Richard Dyer (music critic)

Richard Dyer
Born	Richard M. Dyer 1941 (age 82–83) Mineral Wells, Texas
Alma mater	Hiram College Harvard University
Occupation	Music critic
Notable credits	The Boston Globe The New York Times

Richard M. Dyer(born 1941) is an American music critic who specializes inclassical music.Described by the music criticAlex Rossas "a dean of the profession", from 1976 to 2006 he was thechief classical music criticofThe Boston Globe.

Educated with degrees in English, Dyer had studied piano and been anoperafan since his youth. He embarked on music criticism following a well-received 1973 article inThe New York Timeson the sopranoRenata Tebaldi,and soon joined the staff of theGlobe.A diverse critic, his writings have extended to numerous other news publications, as well as music encyclopedias,liner notesandprogram notes.He has served on thejuriesof many piano competitions, and lectured at a variety of universities.

Early life and education

Born in 1941 inMineral Wells, Texas,Richard M. Dyer was raised first inEnid, Oklahomaand later inHiram, Ohio.In his youth he was an avidoperaenthusiast, and played the piano.He attendedHiram College,graduating in 1963summa cum laude,with aBachelor of Artsin English andminorin French.During his time at Hiram, Dyer studied piano with Beatrice Erdely at theCleveland Institute of Music.He continued his piano study in Paris at the Institute of European Studies, studying withJacqueline Eymarfrom 1961 to 1962.While in Paris, Dyer attended the finalmasterclassesofAlfred Cortot.AtHarvard University,he graduated with aMaster's degreein English, and began teaching the subject at theUniversity of Iowa.He soon returned to Harvard, however, being appointed the Briggs-Copeland Lecturer in English, and receiving aPhDin English (1973) with adissertationon the writerOliver Goldsmith.

Career and later life

While studying for his PhD, Dyer received nation-wide attention for his 1973 article inThe New York Timesconcerning the sopranoRenata Tebaldi's "artistic decline".The article was highly praised, and Dyer joinedThe Boston Globethat year to work as amusic criticunder the criticMichael Steinberg.Dyer later reflected on joining theGlobe,noting that it was "an unexpected sidestep into journalism"; when Steinberg left the paper in 1976, he succeeded him aschief classical music critic.In addition to theTimesandGlobe,his music criticism spans numerous other publications:American Music,Opera,Opera News,High Fidelity,Ovation,Symphony Magazine,Chamber Music,Gramophone,Musical America,The Connoisseur,The Nationand theChicago Tribune.Grovedescribed his criticism as "demonstrat[ing] penetrating insight and a highly sensitive ear to subtleties of performance, especially with regard to the piano."ASCAPawarded him theDeems Taylor Awardtwice for his music criticism.Dyer stepped down as chief classical music critic atThe Boston Globein 2006, being succeeded byJeremy Eichler.Reflecting on Dyer's retirement, the music criticAlex Rossnoted that Dyer was "a dean of the profession" and that "no critic writes with more authority or passion."

Dyer's writings have extended beyond music criticism, to encyclopedias,liner notesandprogram notes.His contributions to music encyclopedias, include articles inThe New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians(and the subsequentGrove Music Online), theMetropolitan Opera Encyclopediaand theEncyclopedia Americana.He wrote liner notes including those forDeutsche Grammophon,New World Record,Philips,RCA Victor,Sony Classicaland Westminster Classics, while orchestras that he wrote program notes for include theBoston Symphony Orchestra,theChamber Music Society of Lincoln Center,theMetropolitan Operaand theSan Francisco Opera.Dyer also toured five times withBenjamin Zanderand theBoston Philharmonic Youth Orchestraas a blogger for the orchestra.Other topics of interest in his writings include literature and film; he wasfilm criticat theGlobefor a year.

Due to his experience and familiarity with piano and piano repertoire, Dyer has been ajurymember for numerous piano competitions.These include theCleveland International Piano Competition,Sendai International Music Competition,Toronto International Piano Competition andVan Cliburn International Piano Competition.Since retirement from theGlobe,he has taught at theTanglewood Music Centerand inDawn Upshaw's graduate program atBard College.He has also lectured at theAspen Music Festival,Boston University,theJuilliard Schooland theNew England Conservatory.He has receivedhonorary doctoratesfrom both theNew England Conservatory of MusicandSalem State University.Other activities of Dyer's include writingpodcastsfor theBoston Symphony Orchestraeach week.

Selected writings

For other articles by Richard Dyer, see§ External links.

• Dyer, Richard (April 29, 1973)."We Love You Renata But..."The New York Times.
• —— (February 24, 1998)."Sounds Of Spielberg At Work Again, He And John Williams Exult In Their Admiring Duet Of 25 Years".The Boston Globe.p. C1.ProQuest403934546.
• —— (September 24, 2006)."One Thing is Certain: Music Has a future".Boston.com.Archived fromthe originalon December 17, 2015.
• —— (March–April 2011)."Pizzazz on the Podium".Harvard Magazine.
• —— (August 20, 2012)."Lieberson's voice, husband's music make lovely pairing".The Boston Globe.
• —— (October 1, 2019)."BPO Introduces Italian Pianist in BPC2".The Boston Musical Intelligencer.

External links

• Articles by Richard DyeronNewspapers.com(subscription required)
• Articles by Richard Dyerfor theBoston Lyric Opera
• Richard Dyerdiscography atDiscogs