Olga Rudge & Ezra Pound: "What Thou Lovest Well..."

71 The Hidden Nest
In spite of Ezra’s advance publicity for Antheil’s works—‘‘the first . . .
American-born musician . . . to write music that couldn’t have been
written before, interpreting his age’’—few critics agreed that the ‘‘slabs of
sound of the youthful master of musical mechanisms have something akin
to genius.’’ The Herald, however, published Olga’s photo above an enthusiastic
review: ‘‘That Mr. Antheil’s music is known outside Italy is largely
due to the untiring interest of Miss Rudge. . . . In striking contrast to the
modern half of the program, the exquisite performance of Olga Rudge
and Maestro Daniele Amfiteatrow was much applauded.’’
To further her career, Ezra urged Olga to attend a reception at the
American Embassy in Rome on Washington’s Birthday, February 22. It
was an occasion that marked another important milestone in her life.
Lilian Gibson, the Herald ’s Rome correspondent whom she met there,
arranged a private performance for Premier Benito Mussolini at his residence
on the via Rasella. After her recital of Beethoven’s Romanza,
Mozart’s Sonata, opus 15, and a Veracini sonata, accompanied by Daniele
Amfiteatrow, the Herald reported:
Mussolini complimented Miss Rudge on her technique and musical
feeling, saying that it was rare to find such depth and precision of
tone, ‘especially in a woman.’ He showed his guests the large
assortment of violin music on his desk, including many classical
compositions. Five violins were on the table in the center of the
room, on the best of which the Duce himself plays every evening.
Among his literary treasures was a copy of the musical ‘‘Suite’’
composed in England by an 18th Century ancestor, Cesare Mussolini.
After the concert, the Premier o√ered Miss Rudge a bouquet of
magnificent carnations.
In the conversation that followed, Mussolini, who was then thirty-nine,
agreed that Antonio Vivaldi was ‘‘the greatest composer of all time.’’ A
half-century later, Olga recalled that Mussolini ‘‘played well for an amateur’’
and ‘‘had the manners of an archbishop.’’
Back home in Ohio, the Youngstown Telegram touted the ‘‘unusual
honor accorded the daughter of J. Edgar Rudge . . . when Premier