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{{short description|German-born American music critic}}
{{Short description|American music critic (1936–2019)}}
{{more citations needed|date=September 2019}}
{{Use American English |date=December 2024}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2024}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
| name = Martin Bernheimer
| name = Martin Bernheimer
| occupation = [[Music critic]]
| image = Bernheimer 1969.jpg
| birth_date = September 28, 1936
| caption = Bernheimer in 1969
| birth_date = {{birth date|1936|09|28|mf=y}}
| death_date = September 29, 2019
| birth_place = Munich, Germany
⚫
| education = [[Brown University]]
| death_date = {{death date and age|2019|09|29|1936|09|28|mf=y}}
| website =
| death_place = New York City, New York, US
⚫
| education = {{plainlist|
* [[Brown University]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])
* [[University of Music and Theatre Munich]]
* [[New York University]] ([[Master of Arts|MA]])}}
| occupation = {{hlist|Music critic}}
| employer = {{plainlist|
* ''[[New York Post]]''
* ''[[Los Angeles Times]]''
}}
}}
}}
⚫
'''Martin Bernheimer''' (September 28, 1936 – September 29, 2019) was a German-born American [[music critic]]. He studied at [[Brown University]] and the [[Hochschule für Musik in Munich]] as well as with the [[musicologist]] [[Gustave Reese]] at [[New York University]].
'''Martin Bernheimer''' (September 28, 1936 – September 29, 2019) was a German and American classical music critic. Described as "a widely respected and influential critic, who [was] particularly knowledgeable about opera and the voice", Bernheimer was the chief classical music critic of the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' from 1965 to 1996.<ref name="Grove">{{cite encyclopedia |last=Smith |first=Patrick J. |year=2001 |encyclopedia=[[Grove Music Online]] |title=Bernheimer, Martin |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |location=Oxford |doi=10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.A2234347 |isbn=978-1-56159-263-0 |url-access=subscription |url=https://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/grovemusic/view/10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.001.0001/omo-9781561592630-e-1002234347 }} {{Grove Music subscription}}</ref>


==Early life and education==
⚫
His career writing about music began in [[New York City|New York]], writing for the ''[[New York Herald Tribune]]'', working as an assistant to [[Irving Kolodin]] at the ''[[Saturday Review (US magazine)|Saturday Review]]'', and landing the position of music critic at the ''[[New York Post]]''. In 1965 he moved to [[Los Angeles]] where he worked as the chief music and dance critic for the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]''. During his thirty years with that paper, he was twice the recipient of [[ASCAP]]'s [[Deems Taylor Award]] (1974 and 1978) and in 1982 won the [[Pulitzer Prize]] for Criticism. From 1996 until his semi-retirement in 2017, Bernheimer's work appeared mainly in ''[[Opera (British magazine)|Opera]]'' magazine and the ''[[Financial Times]]''. Bernheimer lectured frequently and provided commentary for opera broadcasts.
Martin Bernheimer was born in Munich, Germany on September 28, 1936,<ref name="Grove"/> to Paul and Louise Bernheimer (''[[née]]'' Nassauer).<ref name="NYT">{{cite news |last=Allen |first=David |date=October 2, 2019 |title=Martin Bernheimer, Tartly Eloquent Music Critic, Dies at 83 |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/02/arts/music/martin-bernheimer-dead.html |access-date=January 30, 2022 }}</ref> His father was a partner of the antiques business Haus Bernheimer, while his mother was an artist; both parents were Jewish.<ref name="NYT"/> Amid the Nazi's ''[[Kristallnacht]]''—which targeted Jewish homes, businesses, synagogues and other buildings—Paul's business was destroyed.<ref name="NYT"/> Upon reading ''[[Mein Kampf]]'', Louise urged the family to flee, but Paul demurred, commenting that "Oh, no, this is our Germany, the country of great philosophers and artists".<ref name="Post">{{cite news |last=Page |first=Tim |author-link=Tim Page (music critic) |date=September 29, 2019 |title=Martin Bernheimer, prizewinning music critic with a lacerating pen, dies at 83 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/martin-bernheimer-prizewinning-music-critic-with-exuberant-prose-dies-at-83/2019/09/29/eb5e98c4-e2df-11e9-a331-2df12d56a80b_story.html |access-date=January 30, 2022 }}</ref> Martin's sister later remarked that "I am sure Martin did not have any memory of Kristallnacht, when the Nazis came knocking in the middle of the night to arrest our father, kicking my brothers around while looting the apartment".<ref name="Boulder">{{cite news |last=Bernheimer |first=Kathryn |date=October 3, 2019 |title=Memories of Martin Bernheimer z"l |work=Boulder Jewish News |url=https://boulderjewishnews.org/2019/memories-of-martin-bernheimer-zl/ |access-date=January 30, 2022 }}</ref> Paul and his brothers were sent to the [[Dachau concentration camp]],<ref name="NYT"/> though an uncle successfully traded their freedom by giving the Nazis the family's estate in Venezuela.<ref name="Post"/>


