Episode 355. Classical Music Critic

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CommandayRobert Commanday is the founding editor of the San Francisco Classical Voice and for almost thirty years was the classical music critic for the San Francisco Chronicle. Bob talks about the life of a critic; the role and function of criticism; how he transitioned from being a conductor and lecturer at the University of California at Berkeley to become a critic in the first place; which critic looks like his name sounds (and which doesn’t); a vote for a favorite critic; and the honorable way at least one critic attempts to make himself unnecessary. (NOTE: This is the latest in our series of interviews that attempt to prove that critics are people too. Thanks for listening.) (UPDATE: Bob passed away in September 2015. We’re so glad to have this recorded conversation.) (Length 21:33)