(Michael) Desmond Henry Ryan (3 March 1816 – 8 December 1868) was an Irish drama and music critic, known also as a librettist and lyricist.[1]

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Life

The son of Michael Ryan, he was born at Kilkenny and educated at Edinburgh for the medical profession, but went to London in 1836 and gradually drifted into literature.[2]

In 1844 Ryan became a contributor to the Musical World, of which he was sub-editor from 1846 to 1868. He was also connected as musical and dramatic critic with The Morning Post, Morning Chronicle, Morning Herald, and other journals.[2]

Ryan died in London.[2]

Works

Christopher among the Mountains, a satire on Christopher North's criticism of the last canto of Childe Harold, and a parody of the Noctes Ambrosianæ, were early efforts.

In 1849 Ryan wrote the libretto of George Alexander Macfarren's Charles II; and a spectacular opera, Pietro il Grande, commissioned by Louis Jullien, was produced at the Royal Italian Opera on 17 August 1852.[2]

In collaboration with Francis Mori, Ryan wrote the opera Lambert Simnel, intended for Sims Reeves, but never produced. He wrote the words of a large number of songs, including Songs of Even, with music by Frederick Nicholls Crouch (1841), a set of twelve Sacred Songs and Ballads by Edward Loder (1845), and a collection of Songs of Ireland, in which, with Crouch, he fitted old melodies with new words.[2]

Notes

Attribution

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Lee, Sidney, ed. (1897). "Ryan, Michael Desmond". Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 50. London: Smith, Elder & Co.