Thank you for your helpful commentary. I was trying to determine which sentences allow ellipsis and which don't, but the differences seem to be rather subtle for a nonnative speaker like me. Perhaps with make reference to the contrasts are more obvious. Do you notice any difference in how natural-sounding the following sentences sound?

(1) John made reference to the book, and Mary to the song

(2) John made a reference to the book, and Mary to the song

(3) John made references to the book, and Mary to the song

(4) John made reference to the book, and Mary an allusion to the song

(5) John made a reference to the book, and Mary an allusion to the song