Anonymous

“ Her associations in life have ever been with the most respectable, and most particularly in connexion with the families of Mrs. Greenfield’s friends, who esteemed her as an unobtrusive and excellent person.
She now seeks public favour as a singer, and, although almost entirely self-taught, possesses wonderful power of voice, and sweetness of tone—and is well worthy the patronage of all lovers of music. To such we heartily recommend her, trusting that her merits may meet their reward. ”

“ All the lovers of music in Rochester will be glad to learn that Miss Greenfield intends to give a concert in Corinthian Hall on Monday next. This gifted songstress has been having a series of very successful concerts in Ohio, and other States, and we predict for her a large audience on Monday. The magnificent quality of her voice, its great power, flexibility, and compass; her self-taught genius, energy, and perseverance, combine to render Miss Greenfield an object of uncommon interest to musicians. ”

“ She was loudly encored, and in response sung the barytone, “When stars are in the quiet sky,” which took down the whole house.
We have neither time nor space to follow her through her different pieces. Suffice it to say, that there never was a concert given in this town, which appeared to give more general satisfaction, and every person we met on leaving the hall, expressed their entire approbation of her performance. No higher compliment could be paid to the “Swan,” than the enthusiastic applause which successfully greeted her appearance, and the encore which followed her several pieces. ”

“ This evening, in Corinthian Hall, the anticipated entertainment is to be presented to our music-loving citizens. Curiosity will lead many to attend, to whom the performance of a coloured prima donna is a phenomenon at once wonderful and rare. Miss Greenfield has received from all who have heard her, the name of being a vocalist of extraordinary power. ”

“ It will not be the first time that the verdict of this city in matters musical, has been responded to by the world. The price of tickets is one dollar; and all must see the propriety of this charge, in a singer who has to combat the most crushing and the common contempt of another race—the race too, from whom she must receive her patronage and support. The Black Swan must contend for the highest prize, and sing for the best price, or she falls below even the second rank. ”

“ Stowe, “that there really is no natural prejudice against colour in the human mind. Miss Greenfield is a dark mulattress, of a pleasing and gentle face, though by no means handsome. She is short and thick-set, with a chest of great amplitude, as one would think on hearing her tenor. ”

“ Miss Elizabeth Greenfield, better known in America as the “Black Swan,” under which sobriquet she is also about to be presented to the British public. This lady is said to possess a voice embracing the extraordinary compass of nearly three octaves; and her performances on this occasion elicited the unmistakable evidence of gratification. She is, without doubt, deficient in science and cultivation, but she displays remarkable intelligence, and is gifted with feeling and the capacity of conveying it to her auditors. ”

“ The Black Swan, in appealing to the generosity of the British public, assures them that the primary object of her visit to Europe is, to accomplish herself in the science of music, which professional friends earnestly counsel her to pursue, and which she embraces con amore, with the confident hope that, by the exercise of her vocal faculties in a more cultured form, she may be able to achieve the great object of her life. ”

“ Some peoples’ appetite for gammon is insatiable. Fancying they eat brawn, they often find themselves devouring cats and dogs. This was our thought on Tuesday night as we entered the Melodeon, with a fear that we might retire in disgust, as we had done on the previous evening from the exhibition of a clumsy mountebank who had undertaken to ape Macallister. But it was not the case on this occasion of the début of Miss Greenfield, the ‘Black Swan,’ so absurdly cognominated. We say absurdly—for swans are never black, neither do they sing. ”

“ There is obviously wide room for cultivation, but her singing, apart from the marvel of its ranging from a low bass to the highest treble, is exceedingly pleasing, and we think will take the public, both musical and unmusical, by surprise. We should not, to be sure, think of comparing her with Jenny Lind, nor with any one else. She is a non-descript—an original. We cannot think any common destiny awaits her. ”

