Born and raised in Washington, D.C., I couldn't help but develop a keen interest in politics, but music, theater and visual art also proved great attractions. Music became my main focus after high school. I thought about being a cocktail pianist, but I hated taking requests, so I studied music history instead, earning a B.A. in that field from Eisenhower College (Seneca Falls, N.Y.) and an M.A. from Occidental College (Los Angeles). I then landed in journalism. After freelancing for the Washington Post and others, I was classical music critic for the Sun-Sentinel in South Florida, where I also contributed to NPR. I've written for the New York Times, BBC Music Magazine and other publications, and I'm a longtime contributor to Opera News. My book, The NPR Curious Listener's Guide to Classical Music (Perigee, 2002), can be found on the most discerning remainder racks.
I joined the Baltimore Sun as classical music critic in 2000 and, in 2009, also became theater critic, giving me the opportunity to annoy a whole new audience. In 2010, my original Clef Notes blog expanded to encompass a theatrical component -- how could I resist calling it Drama Queens? I hope you'll find both sides of this blog coin worth exploring and reacting to; your own comments are always welcome and valued (well, most of them, at least).
Think of this as your open-all-hours, cyber green room, where there's always a performer or performance to discuss, some news to digest, or maybe just a little good gossip to share.
Note: Tim Smith now writes about the fine arts at
baltimoresun.com/artsmash. This blog will be kept in place as an archive for an indefinite period. Please visit the new location to get the latest Mid-Atlantic arts coverage.
View the Artsmash blog
Comments
Have a safe trip, Tim.
I'd like to hear how Dresden, and the rest of the former East Germany was for a tourist.
Were the people friendly? Were there enough hotels/ restaurants/ etc?
Did it still look like a post-Soviet disaster?
Did you rent a Trabant?
Such a welcoming place I was ready to seek asylum there, until I realzied we're all One World now. Very friendly people, nice array of hotels and restaurants. The restoration of the central city is ongoing, so I imagine ervy year will see things get more beautiful. The results are already very impressive. Much of the place now looks very much as it would have long ago (excepting the clunky, super-Soviet-style Philharmonic hall). Outside the heart of town, the East Germany blandness is certainly evident in some of the buildings, but still a lot of charm as well, from little I got to see. And then there's the VW Phaeton factory out by the huge park not far from the city. Fabulous building to house state-of-the-art technology; cool tour. As you can tell, I loved it all. TIM
Posted by: bryanintimonium | May 28, 2009 8:30 AM