Alex Ross, one of the most influential classical music critics of his generation, has announced he is stepping down as music critic at the American publication The New Yorker after 30 years in the role.

His decision, announced on his The Rest is Noise website, brings to a close a tenure that saw him become one of the few classical music writers to achieve recognition well beyond the boundaries of the specialist music world.

“Although the musical scene exhilarates me more than ever – contemporary composition is eternally vital – I wouldn’t want to overstay my welcome,” Ross wrote, adding that the demands of the role, including extensive travel, had contributed to his decision to step away from regular criticism. He will remain on staff at The New Yorker, continuing to write feature essays, including occasional pieces on music.

Alex Ross. Portrait © Josh Goldstine

Ross, 58, joined The New Yorker in 1996, appointed by then-editor Tina Brown at a time when the magazine’s cultural criticism remained a central part of its identity. Over three decades, he became a defining voice in classical music journalism, combining deep historical knowledge with an...