So see first the performer (7)
I believe the answer is:
soloist
'performer' is the definition.
(soloist is a kind of performer)
'so see first' is the wordplay.
'see' becomes 'lo' ('lo' is an archaic exclamation meaning 'look!').
'first' becomes 'ist' (ist resembles 1st).
'so'+'lo'+'ist'='SOLOIST'
'the' is the link.
(Other definitions for soloist that I've seen before include "musician at front of stage?" , "Virtuoso player" , "this one's on his own" , "One who performs" , "Only one playing" .)