Well, it seems that Lorin Maazel has gotten tired of the many swipes taken at him by US critics, mostly by (but not limited to) the New York Times gang.
Here’s a sample:
He also expressed his disdain for the musical press. “When Leonard Bernstein was director of the New York Philharmonic, the critics dealt dishonourably with him, wanted him out. But American critics are incompetent.†It is possible to disagree with that, at least to a degree.
“If journalists wrote of sports as they do of music,†Maazel continued, “they would be fired a thousand times. But classical music is a niche field, and newspaper editors understand nothing about it . . . More than anything, critics hate the great music that appeals to all of us. Mediocrities cannot abide genuine talent. They turn up their noses at Puccini, Bizet, Tchaikovsky, but praise certain contemporary composers whose music is unbearable.â€
You can read the complete article here.