New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-08-07
orhe London Times upon his first London peRfsen.
.nce of Edeardo The most remarkable event OF

0rhe London Tines upon his first London pe3fesnr
snce OF Edeardo The most remarkable event OF
tho evening"" it said, was the debut OF Mr.. sims
Reeves So rare success has seldom bean
achieved by an English vocalist. lie comes be-
fore the public with all the style Of an Italian
singer" In the following year he first attempted
the sacred music with which his fame and memory
must always be associated Singing in Judas
Maccabaeus' at Exeter Hall, he astonished the
critics, who had not suspected his versatility.
Thenceforth he was always in request for sacred
concerts, as well as secular At one OF tho
latter he was set down for a duet with
Braham. Out Of respect for the veteran,
he says, 81 made no endeavor to outshine
him by the display of those qualities OF
voice which as a young man I naturally pos
scssed But ! presently heard whisper from
the orchestra, The old one has the best Of It,
This aroused me. I had wish 70 humiliate,
Int did not desire 10 be beaten. ] eXerted all
NV mowers: and this outburst was followed by
universal applause
4 volume could he filled with incidents Of the
singers career; none perhaps, more character
istc than one which his wife tells, to illustrate
a musicians need of constant practice Never In
his life. he says was he free from anxiety about
his performances. 81 have worried and hdgetted
lost nv voice should not be at its best when the
evening came. ! would go to the piano over and
ovor AGAIN. and run over a few notes, and would
ALWAYS rehearse the songs that expected TO sing
res oven Tom Bowling or The Death Of Nelson't
NOT Of course, at concert pitch, but singing them
over irving phrase, or run, but always enc
deavoring TO get fresh effect remember
savs Mrs Reeves, how one day, on the morning
Of performance, Jenny Lind lMdme. GoldschmAdtD
Mr Reeves Mr.. Otto Goldschmidt. and myself
Al. ,ob thn yanP LAM
lind and nv husband were never still, pacing
ono past the other. with music in hand, singing
ana nractising and intent the work before
,bom .Why Jenny said Mr.. Goldschmidt, you
nust have sung those songs many times; surely
tbere is no need for all this But the remonstrance
vyas in vain Your are a fine musician said Nine.
Goldschmidt in her quiet, decisive manner
70 her husband. but Mr.. Reeves and are
singers and we know what il best Tor ua
Leave us alone Suppose you had called 70 zee
Jenny Lind on day when she was singing ono
wonld probably come into the room with bundle
of music in her hand, put it on a chair, ana SIs
down on it talk away pleasantly enough TOT lew
minutes become distracted, rise, take up the music,
turn TO a passage in one OF the pieces and hum IL
over Having satisfied herself Of her correctness
she would replace it, and sit down again as calmly
as possible, and resume the con'ersah"n "o VA"
point it was left off.
Despite his splendid physical powers. Mr. Reeves
has been subject TO an annoying soreness oil oIe
throat which has often compelled him 70 dIsappolne
his audiences THIS mas been attributed, put I'M
Justly to his wifulness of disposition. II IS not
to be supposed that he would because OF mere
whims have cancelled engagements and thus en-
taxed loss 70 himself aggregating, during his
entire career, several hundred thousand dollars.
Despite these losses, however, he has maze snug
tortrlue with his voice and his home is marked
with luxury and wealth well as by the artistic
qualities that are to he expected in the house OK
SO famous q musician