One of the things we do “at” the List is to track milestones, and this is a big one. The classical music critic for the Los Angeles Times has worked his last day at the paper. And this is not just the end of an age for Los Angeles — he was the last man standing in a field that has lost one critic after another due to budget cuts, editorial philosophy, “restructuring” (we see you, NYT), and societal changes – note: more oligarchy than audience apathy, thank you. Dylan said it: the (T)imes they are a’changin’.
(Mark is notoriously camera-shy, as are many traditional critics. So finding a picture of him has been quite a task… see the LA Times article below for the real thing.)
So in the face of this “textonic” shift, let’s take a moment to thank Mark for his tireless commitment to music and those who make it… even while working at a paper whose priorities and focus have changed dramatically in the last decade plus. He told several of us himself that he was offered retirement several years ago, in a wave of attempts to reduce payroll. That was another sad era for the paper and the retirements were an open secret. The reporting has suffered since. But he stayed, I’m guessing, because he knew what it meant. I suspect it hasn’t been easy, but his reporting has been hopeful, thoughtful, and always on the side of the music and what it gives to us.
Read Jessica Gelt’s sendoff in the LA Times:
The last full-time classical music critic at a major U.S. newspaper retires: L.A. arts and culture this weekend
And be sure to read Mark’s last official piece as a full-timer, which includes a little John Cage thrown in:
A 30-year love letter to L.A. with a final revelation
Heartfelt thanks
Thank you, Mark, for truly loving music and musicians. Thank you for showing up, even when you weren’t always able to get something published about it. Thank you for giving a damn. We wish you all the very best in your next chapter.
(And my offer, tongue-in-cheek as it was, still stands — you’re always welcome to write for us! ❤️)
Featured image: Los Angeles Times building El Segundo California 2023-05 by Jengod, used under CC BY-SA 4.0.