MADAME ADA CROSSLEY.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 440, 24 February 1909, Page 9

MADAME ADA CROSSLEY.

-FAREWELL CONCERT. Madamo' Ada Orossloy. • the - gifted con- ; ; tralto,-. ; beon ' delighting New. Zea- ;. 5 land audiences..with,, her beautiful voice,' took her farewell of Wellington-music-lovers at : the Town: Hall last evening, there; being a &j?j. : . very, laige attendance, several people having : ;to be.. - content, to stand at. tho back of , the . ; hall. _ r.The .programme, which was, in' a; num- : -bcr much- riupenor:to that sub- ' ;-mitt«3 .the-previous'evening, was listened to '' '.withi.rapt.attention -almost throughout;, encores .-.were -frequently demanded, and 111- .: dulgently-iresponded'to. "Jladamo-.was in Enlendid■;voice; - the recitative:; and■'air from""Nadeshda" . (Thomas).— ".What ■ Means Ivan K" and ' "Oh! My Heart is Weary," superbly sung, tho' full powers of the linger.;being..dlsplayed.'in- tho rendition. ■;; Madame- was l repeat«]ly recalled, and ;added . .... Gounod's ch'arminij songj "There is a Green Hill," and 'a child-lullaby by Brolims— -"Sandmatmchen" ■ (Tho Dustman). Later; ' she -sang Clutsam's exquisite composition .- / "A'.Lifc's' Gift''; hcr..'rehditioh of tlie .first ; arid thifjl verses was perfect;; but. her .treat- ! . ihent"'of the second, verso suggested a lack ■" tures of this .-verse are- invsharp ..contrast to • • ;•'•. the others! A stormy ,'scnt-iriient is , set to appropriate melody: ( ( ; If- you-have felt- tho salt-sea spray .- ' ' ..I'lung'to'the face by a whistling win-I, - -, .Proin'a wild-green, sea'in tho'waning day' ,' : And'a trailing'.'wliito churned wake bi'hinJ, , '•. jlf you have'-hoard tho seagulls cry .' :■ In swirling swarms- on.a hazy shore, •, ' s . While .rugged clouds raco -swiftly , by,;?;'fSii ; . ,i. •,.Then havo,you.lived-ryet Life holds more. ■'.'.; ; Tho first part.'of. tho. last: line—'."Then you .have- ■ lived I";;,is :an- impressive climax; but Madamo failed to respond to it. . As encore . r.; ..numbers; she-added:r"Nearer, "My God to ;- v .•: Thee J ""."Oh 'that ; iWe'two were Maying"; .. (distinctly, one of her best efforts),' arid a plantation-lilt ''Sweetest Little Fellow." Mr. John Harrison;' whoso oxcellent 'tennr ' singing been' a -feature -of tho' Crossloy .with / Gounod's ; 'ifmo'". ariav I''Salvo. Dimora'',(.''Faust''•),; .which -ho• sang, with splendid effect, and added, as extra numbers, D'Hardolot s woll-known and much- ■::.-;- admired.'.l 'Because," v.and , "Bonnie; Mary of • Argyle." On;his second appearance, he sang "O, -Flower of AH the World". (WoodfordeFmden), -'compelled . to contribute; two more songs, ono. of which, "Tak<S a Pair ; of; Sparkling Eyes"■ (from "The; Gondoliers") : . was.almost enjoyable number.,; , , •', , Tho- - violinist of t the p_arty, : .M. - Leon . ' . Sametini;-.was most happy in his'cbntribu- . . • ;tions to .! - • (Bach)_; a Handel, minuet; iVPolonaiso 'in 0" ;;; (Wieniawski), almost' intricate-composition, capably jplayed,' characteristic dances (Kes), and a dainty,.melodious <janco studyin tripio i,time (this last; was an' encore also was tho Wienaswski, polonaise). -■j ■ . Mr.« Percy Grainger!s. piano-playmg was, x/f;. j. as j:,brilliantj=.'_ vivacious • . but nbt ostentatious.-'.'His- items were:—'• ', ".Walte, Op. ..39'- (Brahms), '..''Hungarian • -Dance; No. B"'.(Brahms); and the,inspiriting SchubertrTarisig . "Military March.".. An ec- , centric : number " was .-, the_,.':'.'Maguire ; Kick",,: Irish 'jig,-, a transcription," by tho .pianist, of Villiers-Stanford's original Betting, ■i Mr.•; Jay Ryan; (baritone), contributed,. -.;■■■;' with '-fair, success, "Tho..■■.Sailor , B ~ Grave'- : (Sullivaji): "Bedouin Love Song'.'. (Pinsuti), and "Molly Bawn" (an encore number), and ■ ■■■■■■,■: ..was; also - associated; with;- Mr.- 'Harrison 111 tho . fine : duet. "Tlie Moon has raised her - Lamp;; Above" . (Benedict),'.'-.which,.concluded the programme. ' " Herr. Benno Schorek played, in his char-••v.-t T.-acteristicaUys taateJnlv.'.wayy i.tibe;.-vano«s•••-ai> . 'coiripaniments for the'.'singers, while Mr. .'. ; Horace'. Hunt 'assisted\at tho organ, during ;tho"!i singing, by.- Madame Crossley,- of,.tho. - v beautiful hymn-song, -"Nearer, My God. to Thee."