The Portland daily press., 1863-10-23
MATTERS ABOUT TOWN.

CAMILLA URso. - This celebrated Lady
Violinist assisted by other eminent artists
gave concert last evening to delighted au-
dience at New City Hall. Mad'lle Urso is a
remarkable woman, and we thank her for Wis
iting us again. Her playing the violin con-
firms US in the opinion that it is indeed the
master instrument, and we bless the memory
of the man whose genius conceived and whose
hands constructed it. The violin is little
thing, but when worked by a masters hand
it can be heard above all other instruments,
however loud or powerful they may be- Its
tones are so pure and perfect that they will
find their way out from the music of many in
struments, the deep-toned organ and hundreds
of human voices included. Like sunlight they
will feel the surrounding space. Haydn under
stood this when composing the Oratorio OF the
Creation, and attempting to represent Chaos
by instrumental music. He desired to repre-
sent streams of light in the dawn OF Creation,
and what instrument, except the violin could
he select for that purpose? What other mu-
sic save that of the violin could represent the
streaks of light that shot across that dark
ness was upon the face of the deep. All this
had been represented by the crashing discords
of other instruments, and now the streaming
notes of the violin are heard shooting out from
this mass of sounds at the moment when God
said. "Let there be light" Haydn knew that
the violin must do this work, if it were done
at all by any instrument. Aud it was done,
and well done so far as music has the power
TO perform such work.
Well do we remember the first, pure, be-
witching tones we heard from the violin. 1t
wos in the hands of Astinelli, and we never
expected to hear any better, but the human
can be educated and made to demand higher
and purer music than Astineis instrument
discussed. And the lamented Herwig gave
it TO US. How vivid in memory are the last
tones he drew from his violin. There lie stood
in fremont Temple, surrounded by other mu-
sicians, and he their leader some twenty years
ago. All eyes were turned upon his manly
form and intelligent face and every ear was
open TO the charms of his violin. But, alas
suddenly his noble form trembled and his
countenance changed, and his companions led
him from the stage to die. He had played his
last tune on earth, and his spirit passed to
another aud brighter sphere in food of
sweetest harmony But Heaven is rich in
gifts TO this world which has never yet been
without some geniuses in all departments of
science aud art. Herwig passed away, but
Vieuxtempsi Siyori, Casper, Ole Bull and
others came, and more than filled his place.
And last, but not least, Camilla Urso has come
and convinced US there is more music in the
violin than we ever dreamt OF in our phoso-
ply. Her artistic touches upon this instru
ment proves conclusively the truth Of what
Madame Stael once said to the first Napoleon,
we believe, "Genius knows no SEX" Camilla's
soul must be all alive to the charms of music,
else she could not produce such pure and per-
feet tones from her fayorte instrument. The
fires burn brightly on the "unseen altar of her
heart" and her auditors feel the flames and
their own hearts are warmed.