A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Reeves, John

by William Henry Husk

REEVES, John Sims, son of a musician, was born at Shooter's Hill, Kent, Oct. 21, 1822. He received his early musical instruction from his father, and at 14 obtained the post of organist at North Cray Church, Kent. Upon gaining his mature voice he determined on becoming a singer, and in 1839 made his first appearance in that capacity at the Newcastle-upon-Tyne Theatre, as Count Rudolpho in 'La Sonnambula,' and subsequently performed Dandini in 'La Cenerentola,' and other baritone parts. The true quality of his voice, however, having asserted itself, he placed himself under Hobbs and T. Cooke, and in the seasons of 1841–42 and 1842–43 was a member of Macready's company at Drury Lane, as one of the second tenors, performing such parts as the First Warrior in Purcell's 'King Arthur,' Ottocar in 'Der Freischutz,' and the like. He then went to the continent to prosecute his studies, and in a short time afterwards appeared at Milan as Edgardo in Donizetti's 'Lucia di Lammermoor' with marked success. Returning to England he was engaged by Jullien for Drury Lane, where he made his first appearance on Monday, Dec. 6, 1847, as Edgar in 'The Bride of Lammermoor,' and at once took position as an actor and singer of the first rank. 'His voice had become a pure high tenor of delicious quality, the tones vibrating and equal throughout, very skilfully managed, and displaying remarkably good taste. His deportment as an actor was natural and easy, his action manly and to the purpose, and exhibiting both passion and power, without the least exaggeration.' A fortnight later he performed his first original part, Lyonnel in Balfe's 'Maid of Honour.' In 1848 he was engaged at Her Majesty's Theatre, and came out as Carlo in Donizetti's 'Linda di Chamounix.' In the autumn he was engaged at the Norwich Musical Festival, where he showed his ability as an oratorio singer by an extraordinarily fine delivery of 'The enemy said' in 'Israel in Egypt.' On Nov. 24 following he made his first appearance at the Sacred Harmonic Society in Handel's 'Messiah.' The rapid strides which he was then making towards perfection in oratorio were shown—to take a few instances only—by his performance in 'Judas Maccabeus' and 'Samson,' 'Elijah,' 'St. Paul,' and 'Lobgesang,' and 'Eli' and 'Naaman' (both composed expressly for him). But his greatest triumph was achieved at the Handel Festival at the Crystal Palace in 1857, when, after singing in 'Messiah' and 'Judas Maccabeus' with increased reputation, he gave 'The enemy said' in 'Israel in Egypt' with such remarkable power, fire, and volume of voice, breadth of style, and evenness of vocalisation, as completely electrified his hearers. He repeated this wonderful performance at several succeeding festivals. On the stage he has been uniformly successful in all styles, from the simplest old English ballad opera to the most complex modern grand production. A recent letter from Mr. Reeves, published in the Times in Nov. 1880, speaks of his intended retirement from public life as an artist in 1882, and shows in its whole tenor how deep an interest is felt by this great singer in the welfare, in his own country, of the art in which he himself has been so successful. Mr. Reeves married, Nov. 2, 1850, Miss Emma Lucombe, soprano singer, who had been a pupil of Mrs. Blane Hunt, and appeared at the Sacred Harmonic Society's concert of June 19, 1839, and sang there and at other concerts until 1845, when she went to Italy. She returned in 1848, and appeared in opera as well as at concerts. Mrs. Reeves has for some years past retired from public life and occupied herself as a teacher of singing, for which she has a deservedly high reputation. His son Herbert, after a careful education under his father and at Milan, made his successful debut at one of Mr. Ganz's concerts (June 12, 1880), and has already met with great favour from the public. His voice, though not yet so strong as his father's, is of beautiful quality, and in taste, intelligence and phrasing he is all that might be expected from his parentage and education.

[ W. H. H. ]