Camilla Urso

Camilla Urso (13 June 1840 – 20 January 1902) was a French-born child prodigy violinist, who became an American musician, "recognized as one of the finest violinists of the latter half of the 19th century."

Early life Born Émilie-Camille Urso in Nantes, France,

Paris Conservatory alt=Camilla Urso, [ca. 1859–1870]. Carte de Visite Collection, Boston Public Library Camilla Urso, [ca. 1859–1870]. Carte de Visite Collection, Boston Public Library Urso studied at the Paris Conservatory for three years, admitted in June 1849, and passing her final exam in July 1852.

In 1852 in the annual student competition she won third place certificates of merit in solfège and violin (Viotti's Violin Concerto No. 24). She was the first female student at the Conservatory to win a prize on violin.

Career In the autumn of 1852 she appeared in New York City with her own company of assisting artists, including her father on flute. Reporting on her appearance at a private soirée, the Evening Post (27 September 1852) wrote: "She handles the violin with as much freedom and ease as a Spanish lady does her fan." The Mirror (1 October 1852), reviewing her debut at Metropolitan Hall on 30 September, reported: "Her appearance was singularly prepossessing, her pose firm, correct, yet easy, and her little arm guided the bow with grace and precision. She breathed into the instrument a mellowness, an expression, a purity of sound truly remarkable. Even in the fortissimo parts she appeared to have the requisite strength, and the richness and fullness of her notes contrasted strangely with the delicate diminutiveness of this little mistress of the violin." and a further concert in Williamstown, Massachusetts, on 29 January, but developed complications from appendicitis and died in New York on 20 January 1902 and is buried in the Green-Wood Cemetery.