t h e r o s a t r o u p e
Sims Reeves
Sims Reeves, born at Woolwich on 26 September 1818, made his debut as a
baritone in Guy Mannering at Newcastle in 1838 and after advanced training at
home and abroad, changed to tenor. Success in Milan in 1843 was followed by
prolonged success at home in concert, oratorio, and opera. There are many
recollections of him and some sources imply that he appeared with the Rosa. A
perusal of the company’s nineteenth century performances shows this to be
incorrect. So what was his association with the company?
A company history in Opera magazine (1967) placed him with the company towards
the end of the first British season of 1873. This should have been a spectacular
finale in London with the full company enhanced by the return of Parepa and the
addition of other vocal celebrities. Preliminary press announcements suggested
that the latter would have included Reeves and Santley. This season never took
place: it was abandoned with the sudden death of Parepa in early 1874. Reeves
was acquainted with the Rosas both socially and professionally. He had
frequently appeared with Parepa and he also sang in ballad opera at the Royal
Court Theatre in Liverpool when it was a Rosa theatre. In the light of all this
it is not surprising that he should be linked to the company, albeit
incorrectly. Reeves, the greatest of the Victorian tenors, was the man who
should have sung with the Rosa but didn’t. He died at Worthing on 25 October
1900.
© 2024 John Ward