⚫
He studied at [[Brown University]] and the [[Hochschule für Musik in Munich]], as well as [[musicology]] with [[Gustave Reese]] at [[New York University]].{{cn |date=December 2024}}
Berheimer is survived by his wife, theatre critic [[Linda Winer]], and four children from previous marriage.<ref name="Bernheimer">{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/obituaries/story/2019-09-29/martin-bernheimer-pulitzer-prize-music-critic-obit|title=Pulitzer Prize winner and former L.A. Times music critic Martin Bernheimer dies at 83|date=Sep 29, 2019|website=Los Angeles Times|accessdate=Sep 30, 2019}}</ref> He died one day after his 83rd birthday.<ref name="Bernheimer" />


==Career and later life==
==Sources==
⚫
His career writing about music began in New York, writing for the ''[[New York Herald Tribune]]'', working as an assistant to [[Irving Kolodin]] at the ''[[Saturday Review (US magazine)|Saturday Review]]'', and landing the position of music critic at the ''[[New York Post]]''. In 1965 he moved to Los Angeles where he worked as the chief music and dance critic for the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]''. During his thirty years with that paper, he was twice the recipient of [[ASCAP]]'s [[Deems Taylor Award]] (1974 and 1978) and in 1982 won the [[Pulitzer Prize]] for Criticism. From 1996 until his semi-retirement in 2017,{{further explanation needed |date=December 2024}} Bernheimer's work appeared mainly in ''[[Opera (British magazine)|Opera]]'' and the ''[[Financial Times]]''. Bernheimer lectured frequently and provided commentary for opera broadcasts.{{cn |date=December 2024}}

He died in New York on September 29, 2019.<ref name="NYT">{{cite news |last=Allen |first=David |date=October 2, 2019 |title=Martin Bernheimer, Tartly Eloquent Music Critic, Dies at 83 |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/02/arts/music/martin-bernheimer-dead.html |access-date=January 30, 2022 }}</ref><ref name="LATimes">{{Cite news |last=Kelley |first=Sonaiya |date=September 29, 2019 |title=Pulitzer Prize winner and former L.A. Times music critic Martin Bernheimer dies at 83 |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |url=https://www.latimes.com/obituaries/story/2019-09-29/martin-bernheimer-pulitzer-prize-music-critic-obit |access-date=September 30, 2019}}</ref><ref name="SFCV">{{cite news |last=Farber |first=Jim |date=October 1, 2019 |title=Martin Bernheimer: Reflections in a Caustic Eye |work=[[San Francisco Classical Voice]] |url=https://www.sfcv.org/articles/music-news/martin-bernheimer-reflections-caustic-eye |access-date=January 30, 2022 }}</ref><ref name="NR">{{cite news |last=Nordlinger |first=Jay |author-link=Jay Nordlinger |date=October 14, 2019 |title=A Critic's Greatness |work=[[National Review]] |url=https://www.nationalreview.com/2019/10/remembering-martin-bernheimer-great-critic/ |access-date=January 30, 2022 }}</ref><ref name="NYT2">{{cite news |last=Lindsey |first=Robert |author-link=Robert Lindsey (journalist) |date=January 8, 1977 |title=Critic and Symphony Out of Tune |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1977/01/08/archives/critic-and-symphony-out-of-tune.html |access-date=January 30, 2022 }}</ref>

In 1966, Bernheimer became a faculty member of the Rockefeller program for the training of music critics at [[University of Southern California]]. In 1969, he joined the music faculty of [[UCLA]]. Bernheimer was a regular lecturer and also taught criticism at [[Cal State University, Northridge]], [[San Diego State University]] and [[California Institute of the Arts]]. In 1982 he became an honorary member of a chapter of [[Pi Kappa Lambda]], the national music honor society.{{cn |date=December 2024}}

==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}


==Further reading==
==Further reading==
*Fischer, Heinz Dietrich and Fischer, Erika J. (eds.), [https://books.google.com/books?id=-2o4Ywn4LJwC&pg=PA20&dq=%22Bernheimer,+Martin%22&cd=2#v=onepage&q=%22Bernheimer%2C%20Martin%22&f=false "Bernheimer, Martin"], ''Complete biographical encyclopedia of Pulitzer Prize winners, 1917-2000'', Walter de Gruyter, 2002, p. 20. {{ISBN|3-598-30186-3}}
* Fischer, Heinz Dietrich and Fischer, Erika J. (eds.), [https://books.google.com/books?id=-2o4Ywn4LJwC&dq=%22Bernheimer%2C+Martin%22&pg=PA20 "Bernheimer, Martin"], ''Complete biographical encyclopedia of Pulitzer Prize winners, 1917-2000'', Walter de Gruyter, 2002, p.&nbsp;20. {{ISBN|3-598-30186-3}}


