Fiona Maddocks

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Fiona Maddocks
Born
London, England, UK
Alma mater
Occupations
  • Music critic
  • author
Notable credits

Fiona Maddocks is a British

music critic and author who specializes in classical music. Described as "one of the UK's leading writers and commentators on classical music",[1] Maddocks has been chief music critic of The Observer since 2010. She held a central role in founding three media companies: BBC Music Magazine, Channel 4 and The Independent
.

Previously arts feature writer for the Evening Standard, Maddocks has also written for The Guardian and The Times. Her publications include a survey on the Medieval composer Hildegard of Bingen, a collection of interviews with Harrison Birtwistle, an anthology of 100 pieces recommended pieces, a guide to 20th-century classical music, and a study on Sergei Rachmaninoff's life outside of his native Russia.

Life and career

Fiona Maddocks was born in London, studied

Cambridge University and then attended the Royal College of Music.[1] In 1997, she succeeded Andrew Porter as the chief music critic of The Observer.[2] She stayed there until 2002, leaving due to the time commitments interfering with raising her children; she instead took a position as chief arts feature writer for the Evening Standard.[2] Maddocks returned to The Observer in 2010, resuming her position as chief music critic, and has remained there since.[2] Reflecting on what she enjoys about music criticism, Maddocks said "the music, the variety, the challenge, the privilege, the responsibility to those performing, the mental demands - it's a constant, amazing education and in its own way a sort of performance requiring adrenalin and concentration. You have to give your best, just as those on stage do."[2] Maddocks continues work as a freelance writer, has also written for The Times and The Guardian.[1][3] She has been described as "one of the UK's leading writers and commentators on classical music".[1]

Throughout her career, Maddocks had a central role in the founding of three media organizations, a TV station, Newspaper and Magazine.[2] The first of these was Channel 4, which she helped found in 1982.[4] She was also the first music editor for The Independent,[4] and founding editor for BBC Music Magazine, the world's largest classical music magazine.[1]

Maddocks has written four books,

Faber and Faber;[4] by 2019 it was on its 5th reprint.[1] This was followed by a compilation of interviews with the composer Harrison Birtwistle, published in 2014 to coincide with his 80th birthday.[4][7] In 2016, Maddocks published anthology of 100 pieces she recommends 'to carry you through life'.[4][8] Her fourth book, Twentieth-Century Classical Music: A Ladybird Expert Book, was published in 2018.[1][9]

She resides in both London and

International Opera Award and is a trustee for the Pimlico Opera.[1]

Selected writings

Books

Articles

For other articles by Fiona Maddocks, see § External links.

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Fiona Maddocks". Embassy of the United Kingdom, Moscow. Archived from the original on 13 February 2022. Retrieved 25 April 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Maddocks, Fiona (7 July 2019). "Fiona Maddocks" (Interview). Interviewed by Anonymous. SWAP'ra. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
  3. ^ "Fiona Maddocks". BBC Music Magazine. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
  4. ^ a b c d e "Fiona Maddocks". Felicity Bryan Associates. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
  5. Faber and Faber
    . Retrieved 23 July 2022.
  6. ^ Maddocks 2001.
  7. ^ Maddocks & Birtwistle 2014.
  8. ^ Maddocks 2016.
  9. ^ Maddocks 2018.
  10. ISSN 0261-3077
    . Retrieved 6 June 2023.

External links

Library resources
By Fiona Maddocks
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