would have been called a triumph. The house was full, the
audience a fashionable one, the applause decided, and the
impression made by the singer highly favorable.
"We can safely say that Miss Greenfield possesses a voice of
remarkable qualities; singular for its power, softness, and
depth. 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."
"The Rochester American" says,--
"Corinthian Hall contained a large and fashionable audience
on the occasion of the concert by this new candidate for
popular favor on Thursday evening. We have never seen an
audience more curiously expectant than this was for the
_début_ of this new vocalist. Hardly had her first note
fallen upon their ears, however, before their wonder and
astonishment were manifest in an interchange of glances and
words of approval; and the hearty applause that responded to
the first verse she sang was good evidence of the
satisfaction she afforded. The aria, 'O native scenes!' was
loudly encored; and in response she gave the pretty ballad,
'When stars are in the quiet sky.'"
The Buffalo "Commercial Advertiser" says,--
"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. 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 colored
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 are really unsurpassed."
"The Daily State Register," Albany, Jan. 19, 1852, said,--
"THE 'BLACK SWAN'S' CONCERT.--Miss Greenfield made her
_début_ in this city on Saturday evening, before a large and
brilliant audience, in the lecture-room of the Young Men's
Association. The concert was a complete triumph for her;
won, too, from a discriminating auditory not likely to be
caught with chaff, and none too willing to suffer admiration
to get the better of prejudice. Her singing more than met
the expectations of her hearers, and elicited the heartiest
applause and frequent encores. She possesses a truly
wonderful voice; and, considering the poverty of her
advantages, she uses it with surprising taste and effect. In
sweetness, power, compass, and flexibility, it nearly equals
any of the foreign vocalists who have visited our country;
and it needs only the training and education theirs have
received to outstrip them all.
"The compass of her marvellous voice embraces twenty-seven
notes, reaching from the sonorous bass of a baritone to a
few notes above even Jenny Lind's highest. The defects which
the critic cannot fail to detect in her singing are not from
want of voice, or power of lung, but want of training
alone. If her present tour proves successful, as it now bids
fair to, she will put herself under the charge of the best
masters of singing in Europe; and with her enthusiasm and
perseverance, which belong to genius, she cannot fail to
ultimately triumph over all obstacles, and even conquer the
prejudice of color,--perhaps the most formidable one in her
path.
"She plays with ability upon the piano, harp, and guitar. In
her deportment she bears herself well, and, we are told,
converses with much intelligence. We noticed among the
audience Gov. Hunt and his family, both Houses of the
Legislature, State officers, and a large number of our
leading citizens. All came away astonished and delighted."
A New-York paper says,--
"MISS GREENFIELD'S SINGING.--We yesterday had the pleasure
of hearing the singer who is advertised in our columns as
the 'Black Swan.' She is a person of ladylike manners,
elegant form, and not unpleasing, though decidedly African
features. Of her marvellous powers, she owes none to any
tincture of European blood. Her voice is truly wonderful,
both in its compass and truth. A more correct intonation, so
far as our ear can decide, there could not be. She strikes
every note on the exact centre, with unhesitating
decision.... She is a nondescript, an original. We cannot
think any common destiny awaits her."
"The Evening Transcript," Boston, Feb. 4, 1852, said,--
"Miss Greenfield, the 'Black Swan,' made her _début_ before
a Boston audience last evening at the Melodeon. In
consequence of the price of the tickets being put at a
dollar, the house was not over two-thirds full. She was well
received, and most vociferously applauded and encored in
every piece. She sings with great ease, and apparently
without any effort. Her pronunciation is very correct, and
her intonation excellent. Her voice has a wonderful compass,
and in many notes is remarkably sweet in tone."
From "The Daily Capital City Fact," Columbus, O., March 3, 1852:--
"Last evening proved that the 'Black Swan' was all that the
journals say of her; and Miss Greenfield stands confessedly
before the Columbus world a swan of excellence. She is
indeed a remarkable swan. Although colored as dark as
Ethiopia, she utters notes as pure as if uttered in the
words of the Adriatic."
From "The Milwaukee Sentinel," April, 1852:--
"What shall we say? That we were delighted and surprised?
All who were present know that, from their own feelings. We
can only say, that we have never heard a voice like
hers,--one that with such ease, and with such absence of all
effort, could range from the highest to the lowest notes."
Said a Rochester (N.Y.) paper of May 6, 1852,--
... "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.
"We have been spell-bound by the ravishing tones of Patti,
Sontag, Malibran, and Grisi; we have heard the wondrous
warblings of '_the Nightingale_;' and we have listened with
delight to the sweet melodies of the fair daughter of Erin:
but we hesitate not to assert, that, with one year's tuition
from the world-famed Emanuel Garcia, Miss Greenfield would
not only compare favorably with any of the distinguished
artists above named, but incomparably excel them all."
