Miss Ada Crossley.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 249, 18 November 1903, Page 4

Miss Ada Crossley.

THE STORY OP HER CAREER. The visit of Mies Acla Crossley t® New Plymouth on Dec. 3 is an event of exceptional interest, for not only is she an Australian native who has won fame »nd popularity in the great centres of the world, but she is one of the most distinguished singers who have yet been indu-ed to submit their art to a New Plymouth audiience. The story of this artist's career possesses many elements of interest. She was born in the wilds of Gippsland (Victoria), of a family that had never shown musical taste in any degree, yet a,s a child she used to delight hsr parents by singing littlo melodies, and in due course came the ordinary round of music lessons, such as the conditions of Port Albert made possible. The. childish songjh were oijgiotten, and it was to the study of orfjin and pi'ano music that the little bush girl devoted herself, cantering in from her home to the township on horseibnek for the lessons which laid the foundatioe of her musical fortunes. Her growing knowledge was soon put to use, arid while still in her early teens Miss Crossley used to play the organ in different little country churches— Presbyterian. Anglican and Wesleyan—within riding distance of her home. Eventually her progress suggested the 'desirability of a visit to Melbourne for a course of finishing lessons, and it was at this time i.hat she entered as a pianoforte student for the Clarke Musical Scholarship in her native State. The first decision found the Gippsland gprl and another student a tie for first place, but the deciding vote of the Chairman was given against Miss Crossley. It may be hero noted that the thorough musical training and knowledge of pianoforte music which she then gained has been of incalcuhib,e benefit to her in the career she subsequently adopted. A little while after the scholarship contest the late Madame Eanny Simonsen heard Miss Crossley sing for the first time, and instantly recognised the beauty of the voice and its great possibilities. The vocal training began at once, and in all parts of the world the V;c*torian singer has borne constant and eheerful testimony to all that was done for her by her first principal and teacher. An appearance in Melbourne was arranged, and for two years afterwards Miss Crossley sang with great success throughout Victoria and lin New South Wales and South Australia. She got her first chance in oratorio during the visit of the late Madame Patey, to whom she sang second in a performance of "Elijah," at Melbourne. The famous English contralto was greatly struck by Miss C'rossley's voice and style, and strowgly advised her to go to England, where in less than two years she was generally acclaimed as " the legitimate successor to Madame Patey," who had meanwhile pasaed away at the close of a concert where her last song was " The Banks of Allan Water," which terminates with the line " There a corpse lay she." Miss Crosslev's farewell from Australia was of an unusuhjly enthusiastic character. All that was expected of Miss Crossley the has more than realised. During the nine years of her European career she has advanced steadily to the front rank, where she holds a proud place today as ons of the most artistic in*terpreters in Europe. She has sung with remarkable success in every great musical festival given in England until she is claimed to be the first oratorio artiste in that country. She has been associated with Melba, Patti, Calve, Paderewski, and other world-famed stars in rheir great concert successes, while her advance as a drawing-room singer has "been no less emphatic and defined. In America, too, Miss Crossley's tour was but a continuation of her Flnglisjh triumphs, while Canada showed very special favour for the distinguished Australian artiste. Her return home has been like a chapter from a fairy book. Cheers, ifts, flowers—an irresistible wave of popular enthusiasm has followed her wherever she goes. Prom the Gov-ernor-General ol the Commonwealth down to the poorest in the streets, all have combined to do honour to this popular woman, and genuine artiste, whose progress has been graciously recognised by the late and the present Queen of England, and who, amid all her triumphs, ieiuo,i,s an unspoilt daughter of the people.