Classical Music Criticism: Another One Bites the Dust

In the past week, the McClatchy Company, one of the country's leading newspaper publishers, put two more dents in the even-diminishing field of classical music criticism, firing critics at the Kansas City Star and the Miami Herald. Paul Horsley and Lawrence Johnson lost their jobs as a part of McClatchy's cost-cutting efforts.

As usual, people who actually value the arts are rushing to their defense, including Henry Fogel, former president of the League of American Orchestras and one of the most powerful people in the classical music industry. He blasts the firings in the June 27 entry of his blog, "On the Record:"

"It continues to amaze me that those who are in positions to shape the national agenda do not, in fact, give a damn about shaping anything. Instead of feeling a shred of responsibility to lead the country, to move national discussion beyond the realm of reality shows, sitcoms, and sound-bites, they exercise a stunning degree of follow-ship–putting their collective fingers in the air, sensing the current trends, and running to follow them."

I'd like to believe Fogel's words will make a difference, but this is merely a continuation of a disturbing trend. Even the New York Times bought out one of its veteran critics, Bernard Holland. Publishers simply do not care to promote culture when it does not fit conveniently into their balance sheets. 

Who will be next?

Update: The Washington Post has bucked the recent trend of slashing arts coverage, hiring Anne Midgette as its new full-time classical music critic. For the past seven months, she had been writing for the paper on an interim basis, filling in for the legendary Tim Page, who was teaching at USC. When Page left the Post for good, accepting a buyout, the paper quickly replaced him with Midgette. At least some publications have managed to get it right.