{{Chief classical music critics}}
{{PulitzerPrize Criticism 1976–2000}}
{{PulitzerPrize Criticism 1976–2000}}
{{portal bar|Classical music|Opera|Biography|Music}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bernheimer, Martin}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bernheimer, Martin}}
[[Category:1936 births]]
[[Category:1936 births]]
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[[Category:New York University alumni]]
[[Category:New York University alumni]]
[[Category:People from Munich]]
[[Category:People from Munich]]
[[Category:German emigrants to the United States]]
[[Category:Emigrants from Nazi Germany to the United States]]


{{US-music-journalist-stub}}
{{Opera-bio-stub}}

Latest revision as of 23:31, 24 December 2024

Martin Bernheimer
Bernheimer in 1969
Born(1936-09-28)September 28, 1936
Munich, Germany
DiedSeptember 29, 2019(2019-09-29) (aged 83)
New York City, New York, US
Education
Occupation
  • Music critic
Employers

Martin Bernheimer (September 28, 1936 – September 29, 2019) was a German and American classical music critic. Described as "a widely respected and influential critic, who [was] particularly knowledgeable about opera and the voice", Bernheimer was the chief classical music critic of the Los Angeles Times from 1965 to 1996.[1]

Early life and education

[edit]

Martin Bernheimer was born in Munich, Germany on September 28, 1936,[1] to Paul and Louise Bernheimer (née Nassauer).[2] His father was a partner of the antiques business Haus Bernheimer, while his mother was an artist; both parents were Jewish.[2] Amid the Nazi's Kristallnacht—which targeted Jewish homes, businesses, synagogues and other buildings—Paul's business was destroyed.[2] Upon reading Mein Kampf, Louise urged the family to flee, but Paul demurred, commenting that "Oh, no, this is our Germany, the country of great philosophers and artists".[3] Martin's sister later remarked that "I am sure Martin did not have any memory of Kristallnacht, when the Nazis came knocking in the middle of the night to arrest our father, kicking my brothers around while looting the apartment".[4] Paul and his brothers were sent to the Dachau concentration camp,[2] though an uncle successfully traded their freedom by giving the Nazis the family's estate in Venezuela.[3]

He studied at Brown University and the Hochschule für Musik in Munich, as well as musicology with Gustave Reese at New York University.[citation needed]

Career and later life

[edit]

His career writing about music began in New York, writing for the New York Herald Tribune, working as an assistant to Irving Kolodin at the Saturday Review, and landing the position of music critic at the New York Post. In 1965 he moved to Los Angeles where he worked as the chief music and dance critic for the Los Angeles Times. During his thirty years with that paper, he was twice the recipient of ASCAP's Deems Taylor Award (1974 and 1978) and in 1982 won the Pulitzer Prize for Criticism. From 1996 until his semi-retirement in 2017,[further explanation needed] Bernheimer's work appeared mainly in Opera and the Financial Times. Bernheimer lectured frequently and provided commentary for opera broadcasts.[citation needed]

He died in New York on September 29, 2019.[2][5][6][7][8]

In 1966, Bernheimer became a faculty member of the Rockefeller program for the training of music critics at University of Southern California. In 1969, he joined the music faculty of UCLA. Bernheimer was a regular lecturer and also taught criticism at Cal State University, Northridge, San Diego State University and California Institute of the Arts. In 1982 he became an honorary member of a chapter of Pi Kappa Lambda, the national music honor society.[citation needed]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Smith, Patrick J. (2001). "Bernheimer, Martin". Grove Music Online. Oxford: Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.A2234347. ISBN 978-1-56159-263-0. (subscription or UK public library membership required)
  2. ^ a b c d e Allen, David (October 2, 2019). "Martin Bernheimer, Tartly Eloquent Music Critic, Dies at 83". The New York Times. Retrieved January 30, 2022.
  3. ^ a b Page, Tim (September 29, 2019). "Martin Bernheimer, prizewinning music critic with a lacerating pen, dies at 83". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 30, 2022.
  4. ^ Bernheimer, Kathryn (October 3, 2019). "Memories of Martin Bernheimer z"l". Boulder Jewish News. Retrieved January 30, 2022.
  5. ^ Kelley, Sonaiya (September 29, 2019). "Pulitzer Prize winner and former L.A. Times music critic Martin Bernheimer dies at 83". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 30, 2019.
  6. ^ Farber, Jim (October 1, 2019). "Martin Bernheimer: Reflections in a Caustic Eye". San Francisco Classical Voice. Retrieved January 30, 2022.
  7. ^ Nordlinger, Jay (October 14, 2019). "A Critic's Greatness". National Review. Retrieved January 30, 2022.
  8. ^ Lindsey, Robert (January 8, 1977). "Critic and Symphony Out of Tune". The New York Times. Retrieved January 30, 2022.

Further reading

[edit]
  • Fischer, Heinz Dietrich and Fischer, Erika J. (eds.), "Bernheimer, Martin", Complete biographical encyclopedia of Pulitzer Prize winners, 1917-2000, Walter de Gruyter, 2002, p. 20. ISBN 3-598-30186-3
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