If you can't get tickets for Tuesday's performance or want to see the inaugural concert for Gustavo Dudamel with the LA Phil, buy the DVD! Or you can buy tickets to the other performances this weekend. Alan Rich, former classical music critic of the LA Weekly (and KUSC contributor), passed away this weekend. If you wish to discover or rediscover his writings, check out his book or his blog which both include articles from his stints at the LA Weekly and New York Times (among others). He will be missed. more ›

Not only does California ranks dead last in per capita state spending for the arts, its largest city is losing its media art critics. After LA Times dance critic Lewis Segal was bought out last month, news comes that LA Weekly classical critic Alan Rich was given the ax yesterday. Public Relations blogger Laura Stegman has the scoop:

After getting the news earlier today, I spoke with Alan late tonight, and he said, "It's open season on critics. We are an endangered species. I was surprised, but I wasn't surprised." He says the decision was made "by the corporate people in Phoenix," and that when Editor Laurie Ochoa gave him the news over lunch, "she was as sorry as can be."