In praise of Russell Platt

There was much melancholy in the corridors of The New Yorker last week as Russell Platt, the editor of our classical-music listings, bade farewell after eighteen brilliant years on the job. A gifted and accomplished composer, Russell has decided to devote his primary energies to writing music. A symphony may be in the offing. He also recently married the bassoonist Peter Kolkay; Peter is on the faculty of the Blair School of Music at Vanderbilt, and Russell will join him there. (Congratulations, both!) I can't say how much it has meant to have Russell's keen intellect, graceful style, unerring taste, and dry wit as a counterweight to my eccentric flights of fancy at the back of the magazine. Over the years, many people have made the mistaken assumption that I write the GOAT listings, as we call them, and although I corrected that impression when I had the chance, my reputation surely benefited from the confusion. GOAT will continue to be in good hands, but Russell will be acutely missed. You can follow his future career at his website.