Gerald Larner
Birth dateMarch 9, 1936
Death dateDecember 18, 2018 (aged 82)
OccupationMusic critic
EmployerThe Guardian; The Times
Known forChief Northern music critic at The Guardian (1965–93); Ravel biography
SpouseCelia White (m. 1959; div. 1987); Lynne Walker
Notable worksMaurice Ravel (1996)
AwardsOfficier des Arts et des Lettres (2001)

Gerald Larner (9 March 1936 – 18 December 2018) was a British music critic, best known for his long association with The Guardian and The Times.

Career

He began his career writing for The Guardian, joining as assistant music critic in 1962 and as chief Northern music critic (1965–93).[1] He wrote for The Times from the 1990s. He composed a libretto for a John McCabe opera and wrote a biography of Maurice Ravel.[1][2][3]

The Ravel biography was well received in France as well as Britain, and Larner was appointed Officier des Arts et des Lettres by the French Ministry of Culture and Communication in 2001.[4][5]

Personal life

He married Celia White in 1959, with whom he had two daughters; the marriage ended in 1987.[6] His second marriage was to Lynne Walker.[7]

Awards

YearAwardPresented byNotes
2001Officier des Arts et des LettresFrench Ministry of Culture and CommunicationAwarded for his contribution to music criticism[5]

Selected publications

  • Glasgow Style (with Celia Larner)
  • Maurice Ravel. Phaidon, London, 1996.[8] ISBN 0714832707

References

  1. ^ "Gerald Larner". Oxford Reference
  2. ^ "Gerald Larner obituary". The Times. 7 January 2019. Retrieved 8 January 2019.
  3. ^ "Gerald Larner dies aged 82". Classicalsource.com. Retrieved 8 January 2019.
  4. ^ Certificate
  5. ^ "Last Night of the Proms 2021". BBC Proms. Retrieved 17 May 2026.
  6. ^ Shenton, Kenneth (25 February 2019). "Gerald Larner obituary". The Guardian
  7. ^ "Lynne Walker: Music and theatre critic for The Independent". The Independent. 22 February 2011. Retrieved 8 January 2019.
  8. ^ "Classical Net Review - Larner - Maurice Ravel". Classical Net. Retrieved 8 January 2019.