Robert Markow

Though St. Louis born and Boston bred, my entire professional life has been spent in Montreal. My musical career began as a horn player in the Montreal Symphony Orchestra in 1969. Several years later, I jumped the stage and discovered a whole new world out there: criticism, journalism, musicology, and, especially, program notes. It was all much more enjoyable and much less stressful than life in an orchestra. Still living in Montreal four decades later, I find myself the only person in Canada who makes a solid income from writing program notes. Orchestras and organizations I presently write for on a permanent basis include the Montreal Symphony, the National Arts Centre Orchestra in Ottawa, I Musici de Montréal, the Orford Festival, the Lanaudière Festival (both in Quebec), Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, and the main orchestras in Minneapolis, Salt Lake City, Des Moines, and New Orleans. Adding spice to an already nutritious musical diet, I contribute articles and reviews to numerous journals, including Opera News, Opera (London), The Strad, Strings, American Record Guide, and now Fanfare. I also spent 10 years (1985–1995) working at PolyGram Canada and lectured for over 25 years on a wide range of music appreciation courses at McGill University’s Centre for Continuing Education. In matters Wagnerian, I have lectured at the Bayreuth Festival and for the Wagner Society of New York. Extra-musical interests include travel (particularly Southeast Asia and Australia), film, literature, fine wines, and decadent desserts.