Harrison Grand Concert: 1st

“Zelda Harrison, a young lady who has been starring it in concerts at the watering places.”

“Pupil of Mme. E. Seguin. . . . [H]er first Grand Concert in her native city . . . . Other eminent artists will appear.”

Concert of Miss Zelda Harrison.

          If we regard the opening concert of the season given last evening by Miss Harrison at Dodworth’s, as an index to the incoming season, the lovers of good music may well rejoice.  Numerically it was all that could be desired; and the warmth and enthusiasm of the audience indicated a healthy taste for the enjoyment of genuine music.  Miss Harrison is a young lady of some seventeen summers, modest and comely in appearance, with a child-like witchery of manner and expression which carried captive the young and the old.  Her contralto voice is rich and vigorous by nature, with an intonation of seductive plaintiveness as rare as irresistible.  Apart from the natural taste of the young artist herself, the careful training of Mrs. Seguin was perceptible in every note.  It is seldom the public has had to welcome a young artist of more well-founded promise or one that is more likely to do credit to her calling.  To the efforts of Miss Harrison were brilliantly added the great services of Madame Anna Bishop.  Over the charming voice and person of this artist the wing of time has passed without leaving a shadow.  She produced an effect last evening not soon to be forgotten, and both young and old joined heartily in bestowing on her showers of applause and flowers.  One might have supposed that she was a newly-risen goddess of song.  A new duet, ‘Sunset,’ the admirable music by that wayward child of the muses, Stephen Massett, was sung by Madame Bishop and Mr. Lascelles so artistically and sweetly, so delicately and passively, that the audience acted as if moved by magic on an enchanted isle.  To complete our picture of this delightful concert we have only to add that comic songs of Mr. Lascelles were well received, though for our part we thought his greatest success was in his duet singing and piano accompaniments.”

“Miss Zelda Harrison’s Concert. 

            The concert at Dodworth Hall on Friday evening was attended by as large an audience as the capacity of the room permitted.  Miss Zelda Harrison, a young American contralto, made her debut in this city on the occasion.  She possesses a remarkable contralto voice, of a power and depth very rare in one so young—for the debutant is not over eighteen years of age.  The airs from Martha were admirably sung.  With a few years training and the assistance of a good master, Miss Harrison will make a very promising vocalist.  It was evident from her performance at her first appearance that all the material is at her command.  A little cultivation will accomplish all that is desirable in a good artist.  Madame Anna Bishop sang with a good deal of the freshness of the olden time, and, we need not say, sang well.  Mr. Lascelles’ humorous songs were received with a great deal of enjoyment.”

“The first was crowded to overflowing.” [Review of the contralto’s concert at the Brooklyn Atheneum on Aug. 29; programs for both concerts were identical. Describes program, including at least partial titles.]