Michael Steinberg (music critic)

Michael Steinberg (1928 – 2009) was a highly regarded and influential American music critic, program annotator, and educator. He was particularly known for his insightful and accessible program notes for major American orchestras, which helped generations of concertgoers understand and appreciate classical music.

Born in Germany, Steinberg's family fled Nazi persecution and emigrated to the United States. He studied at Harvard University, where he was mentored by musicologist Hugo Leichtentritt.

Steinberg held positions as music critic for The Boston Globe (1964-1976) and the San Francisco Chronicle (1976-1979). However, he is best known for his work as program annotator for the Boston Symphony Orchestra (1969-1979), the San Francisco Symphony (1979-1992), the New York Philharmonic (1994-1999), and the Minnesota Orchestra (1999-2009). His program notes were praised for their combination of scholarly rigor, engaging writing style, and an ability to connect with audiences on an emotional level.

He published several books, including The Symphony: A Listener's Guide and Choral Masterworks: A Listener's Guide, which remain highly regarded and widely used resources for classical music lovers. Steinberg's writing emphasized the importance of attentive listening and encouraged readers to develop their own personal responses to music. He was a strong advocate for contemporary music and championed the works of composers such as John Adams and Steve Reich. He died in Minneapolis, Minnesota.