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Hyman Howard Taubman (July 4, 1907 – January 8, 1996) was an American music critic, theater critic, and author.
Born in Manhattan, Taubman attendedDeWitt Clinton High School and then won a four-year scholarship toCornell University, from which he graduated, as aPhi Beta Kappa member, in 1929.[1]
He then returned to New York and began working forThe New York Times. He joined the Music Department there in 1930. In 1935, he was named Music Editor. For about a year, from 1944 to 1945, Taubman served in the Army and worked in Italy as a writer forStars and Stripes.
In 1955, he became the chief music critic at theTimes, replacingOlin Downes upon Downes' death. Also in the 1950s, Taubman acted as theghostwriter ofMarian Anderson's autobiographyMy Lord, What a Morning.
In 1960, he took the post of chief drama critic for theTimes afterBrooks Atkinson retired from that position. Taubman remained in that role until 1965.
In 1961, Taubman, along with six other theater critics, was the victim of a famous hoax when Broadway producerDavid Merrick placed a newspaper ad for his showSubways Are for Sleeping. The ad appeared to quote praise from Taubman,Walter Kerr, and other prominent New York critics for the commercially faltering musical. The individuals quoted, however, were not the theater critics themselves, but like-named New Yorkers hired by Merrick to provide positive quotes.[2][3][better source needed]
From 1966 until he retired in 1972, Taubman was a critic-at-large for theTimes writing about cultural events from around the globe. After retiring from the Times, Taubman worked as a consultant toExxon Corporation for the PBS seriesGreat Performances.
Taubman was the author of several books, primarily related to music. He was the recipient of honorary degrees from thePhiladelphia Academy of Music,Oberlin College, andTemple University.
Taubman was twice married and the father of two sons,William and Philip. Taubman died inSarasota, Florida, at the age of 88.
