Michael Steinberg, music critic and writer, dies at age 80
Staff writer
July 26, 2009
|
| Michael Steinberg, music critic, teacher and writer. |
Michael Steinberg, a music critic, teacher and writer whose work included a decade as publications director and artistic adviser for the San Francisco Symphony, died Sunday at the age of 80 after a three-year battle with cancer.
Born in Germany in 1928, Steinberg escaped the country shortly before the start of World War II and eventually settled with his mother and brother in St. Louis, Missouri.
A Princeton graduate with a degree in musicology, Steinberg in his early career taught at schools including the Manhattan School of Music, Smith College, Hunter College, Brandeis University, and the New England Conservatory, and was appointed music critic at the Boston Globe.
A stint as director of publications for the Boston Symphony led to his joining the San Francisco Symphony in 1979 as publications director and artistic adviser. While in San Francisco, he met and married his second wife, Jorja Fleezanis, the Associate Concertmaster of the San Francisco Symphony.
Even after the couple moved to Minneapolis and following his retirement, he continued to lecture and write for the San Francisco Symphony, among many others. He also introduced programs and coached ensembles for the Music at Menlo chamber music festival.
Michael Steinberg is survived by his wife, Jorja Fleezanis; his sons Sebastian and Adam, both from his first marriage; his granddaughters Ayla and Rae; his grandson Julian; his first wife Jane Steinberg; his nephew Tom Steinberg; and his nephew Andy (and Val) Steinberg. Concerts to celebrate Michael Steinberg’s life will be presented in San Francisco and Minneapolis at times to be announced.
