Ernest Newman

Born William Roberts in Liverpool in 1868, Ernest Newman became one of the most respected music critics in the English-speaking world. He wrote for major newspapers including the Sunday Times, and he was especially admired for bringing sharp judgment, wide learning, and a clear, readable style to musical debate.

Newman is remembered not only for journalism but also for substantial books on composers such as Richard Wagner, Hugo Wolf, and Richard Strauss. His studies of Wagner, in particular, helped establish his reputation as a critic who combined deep scholarship with a strong independent voice.

He died in 1959, leaving behind a body of work that still matters to readers interested in criticism that is serious without being dry. His writing stands out for its honesty, intelligence, and determination to treat music as something worth thinking hard about.