Soprano Eileen Schauler, a pillar of the New York City Opera in my earliest years of opera-going, has passed away at the age of 92.
A native of New Jersey, Ms. Schauler studied at Juilliard. She first made her mark as a powerful Katerina Ismailova at New York City Opera; among her other roles were Anna Maurrant in STREET SCENE, Lizzie Bordon, the Marschallin, and the Governess in TURN OF THE SCREW. She was admired for her stage presence and committed acting as well as for her emotionally engaged singing. I saw her as Tosca (a performance that marked Placido Domingo's conducting debut) and as a fiery Santuzza.
After retiring from the stage, she taught both privately and at college.
Eileen Schauler - TOSCA aria - in English - Pasadena 1967
Eileen Schauler as Tosca - Act III excerpt - in English - Pasadena 1967