ADA CROSSLEY'S RETURN.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 2, 27 January 1909, Page 3

ADA CROSSLEY'S RETURN.

CONCERT AT NEW PLVMOUTII. A MUSICAL TKEAT. New Plymouth was priviligcd indeed til InVI- tile Opportunity of hearing last vvfjiiuy Australia , great contralto, ami on the saint' platfonn .Mr. Forty drainger, tin' solo pianist. The artists were greeted b\ a .-.pk-ndkl house, the iowu part »I Hie buildin<r lining overcrowika. ihcugli the circle was not filled. T!r' audience was a most enthusiastic one. and keenly enjoyul the rare musical treat provided, Tacit- frequent entoro demands were most generously acceded to. The artists threw themselves wholeheartedly into the ditlercnt moods demanded hy their various solos on the program me.

Madame Ada Crosslcy was received most warmly in 1,,.,- lir.-sb solo, -Umbra -Mali .l'Tl,' or, as it is more universal! v known by the arrangement, Handel's Largo. How magnificently siie declaimed the opening ic-itative! Every shade of emotion received its varying tone, both quality and power being*cinployed to give contrast. And the aria itself, what tenderness—and then the burst., of majesty and puwer! It was indeed must inspiring. As an encore, she sang that most touching English ballad, "The Ranks of Allan Water," with the utmost tenderness, her whole heart being in her voice. Her second song was "Through Love to Light," a song not well known, but in which she displayed all the powers of artistry, ending with stirring emotion. For an encore, and in great contrast, she sang M. V. White's "Oh, that we two were -Maying," with great tenderness, and in generous response, ".Mighty Like a Rose '; but the gem of the evening came as a third encore in one verse, most pathetically sung, from "Home, Sweet Home." If for nothing else, this one verse was worth while going any distance to hear. Many eyes, otherwise not emotionally disposed, were overflowing, her whole soul being in that all too short effort, for only those who are travelling or are far from home realise all the pathos in those! matchless lines. Most favored was the audience to have the opportunity to hear Mr. Percy (jrainger, whose first solo was the Chopill Polonaise in A lint, which, with its might scale passages and scale work, was really brilliant. And yet at times there was the utmost caressing tenderness, the tones melting and gliding from one phrase to another, and then would come the big scale passages and the mighty theme would thunder out. The audience were quick to respond, and, as a well-deserved encore, he. played Grieg' 3 •'Bridal Procession," with the utmost charm and verve. Mr. Grainger was acclaimed a clever interpreter of his works by the composer himself, so that it was especially welcome to have one number from thci Xorwegian. His' second solo was the Liszt's Rhapsodi No. 12, which was played with the greatest skill and success. For an encore he played the charming little morccau, "To the Spring, with the utmost taste and daintiness.

' Mr. J. Ryan, the baritone of the party, opened the concert with Allitsen's song, "The Lord is my Light," and in the second part contributed the song, "The Colleen Bawn''; but it was in his emcore numbers he was heard at his best. His rendering of "Off to Philadelphia" was inimicable. There was all the humor and sparkling wit, and yet all the tenderness and sadness at partin". As an encore after "The Colleen 'Bawn," he sang, "Trotting to the Fair."

1 Mr. J. Harrison was heard to best advantage in Goring Thomas' exacting recit. and aria, "0, Vision Entrancing.'' This was Mr. Harrison's first solo. His pronunciation and vocalisation were verv fine., but his encore, "Mary of Argyll;." being more widelv known, gave possibilities to even better advantage for depths of expression and wordpainting. His bracketed song, "To Mary," and "Love's Mastery," were cordiall'v appreciated, and as an encore he sang'D'Hardelot's "Because." With Mr. Ryan he also sang the well-known duct, '•The Moon Hath Raised her Lamp Abow," which closed the programme. M. \Mon Sametini was heard to best advantage in Wieniawski's " Polonaise in A," played Vith splendid fire and go. Certainly "his harmonics, natural and artificial", were a treat to listen to, and both in this and his first encore number he gave splendid example* of his ability in this respect. His first solos were the Chopin-Sarasate Nocturne transcription, and a dainty minuet by Mozart, after ■which ha played as an encore "Valse •lSlucttr." bv Drigo, and us an encore to the Polonaise. "The Bee," by Schubert. ■ Much of the success of the evening was due to Mr. 11. Whittle, who l.y Ins artistic accompaniments gave point aad support to the work in hand. There was a lesson to be learned from his skill and ability. The piano was not in proper condition at the commencement of the programme, being out of tune, and it lamcntablv proclaimed its defects before the cvenin'" closed. It was thus a handles p to"the artists, who are accustomed to instruments that leave nothing to be desired.