"The Globe," Toronto, May 12-15, 1852, said,--
"Any one who went to the concert of Miss Greenfield on
Thursday last, expecting to find that he had been deceived
by the puffs of the American newspapers, must have found
himself most agreeably disappointed....
"After he [the pianist] had retired, there was a general
hush of expectation to see the entrance of the vocalist of
the evening; and presently there appeared a lady of a
decidedly dark color, rather inclined to an _embonpoint_,
and with African formation of face. She advanced calmly to
the front of the platform, and courtesied very gracefully to
the audience. There was a moment of pause, and the assembly
anxiously listened for the first notes. They were quite
sufficient. The amazing power of the voice, the flexibility,
and the ease of execution, took the hearers by surprise; and
the singer was hardly allowed to finish the verse, ere she
was greeted with the most enthusiastic plaudits, which
continued for some time. The higher passages of the air were
given with clearness and fulness, indicating a soprano voice
of great power. The song was encored; and Miss Greenfield
came back, took her seat at the piano, and began, to the
astonishment of the audience, a different air in a deep and
very clear bass or baritone voice, which she maintained
throughout, without any very great appearance of effort, or
without any breaking. She can, in fact, go as low as
Lablache, and as high as Jenny Lind,--a power of voice
perfectly astonishing. It is said she can strike thirty-one
full, clear notes; and we could readily believe it."
From a Brattleborough (Vt.) paper, June 23, 1852:--
"The 'Black Swan,' or Miss Elizabeth Greenfield, sang in Mr.
Fisk's beautiful new hall on Wednesday evening last to a
large and intelligent audience.
"We had seen frequent notices in our exchanges, and were
already prepossessed in favor of the abilities and life
purposes of our sable sister; but, after all, we must say
that our expectations of her success are greater than before
we had heard her sing, and conversed with her in her own
private room. She is not pretty, but plain: ... 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....
"Nature has done more for Miss Greenfield than any musical
prodigy we have met, and art has marred her execution less."
But the limits of this book are such as to preclude my giving all or
even a hundredth part of the testimonials and criticisms touching the
singing of this remarkable performer, that filled the public journals
during her career in the United States. I believe, however, that I
have given quite enough to show that her noble gifts of voice, and
beauty of execution, were of the rarest excellence, while in some
notable respects they had never been equalled. Let it suffice to say
also, in regard to the excerpts given, that they are but fair samples
and reflections of the opinions entertained and expressed by the
press, and by music-loving, cultured people, everywhere Miss
Greenfield appeared.
After singing in nearly all the free States, she resolved to carry out
her long-entertained purpose of visiting Europe, in order to perfect
herself in the _technique_ of her art. Learning of her intentions, the
citizens of Buffalo, N.Y., united in tendering her a grand testimonial
and benefit concert. The invitation was couched in terms most
flattering, and signed by many of the most distinguished residents.
The concert took place on March 7, 1853, and was in all respects a
grand success.
Leaving Buffalo, she went to New York, where, after singing before an
audience of four thousand persons, she received the following
complimentary note:--
NEW YORK, April 2, 1853.
MISS ELIZABETH T. GREENFIELD.
_Madam_,--By the suggestion of many enthusiastic admirers of
your talents, I have been induced to address you on the
subject of another and second concert, prior to your
departure for Europe.
Your advent musical in "Gotham" has not been idly heralded
among the true lovers of song, and admirers of exalted
genius, of which your unprecedented success on Wednesday
evening must have sufficiently convinced you; while all are
eloquent in the commendation of your superior powers and
engaging method.
Confiding, madam, in your reported magnanimity and
generosity to oblige, I will divest myself of tedious
circumlocution, and fervently exhort you to make a second
exhibition of your skill; which, there can be no doubt, will
be highly successful to you, and as interesting to your
admirers.
THE PUBLIC.
* * * * *
"Miss Greenfield embarked from New York in a British steamer
for England, April 6, 1853; and arrived in Liverpool the
16th of April, 1853; rested over the sabbath, and proceeded
Monday morning to London, in which metropolis she became
safely domiciled on the evening of the same day.
"But painful trials awaited her from a quarter the most
unexpected. The individual with whom she had drawn up the
contract for this musical tour was unfaithful to his
promises; and she found herself abandoned, without money and
without friends, in a strange country.
"She had been told Lord Shaftesbury was one of the great
good men of England; and she resolved to call upon him in
person, and entreat an interview. His lordship immediately
granted her request, listened patiently to her history, and
directly gave her a letter of introduction to his lawyer.
