The Final Concert of Miss Ada Crossley's New Zealand Tour.

New Zealand Illustrated Magazine, 1 January 1904, Page 312

The Final Concert of Miss Ada Crossley's New Zealand Tour.

By Horace Stebbing

fF late years, New Zealand has been honored b^ visits from many of the world's most famous artists, but none of these have captivated the hearts of the ueople (more readily than the fair cantatrice who has recently departed from our shores after meeting with most enthusiastic receptions from one end of the Colony to the other.

The delightful sin ir nnn- and charming 1 personality of Miss Ada Crosslev must of a surety remain indelibly impressed upon the memory of those whose distinct privilege it was to come under her s-oe.ll of enchantment.

It was not our grood fortune to hear the famous Australian contralto in the sublime works- of the old masters, for time and other circumstances would not nermit of this, but we can without hesitation accept the statement of many who remember to have heard Miss Crossley in the Motherland, that she has but few rivals in oratorio

It is not difficult to imagine her treatment of such immortal solos as "He was desrrised," "He shall feed His flock " (Handel) " 0, Eest in the Lord/ " But the Lord is Mindful " (Mendelssohn), and other similar works, and it seems a mattar of regret that arrangements are not made to have an efficient orchestra in each of the large towns, prepared to accompany such artists as Miss Crossley when' they visit the Colony, in favourite selections from the* great masters.

Most of us recognise the edifying! influence of music of this class, and when it is interpreted by one who

possesses the Divine gift of stirring tlhe recesses of the human heart and bringing mankind into a common bond of sympathy, it is devoutly to be desired that such music will find its way into the programmes of artistes who are likely to extend -to us the privilege of hearinp- them in future.

Miss Crossley did not come to this Colony, as some have done, when the voice has materially suffered from fatigue and overwork, but she gave us some noteworthy expositions of her powers. No finer example of vocalization has been heard here, whilst her faultless method of production was an education in itself.

Her efforts were rendered the more enjoyable owing to her perfect control of the breath.

There was not the slightest attempt at forcing the voice, each note falling rich and pure, and, figuratively speaking, resembling a beautifully rounded and polished gem.

Miss_ Crossley's repertoire is am extensive one, embracing 1 as it does oratorio, opera, ballads, etc. In fact, very little that has been written worthy of tlie study of a great artist has escaped her notice.

During her New Zealand tour, however, for the most part she sang the people's songs, and although in every instance a most complete success must be recorded in favour of each of the new items introduced for the first time, still it wag her expressive rendering of the simple old ballads so dear to the hearts of all^that secured for the singer a veritable triumph.

The Australian contralto gave her final concert at His Majesty's Theatre, Auckland, on Monday, 7th December, the large building being taxed to its utmost capacity.

So crowded was the auditorium that ijt was decided to place rows of chairs on the sta^e. The atmosphere was damp and enervating, but despite these unsatisfactory climatic conditions the singer did not appear to suffer inconvenience.

Miss Crossley's appearance was the signal for prolonged applause, during which she graciously bowed many tiimes to all parts of the house.

When the. storm of enthusiasm subsided, the first notes of Goring Thomas' beautiful recitative and aria, "My Heart jts Weary " (Nadeshda), reached the ears of the

spell-bound audience, who followed the contralto through the various degrees of light and shade of the difficult yet tuneful composition as though under some powerful mesmeric influence.

When the last notes of tht pathetic ending died away, it was for a moment difficult to realise that one/ had to applaud, so completely did the singer elevate the thoughts of her audience to realms the reverse of mundane.

For the beautiful rendering of the number referred to, the singer received nothing short of an ovation. The audience insisted on a recall, and when Miss Crossley graciously sangf in response; Alicia Needham'p dainty little coon : soni£, " Croodlin' D'oo/' the enthusiasm increased to such an extent that apparently

there was no alternative Jeft to the singer but to add another encore song.

She chose an exceedingly fine setting by Ethelbert Nevin of Chas. Kingsley's touching verses, "Oh that We Two Were Maying " (now obtainable at Eady's), and it is questionable if anything /more charming has been heard ir. Auckland.

In the second Dart of the programme five numbers were bracketed with Miss Crossley's name, but before she had completed her task three other song's had to be supplemented.

Her treatment of B ohm's " Still Wie Die Nacht/' revealed a wealth of feeling in every sense remarkable.

Purceirs old English composition, " Hark ! The Echoing Air," so rarely sung now-a-days, surprised many who heard it for the first time by its exquisite beauty.

Perhaps the famous contralto's marvellously flexible voice was heard more to advantage in this than in any other of her numbers, and it was mainly owinr to her facile treatment of the old-fashioned air from " The Fairy Queen." that many regretted an opportunity was not afforded of hearing the singer in oratorio.

" When I am Dead." composed expressly for Miss Crosslev by that most melodious song-writer Walthew followed, and the pathetic music at once found a response in the hearts of the vast audience.

Nevin's quaint little song, " Mighty Like a Eose;" gave unalloyed pleasure, and the singer's conception and interpretation proved what can be done with a simple song when artistically rendered. The item was re-demanded, and Miss Crosslev repeated the last verse to, satisfy those who were clamouring for more.

■Willeby's "The Birds go North 1 Again/ produced another storm of applause, and as the inevitable encore was the result, the singer most generously gave the familiar " We'd Better Bide a Wee."

As the introduction to the song proceeded, the enthusiasm knew no bounds, and the applause became almost deafening. The first notes of the singer, however, produced a magnetic effect, and breathless silence immediately prevailed. The final words of the song " I canna leave the auld folks noo, We'd better bide a wee." were given with such intensity of passionate fervour that quite a number in the audience were moved to tears. Others again cheered to the echo. Handkerchiefs were frantically waved, a double recall was insisted on, and for the first timei during the evening an encore was graciously declined. Miss Crossley' s last item on the programme was BlumenthaPs exquisite " Sunshine and Rain." She sang the number delightfully, and as a final encore she chose the appropriate and never-to-be-forgotten song, " God Be With You " The wholesome sentiment of the verses conveyed to her audience., all that the artiste intended, and Miss Crossley may rest assured the vast number of admirers she has surrounded herself with in New Zealand will look forward to the time when circumstances will permit the people of this Colony to be honoured with another visit. The principal " star " was splendidly supported by Messrs. Jacques Jacob (a very fine violinist), W. A. Peterkin (one of the most artistic of baritone vocalists), and Mr. Percy Grainger (a finished pianiste), whilst the accompaniments of Herr Benno Scherek were exquisitely played. Indeed it would be most difficult to find a more finished accompanist. The Ada Crossley Concerts may foe regarded as a treat of a life-time, and as such, must ever remain fresh in the memory of those who had an opportunity of hearing the famous Australian singer.