Laura Harris First Grand Concert
Event Information
Venue(s):
Niblo's Concert Saloon
Conductor(s):
Antonio Barili
Price: $1; $1.25 reserved
Performance Forces:
Instrumental, Vocal
Record Information
Status:
Published
Last Updated:
29 August 2011
Performance Date(s) and Time(s)
23 Jan 1865, 8:00 PMProgram Details
Performers and/or Works Performed
Citations
3)
“[Harris] is gifted with a sweet, fresh voice which, while it may not at present possess all the power requisite for the lyric drama—which could hardly be expected in so young a vocalist—still is eminently suited to the concert room.”
6)
“Miss Harris possesses a rich, mellow and clear voice, and her intonation is distinct and eminently adapted to that delicate sphere of harmony required in the concert room. She, however, as yet does not possess that quantity of vocal power necessary to meet the demands of the Opera.”
7)
“Miss Harris’s Concert. The concert given at Niblo’s Saloon last night by Miss Laura Harris showed to advantage the many qualifications which that young lady possesses for the concert room. Her sweet, clear voice, her happy facility of execution, and her youthful appearance, combine to render the young vocalist a most enjoyable and interesting singer. In her operatic selections and in her echo song last night she was loudly applauded.
The assisting artists varied the programme by their performances, Mr. Pattison, the pianist, being the chief attraction after the prima donna.”8)
The youthful Laura Harris delighted us with a concert, although she is still very young in her voice and probably also in her talent. She does possess skill—the kind we would call American virtuosity, which is celebrating success in Europe at this time—yet this rather technical aspect of the performance can neither warm the heart nor lift the spirit. The modern direction of vocal training can only be satisfactory if it is combined with genius. Vocal education should integrate the aspect of soulfulness into singing in order to create genuine art. We have talented singers appearing everywhere, yet it seems their focus is on technical virtuosity. What is missing is the deeper understanding of music. As long as art is not expressed for its own sake, and instead with calculation, it can only sparkle with light and life for a moment, just like a brilliant firework, which fades away quickly.