"It may perhaps be considered a providential concurrence
that Mrs. Harriet Beecher Stowe was in London this same time
with Miss Greenfield. We notice in her 'Sunny Memories,'
under the date of May 6, the following remarks: 'A good many
calls this morning. Among others came Miss Greenfield, the
(so-called) "Black Swan." She appears to be a gentle,
amiable, and interesting young person. She has a most
astonishing voice. C. sat down to the piano, and played
while she sang. Her voice runs through a compass of three
octaves and a fourth. This is four notes more than
Malibran's. She sings a most magnificent tenor, with such a
breadth and volume of sound, that, with your back turned,
you could not imagine it to be a woman. While she was there,
Mrs. S.C. Hall, of the "Irish Sketches," was announced. I
told her of Miss Greenfield; and she took great interest in
her, and requested her to sing something for her. C. played
the accompaniment, and she sang "Old Folks at Home," first
in a soprano voice, and then in a tenor, or baritone. Mrs.
Hall was amazed and delighted, and entered at once into her
cause. She said she would call with me, and present her to
Sir George Smart, who is at the head of the Queen's musical
establishment, and, of course, the acknowledged leader of
London musical judgment.
"'In the course of the day I had a note from Mrs. Hall,
saying, that, as Sir George Smart was about leaving town,
she had not waited for me, but had taken Miss Greenfield to
him herself. She writes that he was really astonished and
charmed at the wonderful weight, compass, and power of her
voice. He was also as well pleased with the mind in her
singing, and her quickness in doing and catching all that he
told her. Should she have a public opportunity to perform,
he offered to hear her rehearse beforehand. Mrs. Hall says,
"This is a great deal for him, whose hours are all marked
with gold."'
"Again Mrs. Stowe says, 'To-day the Duchess of Sutherland
called with the Duchess of Argyle. Miss Greenfield happened
to be present; and I begged leave to present her, giving a
slight sketch of her history. I was pleased with the kind
and easy affability with which the Duchess of Sutherland
conversed with her, betraying by no inflection of voice, and
nothing in her air or manner, the great lady talking with
the poor girl. She asked all her questions with as much
delicacy, and made her request to hear her sing with as much
consideration and politeness, as if she had been addressing
any one in her own circle. She seemed much pleased with her
singing, and remarked that she should be happy to give her
an opportunity of performing in Stafford House, as soon as
she should be a little relieved of a heavy cold which seemed
to oppress her at present. This, of course, will be decisive
of her favor in London. The duchess is to let us know when
the arrangement is completed.
"'I never so fully realized,' continues Mrs. Stowe, 'that
there really is no natural prejudice against color 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. I have never seen, in
any of the persons to whom I have presented her, the least
indications of suppressed surprise or disgust, any more than
we should exhibit on the reception of a dark-complexioned
Spaniard or Portuguese.
"'Miss Greenfield bears her success with much quietness and
good sense.'
"Her Grace the Duchess of Sutherland afterward became her
ever-unfailing supporter and adviser.
"The piano-forte which previously had been furnished Miss
Greenfield to practise upon was taken from her. The Duchess
of Sutherland, upon learning the fact, immediately directed
her to select one from Broadwood's.
"We cannot refrain from quoting Mrs. Stowe's description of
the concert after dinner at the Stafford House:--
"'The concert-room was the brilliant and picturesque hall I
have before described to you. It looked more picture-like
and dreamy than ever. The piano was on the flat stairway
just below the broad central landing. It was a grand piano,
standing end outward, and perfectly banked up among
hot-house flowers, so that only its gilded top was visible.
Sir George Smart presided. The choicest of the _élite_ were
there,--ladies in demi-toilet and bonneted. Miss Greenfield
stood among the singers on the staircase, and excited a
pathetic murmur among the audience. She is not handsome, but
looked very well. She has a pleasing dark face, wore a black
velvet head-dress and white carnelian ear-rings, a black
moire-antique silk made high in the neck, with white lace
falling sleeves and white gloves. A certain gentleness of
manner and self-possession, the result of the universal
kindness shown her, sat well upon her. Chevalier Bunsen, the
Prussian ambassador, sat by me. He looked at her with much
interest. "Are the race often as good-looking?" he said. I
said, "She is not handsome compared with many, though I
confess she looks uncommonly well to-day." The singing was
beautiful. Six of the most cultivated glee-singers of London
sang, among other things, "Spring's Delights are now
returning," and "Where the Bee sucks, there lurk I." The
duchess said, "These glees are peculiarly English." Miss
Greenfield's turn for singing now came, and there was
profound attention. Her voice, with its keen, searching
fire, its penetrating vibrant quality, its _timbre_ as the
French have it, cut its way like a Damascus blade to the
heart. She sang the ballad, "Old Folks at Home," giving one
verse in the soprano, and another in the tenor voice. As she
stood partially concealed by the piano, Chevalier Bunsen
thought that the tenor part was performed by one of the
gentlemen. He was perfectly astonished when he discovered
that it was by her. This was rapturously encored. Between
the parts, Sir George took her to the piano, and tried her
voice by skips, striking notes here and there at random,
without connection, from D in alto to A first space in bass
clef. She followed with unerring precision, striking the
sound nearly at the same instant his finger touched the key.
