Of Russian descent, cellist Joseph Schuster was born in Istanbul in 1903. A student of Hugo Becker, Schuster was successively first cellist of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra and the New York Philharmonic-Symphony. In 1947 he moved to the West Coast for a solo career that saw worldwide travel and performances with a series of great conductors. Important recordings duly followed. With Franz Waxman, a contemporary who had also studied in Berlin, and who was one of Hollywood’s leading film composers, Schuster recorded Schumann’s Concerto, Henri Casadesus’ ingenious pastiche in the style of JC Bach, and Bruch’s memorable Kol Nidrei, all of which illustrate his expressive musicianship.