A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Reinhold, Thomas
REINHOLD, Thomas, born at Dresden about 1690, was the reputed nephew, or, as some said, son, of the Archbishop of that city. He had an early passion for music, and having met Handel at the Archbishop's residence conceived so strong a liking for him that after a time he quitted his abode and sought out the great composer in London, who received him with favour. In July 1731 he appeared at the Haymarket Theatre as a singer in 'The Grub Street Opera,' and afterwards sang at the King's Theatre. He was one of the original singers of 'The Lord is a man of war,' in Handel's 'Israel in Egypt,' and the original representative of the following characters in Handel's works: Harapha in 'Samson'; Somnus in 'Semele'; Cyrus and Gobryas in 'Belshazzar'; Chelsias and the Second Elder in 'Susanna'; Caleb in 'Joshua'; Simon in 'Judas Maccabeus'; the Levite in 'Solomon'; and Valens in 'Theodora.' He died in Chapel Street, Soho, in 1751.
His son, Charles Frederick, born in 1737, received his musical education first in St. Paul's, and afterwards in the Chapel Royal. On Feb. 3, 1755, he made his first appearance on the stage at Drury Lane as Oberon in J. C. Smith's opera, 'The Fairies,' being announced as 'Master Reinhold.' He afterwards became organist of St. George the Martyr, Bloomsbury. In 1759 he appeared as a bass singer at Marylebone Gardens, where he continued to sing for many seasons. He afterwards performed in English operas, and sang in oratorios, and at provincial festivals, etc. He was especially famed for his singing of Handel's song, 'O ruddier than the cherry.' He was one of the principal bass singers at the Commemoration of Handel in 1784. He retired in 1797, and died in Somers Town, Sept. 29, 1815.[ W. H. H. ]