The Black Swan: Elizabeth Taylor Greenfield

Elizabeth Taylor Greenfield was the first African American opera singer who became popular in the United States and Europe. Many reviewers and critics portrayed Greenfield as unusual and exotic to increase her popularity. Nevertheless, her performances disrupted racist stereotypes about slavery and Black people. She became the best-known Black concert artist of her time and performed for Queen Victoria.

Elizabeth (Eliza) Taylor Greenfield was one of the first African American musicians to gain international recognition. Her natural vocal talents took her to places beyond what anyone could imagine for someone enslaved born in Mississippi during the 1850's. Popularly known as "The Black Swan" whe was born into slavery in Mississippi. She gained her freedom as a teenager in the 1820s when her "mistress" moved to Philadelphia. Active in local abolitionist circles, she made her public debut as a concert singer in 1851. She toured widely and to great acclaim on both sides of the Atlantic before eventually returning to Philadelphia and opening a music studio.

She possessed an incredible and powerful clear 27-31 note vocal range. Sang soprano, tenor, and bass. James Trotter, one of her vocal contemporaries, described her as having “remarkably sweet tones and wide vocal compass.” She worked hard and persevered to overcome the challenges surrounding her.

Born enslaved in Natchez, Mississippi as Elizabeth Taylor. At the tender age of 1, she was taken to Philadelphia by her namesake and owner Mrs. Elizabeth Greenfield. Once settled in Philadelphia, Mrs. Elizabeth Greenfield joined the Quaker Society of Friends and freed all those she slaved. However, Miss Elizabeth continued to serve as a maid and companion. A self-taught vocalist and musician Miss Elizabeth learned to play the piano, guitar, and harp, often providing entertainment for Mrs. Greenfield’s guests. After Mrs. Greenfield’s death, she supported herself by giving public and private performances, gaining significant recognition throughout the Northeast.

On March 31, 1853, in a landmark engagement, Elizabeth Taylor Greenfield made her New York City debut at Metropolitan Hall, drawing an all-white audience that exceeded nearly four thousand people; the people of her own race could not be “accommodated” (in other words barred from attending due to their race). Greenfield apologized to who had been denied the chance to hear her and subsequently gave a concert they could attend to benefit the Home of Aged Colored Persons and the Colored Orphan Asylum.

A few days following her recital, she traveled to Europe for engagements in England, Scotland, and Ireland, in hopes of finding a good teacher to further develop her vocal technique. Shortly after her arrival in England, she was abandoned and left penniless by her manager in London. Luckily Greenfield crossed paths with Harriet Beecher Stowe, an American abolitionist and author of Uncle Tom’s Cabin, while in London. With Stowe’s assistance, she was able to sing for the Duchess of Norfolk, the Duchess of Argyle, and the Duchess of Sutherland. She even received a royal invitation to sing for Queen Victoria at Buckingham Palace and on May 10, 1854 gave a command performance. Another notable performance includes a benefit concert she gave in 1855 for Mary Ann Shadd’s campaign to encourage the emigration of refugee slaves to Canada.

Upon returning to America, Greenfield received anything but the royal treatment. She was refused entrance to a university music class because of her race. Determined, she opened a music studio in Philadelphia, where she created and directed an opera troupe in the 1860s. Greenfield used music and her opera troupe to fight the oppressive systems of American slavery and racism. Her troupe traveled the world singing for integrated audiences and donating proceeds to colored nursing homes and orphanages.

She eventually settled in Philadelphia, where she opened a music studio and created and directed an opera troupe in the 1860s. She passed away on March 31, 1876, her obituary was published in The New York Times.

Trivia: The first black owned record company established in 1921, was named Black Swan Records in Greenfield's honor.

Sources: Library and Archives Canada, photographed in Buffalo, NY (photographer unknown); NPS; "The Music of Black Americans: A History" Eileen Southern and, "Music and Some Highly Musical People" James Trotter and "Opera Exposures: Excerpt from Life Upon the Sacred Stage, The Black Swan: A Tribute Concert," by Mary Sheeran