When Madame Guilhermina Suggia, the cellist, plays with the BBC Scottish Orchestra in the Usher Hall on Saturday she will remind listeners of a little-remembered composer born in Glasgow 85 years ago – Eugene d’Albert.
She is playing his forgotten concerto.
At 61, Madame Suggia is a slender, graceful woman, with crisply curling dark hair, just turning grey. How does she look so young?
Her explanation: for the first time she has no responsibilities, no worries.
“I am alone” she says. “without a tie or a single relative.”
For years, in Portugal, she and her scientist husband lived on a farm. Last spring, when he died, she went to live in Oporto, where she was born.
The Festival programme reproduces the Augustus John portrait of Madame Suggia. There is a story behind that.
She gave about 80 sittings to the artist. First he painted her in a golden gown. Then he painted it over, made it white chiffon. Finally he borrowed an entirely dress for her.
EVENING CITIZEN – GLASGOW- 24/8/1949