“ She is not pretty, but plain for a coloured woman; still she is gifted with a beauty of soul which makes her countenance agreeable in conversation; and in singing, especially when her social nature is called into activity, there is a grace and beauty in her manner which soon make those unaccustomed to her race forget all but the melody. We learned from her that she was trained by an old lady belonging to the society of Friends. Her mistress, being a Friend, Elizabeth took lessons in music privately. ”

“ We see by the Boston papers that this wonderful vocalist had the best house of the season at the Melodeon, on Thursday evening. In fact, so crowded was the hall, that a large number of ladies could not gain admission on account of the immense number of people all eager to see and hear the Swan. She had a perfect triumph over all prejudices. Master Kook made his debut, and played the piano forte with a skill that would have done credit to one of the old masters, calling down thunders of applause. Professor Becht has no rival on the Piano. ”

“ The Swan has arrived, and taken up her quarters at the Revere House. Her first concert will be given at the Melodeon next Tuesday evening. Boston will forfeit all right to the title of the “Athens of America,” if it does not look with keen curiosity after this “something new,” under the sun. Miss Greenfield is alleged to have a voice of greater compass than any singer in this country has yet exhibited. That is one thing new. Another is, that without special cultivation, she rivals some of the greatest performers in reading and executing the most difficult music. ”

“ In case you should lay them aside, a sacque of the same material as the dress would be very pretty to conceal the figure. If you tire of the black silk, a steel colour would be a good change—but these two are preferable to all others. Your pocket handkerchief should be unfolded and somewhat tumbled, not held by a point in the centre; perhaps it would be better to have it in your pocket, quite out of sight—the piece of music is enough for the hands. I rejoice in the dignity of your deportment and in the good hours you keep. ”

“ Elizabeth did so, and when she had concluded her song was astonished to hear her mistress say, “Elizabeth, whatever thee wants, thee shall have.” From that time her mistress was the patroness of her earnest efforts for skill and knowledge in musical science.
Nature has done more for Miss Greenfield, than any musical prodigy we have met, and art has marred her execution less. ”

“ A concert was given at Exeter Hall last evening by Miss Greenfield, the American vocalist, better known in this country under the sobriquet of the ‘Black Swan.’ Apart from the natural gifts with which this lady is endowed, the great musical skill which she has acquired both as a singer and an instrumentalist, are convincing arguments against the assertion so often made, that the negro race are incapable of intellectual culture of a high standard. Miss Greenfield, by birth as well as appearance, is decidedly a negress, her father having been a full African, and her mother of mixed extraction. ”

“ She has merit, very great merit, and with cultivation (instruction) she will rank among the very first vocalists of the age. She has a voice of great sweetness and power, with a wider range from the lowest to the highest notes than we have ever listened to; flexibility is not wanting, and her control of it is beyond example, for a new and untaught vocalist. Her performance was received with marked approbation and applause, from those who knew what to applaud.”
It remains now for the citizens of Rochester to give her the commendation of their patronage, and then she is fully afloat. ”

“ We understand that since that time, she has applied herself with praiseworthy perseverance and assiduity to the cultivation of her extraordinary powers, and has attained great proficiency in the art, which is evidently the bent of her genius. By her own energy, and unassisted, she has made herself mistress of the harp, guitar, and piano. We are informed that the proceeds of the entertainment this evening, are to be wholly appropriated to the completion of her musical education in Paris, under the world-famed Garcia. We predict for Miss Greenfield a successful and brilliant future. ”

“ Her low, or properly bass notes, are wonderful, especially for a female voice, and in these she far excels any singing we have ever heard.
We learn that this singer, (soon to become celebrated we opine) will give a concert in this city on Thursday next. There is no doubt that the novelty of hearing a coloured woman perform the most difficult music with extraordinary ability, will give éclat to the concert. All representations unite in ascribing to Miss Greenfield the most extraordinary talents, and a power and sweetness of vocalization that is really unsurpassed. ”

