Prague Concert Life, 1850-1881

Person details

Bertha Brousilová

Brousilová, Bertha (c.1843-?). Violinist pupil of Fr. Němec and of Mořic Mildner. Mercy’s Anzeiger 23/8/1854 reported that ‘The violin virtuoso Miss Bertha Brausil [Brousilová] is soon to undertake her first artistic travels abroad, for which Her Excellency the art-loving Countess von Thurn-Taxis has [furnished the young artiste with financial assistance].’ Later in that year, on 14/9/1854, the same newspaper reported the then 13-old violinist having given very successfully two concerts in Ischl. Mercy’s Anzeiger 22/10/1854 related that after performing in Ischl, Linz and Salzburg she would be returning to perform in Prague before later in December appearing in Vienna. She also performed in a quartet with her sisters and had appeared before the Habsburg Royal Court on 8/9/1854. Tagesbote aus Böhmen 27/3/1857 reported that ‘On 18th March the family Brousil had the honour to give a concert in the London royal palace before the Royal Family for the festival of the birthday of the Princess Louise.’ Further news of the family’s visit to Great Britain was published by Tagesbote aus Böhmen 7/5/1857, which related that they had now twice received the honour of appearing before the Royal family. A London correspondent (unspecified) speculated that the Family Brousil had made 20,000fl from their tour of England, Scotland and Ireland.

The Czech-language periodical Lumír 26/8/1854 reported that ‘Our talented young violinist Berta Brousilová’ was undertaking her first tour as an artist with the patronage of Isabella Thurn Taxis. Her ‘first great concert’ was noted to be being given in Linz.

Events in which this person participated as a soloist