Richard Dyer

Richard M. Dyer (December 29, 1941 – September 20, 2024) was an American music critic who specialized in classical music. Described by the music critic Alex Ross as "a dean of the profession", from 1976 to 2006 he was the chief classical music critic of The Boston Globe.

Educated with degrees in English, Dyer had studied piano and was an opera enthusiast since his youth. He embarked on music criticism following a well-received 1973 article in The New York Times on the soprano Renata Tebaldi, and soon joined the staff of the Globe. A diverse critic, his writings extended to numerous other news publications, as well as music encyclopedias, liner notes and program notes. Dyer served on the juries of many piano competitions, and lectured at a variety of universities.

Early life and education Born in Mineral Wells, Texas, on December 29, 1941, Richard M. Dyer was raised first in Enid, Oklahoma, and later in Hiram, Ohio. In his youth he was an avid opera enthusiast, and played the piano. At Harvard University, he graduated with a Master's degree in English, and began teaching the subject at the University of Iowa. In addition to the Times and Globe, 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 Nation and the Chicago Tribune. Reflecting on Dyer's retirement, the music critic Alex Ross noted that Dyer was "a dean of the profession" and that "no critic writes with more authority or passion." Dyer died in Boston on September 20, 2024, at the age of 82.

Selected writings