Short answers, pulled from the story.
William Somervell Mann (the 14th of February 1924 - the 5th of September 1989) was an English music critic who spent 34 years at The Times in London, serving as chief music critic from 1960 to 1982. Born in Madras, India, he was educated at Winchester and Cambridge and became known for his progressive views on both classical and popular music.
William Mann claimed the Beatles were "the greatest songwriters since Schubert." He was one of the first serious music critics to assert that rock music had genuine artistic value, a position that attracted considerable notoriety.
William Mann worked at The Times for 34 years, from 1948 to 1982. He began as assistant music critic (1948-1960) and then served as chief music critic (1960-1982).
William Mann published Richard Strauss: A Critical Study of the Operas in 1964, an introduction and translation of Wagner's The Ring the same year, an introduction and translation of Wagner's Tristan in 1968, and The Operas of Mozart in 1977. He also contributed to the multi-volume Opera on Record series.
William Mann was director of the Bath Festival in 1985, succeeding William Glock. He held the position for one year, after leaving The Times in 1982.
William Mann was educated at the Dragon School and Winchester, then studied piano with Ilona Kabos and composition with Mátyás Seiber in London. He attended Magdalene College, Cambridge from 1946 to 1948, studying with composers Patrick Hadley and Robin Orr and organist Hubert Middleton.