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John Sims Reeves (21 October 1821〔Date thus in Reeves, ''The Life of J. Sims Reeves, Written by Himself'' (1888), p. 15: see also Reeves, ''My Jubilee'' (1889), p. 20, 'In 1839, when I had just entered upon my eighteenth year...' (i.e., his 17th birthday was in October 1838). But C. E. Pearce, in ''Sims Reeves – Fifty Years of Music in England'' pp. 17–18, (followed by most) shows a Woolwich parish baptism record (not birth) for 26 September 1818, of one John Reeves. If that was really the singer, that makes Reeves' and his oldest friends' statements unreliable, and postpones his voice breaking to age 16 against his direct statement this occurred age 12 (ibid. p. 20). John Reeves (1818) was possibly a sibling deceased before 1821.〕 – 25 October 1900), usually called simply Sims Reeves, was the foremost English operatic, oratorio and ballad tenor vocalist of the mid-Victorian era. Reeves began his singing career in 1838 but continued his vocal studies until 1847. He soon established himself on the opera and concert stage and became known for his interpretation of ballads. He continued singing through the 1880s and later taught and wrote about singing. == Musical beginnings == Sims Reeves was born in Shooter's Hill, in Greater London, England. His parents were John Reeves, a musician of Yorkshire origin, and his wife, Rosina. He received his earliest musical education from his father, a bass soloist in the Royal Artillery Band, and probably through the bandmaster, George McKenzie.〔C. Pearce 1924, pp. 18–22.〕 By the age of fourteen he was appointed choirmaster of North Cray church and performed organist's duties.〔J. Sims Reeves, ''The Life of J. Sims Reeves, Written by Himself'' (Simpkin, Marshall & Co, London 1888, p. 16.〕 He seems to have studied medicine for a year but changed his mind when he gained his adult voice: it was at first a baritone, training under Thomas Simpson Cooke. He also learnt oboe, bassoon, violin, and violoncello and other instruments. He later studied piano under Johann Baptist Cramer.〔Reeves 1888, p. 16.〕 He made his earliest appearance at Newcastle in 1838 or 1839〔See Pearce 1924, pp. 28–30.〕 as the Gipsy boy in H. R. Bishop's ''Guy Mannering'', and as Count Rodolfo in ''La sonnambula'' (baritone parts). Later he performed at the Grecian Saloon, London, under the name of Johnson.〔Biddlecombe, George. ("Reeves, (John) Sims (1818–1900)", ) ''Oxford Dictionary of National Biography'', Oxford University Press, 2004, accessed 26 September 2008, 〕 He continued to study voice with Messrs. Hobbs and T. Cooke and appeared under William Charles Macready's management at Drury Lane (1841–1843) in subordinate parts in spoken theatre and in Henry Purcell's ''King Arthur'' ("Come if you dare"), ''Der Freischütz'' (as Ottokar), and ''Acis and Galatea'' in 1842 when Händel's pastoral was mounted on the stage with William Clarkson Stanfield's scenery.〔Pearce 1924, p. 44.〕 In summer 1843 Reeves studied in Paris under the tenor and pedagogue Marco Bordogni of the Paris Conservatoire.〔 Bordogni was responsible for opening and developing the upper (tenor) octave of his voice into the famous rich and brilliant head notes.〔Pearce 1924, p. 37).〕 From October 1843 to January 1844 Reeves appeared in a very varied programme of musical drama, including the roles of Elvino in ''La Sonnambula'' and Tom Tug in Charles Dibdin's ''The Waterman'', at the Manchester theatre, and over the next two years also performed in Dublin, Liverpool and elsewhere in the provinces.〔Pearce 1924, pp. 68–74.〕 In the same period, especially from 1845, he continued his studies abroad, notably under Alberto Mazzucato (1813–1877), the dramatic composer and teacher then newly appointed singing instructor at the Milan Conservatory.〔Reeves 1888, p. 32: Rosenthal & Warrack 1974, p. 331.〕 His debut in Italian opera was made on 29 October 1846 at La Scala in Milan as Edgardo in Donizetti's ''Lucia di Lammermoor'', partnered by Catherine Hayes: he got a fine reception, and Giovanni Rubini paid his respects in person.〔Reeves 1888, p. 33.〕 (This role became Reeves's greatest, and his wife therefore nicknamed him 'Gardie'.)〔Santley 1909, pp. 83–87.〕 For six months he sang at the principal Italian opera houses, and finally in Vienna, where he was rescued from his contract and returned to England.〔Pearce 1924, pp. 83–84.〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Sims Reeves」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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