Camilla: A Tale of a Violin: Being the Artist Life of Camilla Urso
John Stuart Mill · en
In looking at this singular episode in the life of Madam Urso we hardly
know which to admire the most, the business skill and energy that
carried it through to a financial success, the womanly qualities that
could win and hold the willing services of so many people in every walk
of life or the artistic culture and insight that arranged the programme
so as to at once please and instruct. The concerts were not too
classical to drive the people away nor were they wholly popular. In all
Madam Urso’s art life it has always been her aim to lift up and instruct
her hearers. First allure the people with simple music that they can
understand and then give them something from the masters, something a
little above their comprehension; a taste of classical music. They would
receive a little of the pure and true art and in time they would learn
to ask for nothing else. If she gave them nothing but high art they
would be repelled and would not listen to any art at all. The concerts
in California and those of the festival were arranged on this plan, and
she remained on the Pacific coast long enough to see the wisdom of her
method and to find that the people came to hear her gladly when she
preached the gospel of true and high art. She has ever pursued this high
aim and has lived to see a remarkable change come over the American
people in their love of music. Of this more farther on.
Soon after the festival Madam Urso made an extensive concert tour
through the interior towns of California and everywhere met with a most
flattering reception. The musical societies that had sprung into
existence at her command to assist in the festival turned out to welcome
her in every town, the general interest in music that the event had
awakened throughout the State seemed to have spread to most remote and
out of the way corners among the mountains, and every town seemed to try
to out-do the rest in showing her attention and in crowding her
concerts. At Virginia City the choral Society gave her a reception and
elected her an honorary member of their association. Each member was
expected to wear a badge of a miniature silver brick. They presented her
with a real silver brick, (life size) and as it was too heavy to wear or
even lift from the floor, they presented two bricks of smaller size, in
the shape of ear rings. Certainly it was a most extraordinary present,
in admirable keeping with the place and the people.
After visiting all the principal places of interest among the mountains
and having a most delightful and interesting journey, Madam Urso
returned to San Francisco in May. Here she gave a few concerts and on
the 16th of the month started once more for Paris and taking with her,
the famous silver brick, a most beautiful diamond pendant, and gold
chain, a gift from San Francisco friends, the respect and good wishes of
thousands of people whom she had charmed with her music and her warm
heart, and $22,000 in gold as the net result of her visit.