“The latest round of New York Times layoffs and buyouts are expected to reach 110 by the time the dust settles this week,” writes Susan Elliott in Thursday’s (12/18) Musical America (password required). “Among those leaving is Allan Kozinn, one of the paper’s, if not the country’s, savviest music critics and culture writers. His last day is Friday. Kozinn started freelancing for The Times one year out of college, in 1977, as critic, reporter, and feature writer; he came on staff in 1991. … [Kozinn] has authored several books, including … and Classical Music: A Critic’s Guide to the 100 Most Important Recordings (2004). … In the fall of 2012, The Times reassigned him from music critic to general reporter … New York cultural life will likely see far less coverage with Kozinn’s departure: in the last year alone, he has contributed 560 articles, reporting on labor issues at the Met Opera, Minnesota Orchestra, and Atlanta Symphony, writing briefs for ArtsBeat (more than a few on new music and commissions, now less apt to be covered at all), and obituaries for the likes of Lorin Maazel. … His exit leaves one staff music reporter, one staff critic, and a small flock of freelance reviewers at ‘the newspaper of record.’ ”
Posted December 19, 2014
