DISCOVERY OF SIMS REEVES.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXIV, Issue 4871, 24 January 1903, Page 3 (Supplement)

DISCOVERY OF SIMS REEVES.

Apropos of the late James Andersen s “Reminiscences.” n correspondent calls mv attention (writes Joseph Hatton in “Cigarette Papers”) to an incident in

, the great tragedian's life that is croditi able both to his taste and his courage. ; Moreover, it seems to establish the fact that Anderson practically discovered the late Sims Reeves, that incomparable j toner. By .the way, it should not be for--1 gotten that Reeves made his debut in ■ Newcastle-on-Tyne as a baritone. I am ■ not an expert in tho art a*d science of ' vocal or instrumental music, but some- ’ thing of the baritone quality in Reeves’s ' voice was clearly of great advantage to > him in many of his finest effects. Musi--5 clans always remind you that Reeves’s 1 voice was not pure tenor. I suppose 3mli ini was perfectly endowed, and. next io ■ Reeves he was to my mind the most de- • lightful of vocalists. He sang in Italian 1 opera, as you know. But to return to Reeves and Anderson. During tho rehoar- ’ sals of Dryden’s “King Arthur” at Drury 1 Lane. Tom Cooke, the conductor of the ’ orchestra, was at his wits’ end for a ■ vocalist who could sing the solo, "Come : If You Dare.” Indeed, it was almost decided to postpone the production of the' . piece on this account. The manager in i despair, looking at Anderson, said, ’ What is to be done? It is absolutely necessary . to find a gentleman who can do justice 1 to the music.” Anderson had noticed a ; voice in the chorus that had surprised - and delighted him, and had taken +he ■ trouble to find out the singer’s name; it • was Sims Reeves. "Well,” he said to the , manager, “there is a fellow in the chorus . named Reeves, and if Cooke will give him , a chance he can do the trick: if not, I’m . a Dutchman!” Cooke was angry at the suggestion, either because he disliked I Reeves or had not noticed his voice, or for the reason that an, actor had the Impertinence to make a suggestion in regard to the rendering of the music in the , piece. However, Cooko was induced at I last to invite E-eeveo into the music rotm , After a short delay he came out, begged Anderson’s pardon, and embraced him. In a severe test Sims Reeves more than justified Anderson’s recommendation, and shortly afterwards made a great hit ’n Italian opera. 1 ;•■■■ I —— l i