Distinguished critic Robert P. Commanday, 93, passed away September 3 in Oakland, California. The name is probably not well known here in NC, but Tar Heel music lovers owe him a debt of gratitude because CVNC and several other non-profit cultural journals in the U.S. are based on his pioneering work in the Bay Area, where in 1998 he launched San Francisco Classical Voice. Thus when a&e papers in the Triangle ended their coverage of classical music in the spring of 2001, a group of displaced local critics looked west for a model, finding help and encouragement from Robert that resulted the the establishment of CVNC that summer. Among Robert’s successful journalistic offspring is Classical Voice North America, launched with his enthusiastic support two years ago. Music lovers in particular will surely honor his contributions to the art of criticism and cherish his memory, too. We extend our deepest sympathies to his wife Mary and to their family,
Among the tributes issued thus far are articles by Joshua Kosman in the San Francisco Chronicle and by Janos Gereben in SFCV.
