G. Reed Wilson.
Rochester next extended an invitation for her to visit that city. We copy the invitation:—
"The undersigned, having heard of the musical ability of Miss Elizabeth T. Greenfield of the city of Buffalo, and being desirous of having her sing in Rochester, request that she will give a public concert in this city at an early day, and feel confident that it will afford a satisfactory entertainment to our citizens." (Signed by a large number of the most respected citizens of Rochester.)
Rochester, Dec. 6, 1851.
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 colored 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.
Speaking of her concert in Buffalo, "The Express" says,—
"On Monday, Parodi in all her splendor, sustained by Patti and Strakosch, sang at Corinthian Hall to half a house. Last night Miss Greenfield sang at the same place to a crowded house of the respectable, cultivated, and fashionable people of the city. Jenny Lind has never drawn a better house, as to character, than that which listened with evident satisfaction to this unheralded and almost unknown African nightingale. Curiosity did something for her, but not all. 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."
Another city paper says,—
"Much has been said and written of this personage since she was introduced to the public as a musical prodigy. All sorts of surmises and conjectures have been indulged in respecting the claim put forth of her merit; and generally the impression seemed to prevail, that the novelty of 'color' and idle curiosity accounted more for the excitement raised than her musical powers. Well, she has visited our place, and given our citizens an opportunity of judging for themselves. We are ignorant of music, and unqualified to criticise. But a large audience was in attendance at Ringueberg Hall last evening: among those present were our musical amateurs; and we heard but one expression in regard to the new vocalist, and that was wonder and astonishment at the extraordinary power and compass of her voice; and the ease with which she passed from the highest to the lowest notes seemed without an effort. Her first notes of 'Where are now the hopes?' startled the whole audience; and the interchange of glances, succeeded by thunders of applause at the end of the first verse, showed that her success was complete. She was loudly encored, and in response sang the baritone, '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.