The Australian Women's Register

Summary

Contralto singer Madame Ada Crossley studied piano under Mrs Hastings of Port Albert and later Signor Zelman. She then sang with Madame Fanny Simonsen of Melbourne. Prior to leaving Australia in March 1894, to study in Europe, she gave farewell concerts in Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide. With Percy Grainger a member of her entourage, she toured Australia and New Zealand, returning to England via South Africa (1903-1904). Crossley returned to Australia for a series of concerts in 1908-1909. Once again Grainger was a supporting artist. During the First World War she sang at benefit concerts. After the war she reduced her professional engagements. Ada Crossley died on 17 October 1929 at Woodlands Park, Great Missenden, Buckinghamshire.

Events

• 1970

  Performed with the third Philharmonic Subscription Concert at the Melbourne town hall

• 1970

  Debuted in Sydney

• 1970

  Left Australia to study with (Sir) Charles Santley in London and later in Paris with Madame Marchesi

• 1970

  Made her London debut at the Queen’s Hall

• 1903

  She claimed a repertoire of 500 sacred songs and ballads, ranging from Gluck and Handel to Richard Strauss, and she sang in English, German, French, Italian, Norwegian, Danish and Russian

• 1902 - 1903

  Toured the United States of America, during which she recorded for the Victor Gramophone Companies Red Seal Celebrity series

• 2003 - 2004

  Engaged by J C Williamson to visit Australia and New Zealand, she returned to England via South Africa

• 2005

  Married Dr Francis Frederick (1879-1945), throat specialist,

• 1908 - 1909

  Revisited Australia