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[edit]

Fiona Maddocks was born in London, studied English literature at 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,^[2] the first of which was a survey on the 12th-century composer Hildegard of Bingen in 2001.^[5][6] Published by Headline in the UK and Doubleday in the US, it was described by the literary agent Felicity Bryan Associates as a "great critical success", and was later reissued by 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 Oxford and has two daughters.^[1][2] Her second marriage was to the artist Tom Phillips, until his death in 2022.^[10] Also a violinist, Maddocks enjoys playing in chamber ensembles with friends.^[1] She was a jury member for the 2019 International Opera Award and is a trustee for the Pimlico Opera.^[1]

Selected writings[edit]

Books[edit]

• Maddocks, Fiona (2001). Hildegard of Bingen: The Woman of Her Age. New York: Doubleday. ISBN 978-0-385-49867-8.
• ——; Birtwistle, Harrison (2014). Harrison Birtwistle: Wild Tracks - A Conversation Diary with Fiona Maddocks. London: Faber and Faber. ISBN 978-0-571-30811-8.
• —— (2016). Music For Life: 100 Works to Carry You Through. London: Faber and Faber. ISBN 978-0-571-32939-7.
• —— (2018). Twentieth-Century Classical Music: A Ladybird Expert Book. London: Penguin Books. ISBN 978-1-4059-3241-7.
• —— (2023). Goodbye Russia: Rachmaninoff in Exile. London: Faber and Faber. ISBN 978-0-571-37113-6.

Articles[edit]

• Maddocks, Fiona (19 August 2011). "Top 50 Operas". The Guardian.
• —— (9 July 2018). "An interview with Oliver Knussen". BBC Music Magazine.
• —— (20 February 2021). "No Simon Rattle, and no new concert hall for London ... but we will survive". The Guardian.

References[edit]

External links[edit]

• Articles by Fiona Maddocks in The Guardian
• Articles by Fiona Maddocks in the Evening Standard
• Fiona Maddocks on Twitter
• Fiona Maddocks on the Muck Rack journalist listing site
• Now-defunct website