The advent of the Black Swan was the signal for prolonged applause. She is a woman of graceful stature, with a face of intelligence and gentleness, modest and tasteful in her dress, and an easy carriage. She looks confidently to the audience, as if trusting to their unbiassed judgment. Her first song, “Sweetly o’er my Senses Stealing,” gives a fair idea of her flexibility and tone. They are truly astonishing. She glides from note to note with the utmost ease; as trippingly as most of our prima donnas. But compass of voice, the most desirable quality in vocal music, is the distinctive feature of her style. Here she is fully at home—as evinced in that charming ballad where she accompanied herself on the piano. Her voice here was masculine and rich—and at the same time soft—devoid of that burr with which most bona fide male voices are encumbered. She sang in six pieces, was applauded in each, and thrice triumphantly encored. We heard but one opinion of the entertainment—that of unqualified delight.
Milwaukie Daily Sentinel, April 19, 1852.
The Telegraph and press, for some time past, have been busy in chronicling the musical triumphs of the Black Swan, and in noting her progress Westward. Last week she sang to crowded and delighted audiences, in Detroit, Chicago, Kenosha, and Racine. To-night she sings at Gardner’s Hall, in this city. She comes here heralded by a reputation which will of itself draw a full house. That those who attend will enjoy the entertainment, will be readily inferred from the following notice in Chicago, copied from the Journal of that city:
“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; and though not skilled in the quibbles and nomenclature of “the art divine,” we are satisfied she thinks right. With a complexion not Circassian, and a figure not altogether a model for sculptors, she has drawn together here an audience—has charmed them, and all with the magic of a voice.”
Milwaukie 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. After singing the first song, she was called back, when she sat down to the piano, and commenced, “When Stars are in the Quiet Sky,” we almost imagined, at first, that Geo. Baker, with his heavy bass voice, had broken forth somewhere in the vicinity. But what was our surprise to discover that those low, yet heavy and powerful notes, proceeded from the same person who just before had been singing with the highest, clearest notes of a woman. Thus it was throughout. It seemed as though to sing was as natural to her as to the bird; and she poured forth melody and music without being obliged to use those desperate and convulsive efforts that some do. She was received with the most rapturous applause, which in some of the songs broke forth at the end of every verse. This was especially the case when she sang “If a Body meet a Body,” &c., when it seemed as though they could not sufficiently testify their pleasure.
Professor Becht is a most correct and finished player on the piano; and we must say, that Mr. Schmittroth made more music than we ever heard before in scientific fiddling.
Rochester, May 6, 1852.
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.