“ A concert of vocal music was given in the past week, at Stafford House, the residence of the Duke and Duchess of Sutherland, to test and make known the powers and merits of the American vocalist, Elizabeth Greenfield. She is now about twenty-five years of age, and has come to England to perfect herself in singing, in the hope of elevating the popular estimate of her unfortunate race, by the development and display of any artistic talent she may possess. ”

“ The programme of the concert was bountifully drawn up; for, in addition to the attractions of the Black Swan, there was a host of first-rate artists. Herr Brandt, a German artist, with a remarkably sweet voice, sang Professor Longfellow’s ‘Slave’s Dream,’ set to very beautiful music by Hatton, in a way that elicited warm applause. Miss Rosina Bentley played a fantasia by Lutz, very brilliantly, and afterwards assisted by Miss Kate Loder, who, however, must now be known as Mrs. Henry Thompson, in a grand duet for two piano-fortes, by Osborne. ”

“ Altogether the most artistic performance in the sphere of music, we recollect ever having attended in this town, was given on Thursday evening by Miss Elizabeth Greenfield, alias the “Black Swan.” Her voice possesses wonderful compass, is very rich, and is skilfully trained. She is a most surprising vocalist, considered in whatever respect. The violin performance, by Mr. Schmittroth, brought out tones more astonishing than people in general supposed pine, catgut and rosin capable of producing. ”

“ Miss Greenfield is about twenty-five years of age, and has received what musical education she has in the city of Philadelphia; she is, however, eminently self-taught, possessing fine taste, and a nice appreciation, with a voice of wonderful compass, clearness and flexibility; she renders the compositions of some of the best masters in a style which would be perfectly satisfactory to the authors themselves. ”

“ The Black Swan,—This noted songstress, whose extraordinary musical talent has created so much interest and enthusiasm among distinguished musical critics, and appreciating audiences, in various cities, will give one of her attractive entertainments at Horticultural Hall, this evening. The rare talent, and the novelty of her performances can hardly fail to draw a large and fashionable audience. ”

“ This extraordinary vocalist, whose performances at Buffalo and Rochester have created so much excitement, will make her appearance before a Lockport audience, on Thursday evening next. We cannot speak from personal knowledge of her abilities as a vocalist, but she comes to us with such high endorsements of popular favour, that we very cheerfully commend her to our citizens as an artiste of the very highest order of talent, and can safely promise a rich entertainment. ”

“ Wood in other cities, give the most unbounded satisfaction, and hundreds of persons at the recent concerts in Boston had to content themselves with only standing room. Miss Greenfield is highly commended by the press throughout the West to the favourable consideration of the lovers of good music. Our musical circles now have in their power to judge of the merits and musical talents of Miss Greenfield, and we look to-night for a general attendance of that class. That she will produce much sensation to-day on her arrival is fully demonstrated by the general feeling which pervades our community. ”

“ The applause which followed the first trial before this small, but intelligent audience, gratified as much as it embarrassed her, from the unexpected and sudden surprise. She not only received an invitation to repeat her visit, but Miss P., for a reasonable compensation, undertook her instruction in the first rudiments of music. The progress of genius is not like that of common minds. ”

“ Stowe, what a loss to art is the enslaving of a race which might produce so much musical talent. Had Miss Greenfield had culture equal to her voice and ear, no singer of any country could have surpassed her. There could be even associations of poetry thrown around the dusky hue of her brow were it associated with the triumphs of art.
The following is the bill of her second grand concert at the Queen’s Concert Rooms, Hanover Square. She was assisted by the following eminent artists. ”

“ To say they were gratified is not enough. If expression of countenance and repeated applause, more than we ever witnessed upon a similar occasion in this city, mean anything, they were surprised and delighted. Not, perhaps, with the artistic skill she manifested, but the wonderful power, sweetness, and compass of her voice. It was like a flute, a clarion, an organ, and yet it was more—a splendid human voice.
“Her style is simple and unaffected. She is guiltless of all the trickery of the professed and trained Vocalist; but sings as she feels it; as she thinks it should be sung ”