MADAME ADA CROSSLEY

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 6704, 30 December 1908, Page 2

MADAME ADA CROSSLEY

A CHATTY INTERVIEW. Whatever qualms the interviewer might have fell in raiding Madame Ada Grusaicy's private (sitting room a few minutes after her arrival at the Hotel Wimb or last evening, were* immediately dispelled by the charmingly warm welcome extended by the great contralto, truly a vision of womanly beauty, even aitcr a confessedly unpleasant sea voyage. “X feel anyhow, ' said Miss Crossley, laughing merrily as rhe swayed herself to and fro, mimicing the.' roll of the vcaciel. “Hut L am a wretched sailor, anyhow* and fen iirLemseCy ’thankful to be on terra firm a once again. Wo left Sydney on Christmas night, after giving a huge concert in the Town Hall, a splendidly enthusiastic affair- I only just had time to gat out of my evening dress and into—well, yes—this," indicating the gown she was wearing, a smart black Hirectoire cloth costume, handsomely braided, which revealed a vest of Koniton point lace. At the neck blazed the lyre bird of diamonds, presented by Uie- Melbourne musicians to their distinguished countrywonuuv 4 the occasion of her last visit ,td Australia. a little over five years ago, and im her, fair hair, with its ruddy glints, was n large white hat with white wings, draped with an embroidered chiffon veil, making a soft and lovely setting - for her face, which has preserved its youthful freshncfcft to a remarkable degree. "Australia ■* Oh, it was delightful getting* back there % once again. My countrymen and women are so loyal and enthusiastic. I have been made honorary life niembur, amongst other things, of various bowling, tennis, and cnckei clubs, Perhaps my most touching experience was my visit to my native Gippfcland. When 1 left the pciopio turned out on masse, -and X had a cavalcade of I don't know what length—htsts of buggies and riders —among the latter being lots of little, girls ruling astride, all -the way from Yarrum to Woodvilie. They had erected a -triumphal arch at Woodvilie, and I was presented with numerous floral trophies, [n the middle of all the ‘recenting’ business an old digger—Jaok wraith fbyname—X remembered when a child, came forward with a little bunch of gum leaves. ‘Here’s something for you, Ada/ he said, simply, ’and now’ coo-ea for us/ which I did with all the strength of my 4 lings. “The whole trip has been a wholesale picnic to us all, iu spito of certain exactions, not tho least being the many people wanting'- to see me —strange people beseeching, mn to test their voices, both for singing and elocution. It was something quite new to mo to be considered 4iii authority—on the latter, anyway. And tho meeting with so many old friends, too, was a sufficiently trying ordeal. It took a good deal out of mo, when I wanted to reserve myself in order to give, my audiences of my very bust.”

Sounded on. the subject of her concert repertoire, tho singer reluctantly confessed a little disappointment that .she had had to modify her programme to the taste of the Australian public. “Of course,” she said, “there is a considerable' section to whom anything but music of a classical type is anathema, and these must be studied, but “ tho major section can only bo pleased with tho popular ordar, and I try my best to satisfy both. X confess 1 had ideals - tho notion of singing only tho classical—but one finds one has to subjugate oneself to one’s patrons. My great programme number, which is billed for my second concert in Wellington, is Bach’s cantata for contralto voice, 'Schlage Dock.' It is sung to the organ, piano, and violin accompaniment, and also two bells, five- and a half and six feet high, respectively, which I had specially founded for the Australasian tour. I shall also sing 'Ombra ma toi and'other standing operatic favourites. On my last visit to New Zealand 1 found the audiences so splendidly responsive that it was always a. pleasure to come before them, and I trust you will tell my many New Zealand friends that I look forward to renewing then acquaintance with tho utmost pleasure.”