The Guardian's long-serving and highly respected classical music critic, Andrew Clements, has died at the age of 75 following a period of illness. His death marks the loss of one of the UK's most authoritative and distinctive voices in music criticism.
A Formative Encounter and a Lifelong Passion
Clements' profound musical journey began unexpectedly while he was still a schoolboy and flautist. He encountered a piece by the avant-garde composer Pierre Boulez, an experience that ignited a lifelong passion for contemporary music. This early spark led to the encyclopaedic knowledge that would later define his career. For decades, he possessed an almost perfect recall of every concert he attended.
He joined The Guardian's arts team in August 1993, taking over from Edward Greenfield as the paper's chief music critic. His appointment was notably secured by a personal recommendation to the editor from the legendary pianist Alfred Brendel, who championed Clements' deep understanding of modern compositions. For the next 32 years, Clements wrote with authority across the entire spectrum of classical music for the newspaper.
An Uncompromising and Influential Critical Voice
Andrew Clements was known for his unwavering convictions and was never afraid to challenge orthodox views or ruffle feathers within the musical establishment. His reviews, underpinned by immense expertise and a palpable love for the art form, earned him huge respect from fellow critics. The value of his meticulously considered five-star reviews was considered inestimable.
He was a pivotal champion for composers he believed in, including Harrison Birtwistle, Hans Abrahamsen, Oliver Knussen, and Mark-Anthony Turnage, helping to ensure their work was taken seriously. Solo piano music remained one of his greatest loves; in one of his final pieces, he paid moving tribute to the late Radu Lupu, stating no other pianist had given him "more consistent pleasure or a greater sense of wonder" in over 50 years of concert-going.
While ill health prevented him from reviewing live events from March 2025, his final CD review was published on 2 January. Before his tenure at The Guardian, Clements was music critic for the New Statesman, editor of Musical Times, and wrote for the Financial Times between 1979 and 1993. His career began at Faber music publishers and the Open University after he graduated from Cambridge University with a degree in theoretical physics.
Beyond the Music: A Kind Nature Behind a Gruff Exterior
Colleagues remember a man whose sometimes gruff exterior belied a kind, warm, and generous nature. He was supportive, quick with praise, patient with questions, and possessed of penetrating insights. Above all, he retained a keen ability to laugh at himself.
Outside the concert hall, Clements maintained an abiding passion for birds, butterflies, and orchids—his attention to detail was so sharp that he would notice if an opera set designer incorrectly depicted a bird species.
Katharine Viner, The Guardian's editor-in-chief, said: "Andrew Clements wrote about classical music with the utmost passion and precision. His reviews for the Guardian drew on a lifetime of discerning listening and, as well as being illuminating, were always a joy to read."