This brought out a burst of applause.
"'Lord Shaftesbury was there. He came and spoke to us after
the concert. Speaking of Miss Greenfield, he said, "I
consider the use of these halls for the encouragement of an
outcast race a consecration. This is the true use of wealth
and splendor, when they are employed to raise up and
encourage the despised and forgotten."'
"TUESDAY, May 31, 1853.
"Miss Greenfield's first public morning concert took place
at the Queen's Concert Rooms, Hanover Square. She came out
under the immediate patronage of her Grace the Duchess of
Sutherland, her Grace the Duchess of Norfolk, and the Earl
and Countess of Shaftesbury. It commenced at three o'clock,
and terminated at five."
"The London Morning Post" says,--
"A large assemblage of fashionable and distinguished
personages assembled by invitation at Stafford House to hear
and decide upon the merits of a phenomenon in the musical
world,--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."
"The London Times" said,--
"Miss Greenfield sings 'I know that my Redeemer liveth' with
as much pathos, power, and effect as does the 'Swedish
Nightingale,' Jenny Lind."
Again: "The London Observer" remarks,--
"Her voice was at once declared to be one of extraordinary
compass. Both her high and low notes were heard with wonder
by the assembled amateurs, and her ear was pronounced to be
excellent."
"The London Advertiser" of June 16 contained the following comments:--
"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, is a convincing argument against the
assertion so often made, that the negro race is incapable of
intellectual culture of a high standard.... Her voice is a
contralto, of great clearness and mellow tone in the upper
register, and full, resonant, and powerful in the lower,
though slightly masculine in its _timbre_. It is peculiarly
effective in ballad-songs of the pathetic cast, several of
which Miss Greenfield sang last night in a very expressive
manner. She was encored in two,--'The Cradle-Song,' a simple
melody by Wallace, and 'Home, Sweet Home,' which she gave in
an exceedingly pleasing manner. 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 afterward, 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. M. Valadares executed a curious Indian air, 'Hilli
Milli Puniah,' on the violin; and Mr. Henry Distin a solo on
the sax tuba. The band was admirable, and performed a couple
of overtures in the best manner. Altogether, the concert,
which we understand was made under the distinguished
patronage of the Duchess of Sutherland, was highly
successful, and went off to the perfect gratification of a
numerous and fashionable audience."
* * * * *
"In July she gave two grand concerts in the Town Hall in
Brighton, under the patronage of her Grace the Duchess of
Sutherland, her Grace the Duchess of Norfolk, her Grace the
Duchess of Beaufort, her Grace the Duchess of Argyle, the
Most Noble the Marchioness of Ailesbury, the Most Noble the
Marchioness of Kildare, the Most Noble the Marquis of
Lansdowne, the Earl and Countess of Shaftesbury, the Earl of
Carlisle, the Countess of Jersey, the Countess of Granville,
the Countess of Wilton, the Viscountess Palmerston, the Lady
Constance Grosvenor, and Mrs. Harriet Beecher Stowe.
"_Vocalists._--Miss E.T. Greenfield (the 'Black Swan'),
Madame Taccani, Countess Tasca, Mr. Emanuel Roberts (Queen's
concerts).
"_Instrumentalists._--Piano-forte soloist, Miss Rosina
Bently [Transcriber's Note: Bentley elsewhere] (pupil of
Miss Kate Loder); violin, M. de Valadares (pupil of the
Conservatoire, Paris); accompanist, Mons. Edouard Henri;
conductor, Mr. F. Theseus Stevens.
"She gave a series of concerts at the Rotunda in Dublin,
Ireland."
* * * * *
"Extract from programme of Miss Greenfield's benefit
concert, Aug. 17, 1853:--
"_Vocalists._--Miss Louisa Pyne, Miss Pyne, and Mr. W.
Harrison; pianist, Miss Rosina Bently; violinist, M. de
Valadares from the East Indies; accompanist, Mr. R. Thomas."
* * * * *