Camilla: A Tale of a Violin: Being the Artist Life of Camilla Urso
John Stuart Mill · en
“The Horticultural Hall was entirely filled last evening, and
Madam Camilla Urso was welcomed back to Boston with an
enthusiasm evidently as unaffected as it was hearty. The
programme of the concert was singularly choice, but it was
noticeable especially for the contrast which it presented to the
bills of most of our _virtuosi_: in three of its numbers only
did Madam Urso take part, and those three were a trio for
violin, piano, and violoncello, a sonata for violin and piano,
and a string quartette. Disappointment at not hearing the
principal musician in a solo performance may have marred the
pleasure of some of the audience; and at the other concerts of
the series it is very likely that some provision may be made for
the gratification of this natural desire. But the entire
arrangement of last night seemed to us significant—delightfully
significant of that noble, generous, self-forgetting spirit
which has always distinguished this remarkable performer, and
which is not the least of her titles to the grand name of
_artiste_. Here seems to be as little as possible of vain show
of self; nothing at all of that jealous littleness which
tolerates no companions either as composers or interpreters; the
_maximum_ of appreciation and reverence for the great authors,
and of devotion to the best and worthiest in music. In the
concert of last evening Madam Urso carried the higher principle
so far that, as has been said, her own name appeared alone
neither as author nor performer.