood Days Recalled.

hood Days Recalled.
William Schuster, basso cantante with
the Aborn English grand opera company,
Is q Brattleboro boy. therefore 1t was a
great plea sure to him to be able to sing
in Springfield with the Aborn company.
Although Mr.. Schuster has been a pro-
fessional for several years 1t so happened
that he never before sang In Springfield.
1t was an added pleasure to him that
the critics should write so enthusiastic
cally of his singing and he rather guessed
that after reading the ecomiums in the
Springfield newspapers that folks up
Brattleboro way would consider he was
some punkins, so to speak. Joking aside,
however, Mr.. Schuster was very happy
over the reception accorded to him by
the Springfield public.
In his boyhood days Mr.. Schuster had
not planned to become professional
singer. AS a matter of fact he was very
much of an athlete when a youth and If
he had gone to college he probably would
have won distinction in athletic contests.
Mr.. Schuster won quite a reputation and
many prizes as an amateur bicycle rider
and he recalls wildly coming to Spring
field in 1885, with other members of the
Brattleboro Wheel club, to attend the
great bicycle tournament of that year
That was the year when the star English
Dick Howell walk or ride away with some
of the latest prizes. George NJ. Hendee
was also the idol of all the wheelmen in
the Connecticut valley in that year and
Mr.. Schuster says 1t was a great treat for
the boys to come to Springfield and see
the fastest bicycle riders of the world
Mr.. Schuster modestly said that although
he was rider of some note around Brat
tleboro he didn't consider himself sufi-
GENTLY in the class of riders who took
part in the Springfield tournaments to
enter the races under Duckers manage
ment, but he did considerable riding at
the smaller meets which were then prev
alent up and down the valley. He has
quite a collection of medals which were
won by him in contests on the bicycle
track.
1t was an accidental success that put
him on the stage. There was a local pre-
sentation of "Pinafore" in Bratteboro
and Mr.. Schuster was cast for one of the
parts. His singing won such favor that
local pride asserted itself and people be-
gan to advise him to go abroad and
study His father was so favorably in
clined that he contributed toward the ex-
penses of a foreign musical education.
Mr. Schuster, having saved n little money
of his own earning, decided to act upon
the advice of his friends and develop the
to him. Mr.. Schuster and Mary Howe
were boy and girl playmates and both
studied abroad at the same time. Those
who are in middle life will have no diff
Guilty in recalling the phenomenal success
which Mary Howe made as a soprano So
loist al the music festival some 20 years
ago. Another boyhood chum of Mr.
Schuster's was Clifton Sherman, for sew
eral years managing editor of the Hart
ford Courant. who began newspaper work
on The Union. There was great pleasure
for Mr.. Schuster and in recalling mem
cries Of mutual friends.
After returning from abroad Mr. Schus-
ter Joined the chorus of the Metropolitan
opera company in New York and remain
ed there for several years, being advanc-
ed to parts. A change of policy at the
Metropolitan caused him to seek new
fields. The valuable training and expert
ence he had received gave him confidence
and made it easy for him to obtain en-
gagements. He sang in grand opera and
light opera and finally drifted to San
Francisco where he was located for many
years as leading baritone of the Tivoli
opera company which had on its roster
many noted singers. Nine. Tetrazzini
sang with the Tivoli company for sew
eral seasons before New York ever heard
of her. She had rather sensational ex-
periences while on the coast.
The company had an extensive reper-
tore. Operas We're sung that patrons of
the opera in New York today have never
heard and hardly know even by name.
operas such as "Lucrezia Borgia" Ell
dello, Una Balla Maschera," "Ernani"
ana many others of the earlier OPERAS
We're In the Tivolis repertoire Had II
not been for the earthquake Mr. Schuster
probably would have remained on the
coast indefinitely but that catastrophe
brought about the abandonment of n
grand opera. His experience there gave
MN a wide repertoire of parts The fact
that he has voice of so adaptable range
enables him to sing as heavy a part as
Mephistopheles one night and one of so
hlsh range as Valentine the following
night, He has also sung many buffo
roles One in which he took particular
delight was the Sheriff of Nottingham
1barha nees favorlte role) in robin
HOOD. Mr.. Schuster gave an admirable
eXemplification of his abilities as a buffo
comedian in Martha"
One of Mr.. Schuster's most intimate
friends and one to whom he owes much
as singer, is Emil Fischer, who was
formerly one of the big singers in
grand opera. Although a man of 70
years, Herr Fischer still has a voice
mellow and deep of tone. Whenever Mr.
Schuster is in New York he makes II a
point to call upon his old friend. He
says 1t Is treat to hear tho veteran troll
out the music with all his old-time vigor
Owing to the fact that his hair is white
Mr. Schuster is generally known in the
profession as cold Bill Schuster" but he
is far from being old in years. He is
comparatively young man, but the fact
that he has had so much experience in
grand opera has caused him to be regard
ed as something of a veteran So few
singers are willing to take proper care of
their voices that their career is compara
lively short one. Mr. Schuster saws
that his voice was never in better con-
dition. He expects If he retains his
health that the next 10 years of his life
VIII be the best of his career as a profess
slonal singer He cites the case Of his
old Instructor in Germany, one of the
finest of baritones, who at 60 years of
age had voice OF marvellous purity and
huency Of tone. He could go on and sing
any role, no matter how exacting, with
out impairment OF his strength or voice
That is the advantage OF a basso cantante
voice. that II withstands better the wear
and tear Of continuous singing and mel
lows with advancing years.
Last season Mr., Schuster was for
time In vaudeville with a one-act musical
play, THE Patriot" for which the late
Julian Edwards composed the music. It
received the highest praise OF musical
critics. II was OF so high grade that It
played only the larger cities, being also
1t is possible that the Aborns may put on
kal.