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”, 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.
Books in order of publication:
Hildegard of Bingen: The Woman of Her Age – 2001
Harrison Birtwistle: Wild Tracks – A Conversation Diary with Fiona Maddocks – 2014
Music For Life: 100 Works to Carry You Through – 2016
Twentieth-Century Classical Music: A Ladybird Expert Book – 2018
Goodbye Russia: Rachmaninoff in Exile – 2023
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