SIMS REEVES.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXV, Issue XVIII, 3 November 1900, Page 830

SIMS REEVES.

Sims Reeves, whose death was cabled from London last week, was born at Woolwich. He was first instructed in music by his father. At an early age he held the appointment of organist and director of the choir of the church of North Craig, and after taking lessons on the pianoforte from J. 15. Cramer, he was then placed under the care of I. Cooke, Hobbs and other distinguished professors of singing. In 1839 he made his first appearance on the stage at Newcastle, at which time he was singing baritone parts. He next visited the principal provincial towns, and went to Paris to study his profession. Not long afterwards he made his first appearance in Italian opera at Milan, in the tenor part of Edgardo in “Lucia di Lammermoor,” and came out in the same character at Drury Lane Theatre December 6. 1847, then under the management of the late M. .) allien. His first original character was in Balfe's opera of “The Maid of Honour,” and he appeared at Her Majesty’s Theatre as Carlos in “Linda di Chamouni ” in 1848, and was engaged at the Royal Italian Opera at Covent Garden in 1849. Since that time Mr Reeves has held the rank of first English tenor, and has appeared with extraordinary success at all the great performances of oratorios at Exeter Hall, the provincial festivals, and the Crystal Palace.