Name David Schuster | ||
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Biography
David Michael Schuste (born 1952) is a lirico spinto tenor born in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States.
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Schuster studied with Robert Rockabrand at Ball State University, composer Sam Morgenstern in New York City, Kammersaenger Frederick Mayer in Munich, and most recently, Metropolitan Opera tenor, Thomas Studebaker. He has a career which spans nearly 35 years, from his debut with the Albany Symphony Orchestra in Albany, New York, and recital debut at Carnegie Recital Hall in New York City in 1981, to the stages of Spoleto, Italy and the Bavarian State Opera in Munich, Germany, where he was a leading tenor from 1989-1995 singing Radames (Aida), The King (Love of Three Oranges) and the world premiere of Ubu Rex by Penderecki where he was double-cast with Robert Tear as King Ubu.
Critics said of Schuster’s recital debut, “[He] shows a young tenor voice not only unusually rich and full in the lower register, but unforced and brilliant in the upper register as well.” Schuster was a tenor soloist with the RTSI Orchestra in Lugano, Switzerland, where he performed many different operatic roles as well as many oratorios. Schuster also toured throughout Europe with the Compagnie d’Opera di Milano as Manrico (Il Trovatore) and Pinkerton (Madama Butterfly). The German television program Westfalische Rundschau commented on his portrayal of Manrico, saying “Herr Schuster was an equal to all the Italians on stage and has a resonantly strong voice ... full of temperament and solid on stage.” And the French press Liberation noted on the performance of Meyerbeer’s Les Huguenots, "[t]he last tenor who could negotiate the tricky tessitura of this role (Raoul) was Franco Corelli. Mr. Schuster follows quite unhindered in Mr. Corelli’s footsteps."
In 2007, together with friend and colleague, counter-tenor Timothy Linwood, he founded Amocanti Inc., a non-profit corporation to promote the education and the understanding of classical vocal music. The organization presents concerts using singers who have or have had careers but may not have reached the top of the profession. Many of the participants are now lawyers, doctors, bankers, etc. The concerts are done informally, with singers' round-table discussions with the audience. While based in New York, Amocanti partnered with DELTUR Kunst- und Musikagentur in Heide, Germany in January 2011 to form Amocanti Europe. The hope is that Amocanti and Amocanti Europe will have franchises around the globe continuing to educate, inform and entertain the millions of school-aged children and their parents who do not have easy access to classical vocal music.
In April 2011, following the devastating tsunami in Japan, Schuster together with DELTUR spearheaded the recording of Daniel Léo Simpson's Ave Maria as part of the international Support Japan effort.
During 2011, Schuster, in partnership with mezzo-soprano Debra Patchell, released two CD's - PS* Because We're Not Finished Yet and PS - It's Christmas.
In January 2012, Schuster, together with award-winning guitarist, Peter Fletcher, appeared at Carnegie Hall Weill Auditorium in a program of music for the voice and guitar. Included were the world premiere of Clarice Assad's Enquanto a noite durar (While the night endures) and the New York premiere of Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco's The Divan of Moses-ibn-Ezra, op. 207. "Viva! New York" critic Lucas Eller wrote: "From the text, written in English, [The Divan] seemed a ponderous piece, recounting the exile of a 12th century rabbi and philosopher in Spain through his search for God, and the meaning of life and love and death. Mr. Schuster’s diction was crisp and clear and it was easy to follow the story as it was told without having to refer to the program. In fact, The Divan seemed more like a one-act opera, full of drama and pathos, joy and sorrow. Mr. Fletcher played masterfully, creating many moments of contrast and rhythms. Despite its length (nearly 45 minutes), the audience was swept away by the tale of this 12th century figure; spellbound by Mr. Schuster’s convincing performance, waking as the last lines of text were spoken dramatically rather than sung, and applauding enthusiastically."
In 2015, the tenor returned to Indianapolis where he joined the Indianapolis Symphonic Choir and performed as soloist with the combined Chinese American choirs in a performance of a Chinese Cantata in commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II. In 2016 Schuster will be heard as soloist in Schubert's Mass in C (February) and with the Butler Opera Theater in a production of "Pirates of Penzance" (April). Also on tap will be a solo concert featuring the works of American classical composers such as Hoiby, Barber, Rorem and others (April). A European visit with "American Composers" will follow in the late summer with a recording to be released in the fall.
Career milestones
Personal life
Schuster divides his time between Indianapolis, Indiana and Munich, Germany.