Fry, William (Henry)

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Fry, William (Henry) (b Philadelphia, 1813; d Santa Cruz, 1864). Amer. composer, music critic, and author. In 1845 wrote Leonora, regarded as first significant Amer. opera. From 1846 spent 6 years in London and Paris as correspondent of NY Tribune, meeting Berlioz and others. On return to NY as mus. critic of Tribune, championed Amer. composers. Wrote another 3 operas, syms., church mus., etc.