A GREAT CRITIC

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28976, 18 August 1959, Page 3

A GREAT CRITIC

Ernest Newman Dead

Ernest Newman, England’s foremost music critic until his retirement last year, died last month at the age of 90. He was born in Liverpool in 1868 and educated at Liverpool College and Liverpool University. He was originally intended for the Indian Civil Service, but a breakdown in health caused him to go into business in Liverpool. While engaged in business he developed his musical and literary gifts and in 1905 he was appointed music critic of the ‘ Manchester Guardian.” A year later he became music critic of the “Birmingham Post,” a position he occupied until 1919, when he moved to London. After a brief period on the “Observer,” in 1920 he became chief music critic of the “Sunday Times,” where he remained until his retirement.

He was the author of many books among them a life of Hugo Wolf which is a standard work and several on Wagner including the definitive four-volume ‘‘Life of Richard Wagner.” He also translated Albert Schweitzer's book on Bach and translated the libretti of most of Wagner’s operas. As a critic Ernest Newman was both feared and respected for his outspoken and trenchant judgments. He was forthright and honest. His views would sometimes change but their general trend was constant. His sincerity, however much it would exasperate, had the quality of endearing him even to his most provoked antagonists. He would not on any account allow himself to deal kindly with a composer or artist merely because the young should be encouraged or British art propagated.