Description
This collection contains clippings and pamphlets about Urso's life and career, a program from one of her concerts, a photograph,
and an autograph.
Background
Camilla Urso (born 1842, Nantes, France died 1902, New York, N.Y., U.S.A.) was the daughter of an Italian flutist and a Portuguese
singer. Urso began taking violin lessons when she was six years old, though orchestral instruments were only played by boys
and men at the time. After a successful recital a year later, the Urso family moved to Paris where Camilla Urso was the first
girl to be admitted to the Paris Conservatoire. By the age of ten, she had already performed in Switzerland, Germany, and
France, and graduated with first prize in the final examinations. She made her debut in New York City in September 1852 and
gave concerts in New York, Boston, and Philadelphia. In 1853 she gave a series of concerts throughout New England with the
Germania Musical Society. She did not appear again publicly until 1863, when she performed with the Philharmonic Society
in Boston, and the New York Philharmonic Orchestra. After 1864, Urso toured with her own concert company, returning to Paris
in 1865, and performing in Australia in 1879 and 1894, Brazil and Argentina in 1880, and South Africa in 1895. After settling
in New York City in 1895 she continued to tour regularly in the United States and abroad while teaching violin privately and
at the National Conservatory. She was asknowledged one of the preeminent violinists of the day and became one of America's
foremost performers and music educators, as well as a spokesperson for the cause of women as orchestral players, working with
the Women's String Orchestra from 1895 until her death. She died of appendicitis in New York City on january 20, 1902.
Restrictions
Property rights resides with Special Collections, Honnold/Mudd Library. For permission to reproduce or to publish, please
contact Special Collections staff.