New York’s Metropolitan Opera suspends conductor James Levine after sexual abuse claims

NBC ^ | December 3, 2017 | Richie Duchon, Daniella Silva and Tim Stelloh

[ConservativeStatement]

New York's Metropolitan Opera suspended its famed longtime conductor James Levine on Sunday while it investigates allegations of sexual misconduct.

In a statement, the opera's general manager, Peter Gelb, said Levine wouldn't be in involved in performances or other activities during the investigation.

[achilles2000]

Levine loves little boys, and it’s been know for quite some time.

[achilles2000]

Levine loves little boys, and it’s been know for quite some time.

[Gay State Conservative]

A 14 year old violist...a little Valium...a little wine...

[neverevergiveup]

I have a very bittersweet memory from the Met that will likely always be with me, and seeing opera there has a unique place in my heart. That said, this is just another disillusioning tragic bit of news that soils yet another part of life. People are people, and we are all flawed, but we have the absolute duty to protect the innocent - especially children.

[TBP]

Sad. Maestro Levine is an institution at the Met, and one of the finest conductors in the world.

[MinuteGal]

Conductor/pianist James Levine is as iconic in NYC as is the Metropolitan Opera House.....his affinity for young males has been know in the inner circles for many years....he is 74, has Parkinson's which sometimes causes his arms to flail - he now conducts from a wheel chair.....he received the American Medal of the Arts in Washington DC. in 1997.....his 2017 net worth is an estimated $1.4 million....it's been rumored he has been paying off one or more young males in the thousands of dollars over the years well into their adulthood.....I could not find if he is married or ever has been married or has any children.

He is still scheduled to conduct the opera "Tosca" at the Met this coming New Year's Eve.

Any bets?

Leni

[tennmountainman]

Liberal predators continue to drop like flies.

[proxy_user]

He doesn’t have much money for such a successful and famous conductor....he may well have some serious expenses.

[Captain Jack Aubrey]

Very sad. And old news. He is now disabled. Not that that matters. What happened decades ago is still on him. But it is also sad that what was apparently forgiven long ago, or at least deemed not significant, comes back to kill a disabled man at the end of his career. Sort of like Roy Moore.

I am not really comfortable saying this, but I am somewhat sympathic with Levine’s situation.

[RitchieAprile]

somehow I had hoped that the highest expressions of human art might somehow be spared this ..

[Nothingburger]

Great conductor. Very sad to read this.

[SamAdams76]

his 2017 net worth is an estimated $1.4 million

Might you be off by a decimal point or two? That seems incredibly low for such a well known conductor. My 401(k) is worth more than that and I'm just a regular guy.

[brianr10]

So where’s Moe and Curly?

[MinuteGal]

Good catch, Proxy User......I wondered at that, also.

It's an astonishingly low figure, but I cross-verified it. You stated "he may well have some 'serious' expenses' "....ditto that, probably serious - and sub rosa, also.

Leni

[MinuteGal]

See my # 15 above. I double-checked with two reliable sources.

I agree with you, something is fishy.

Leni

[Paladin2]

Too much time playing with the flutes

[daler]

"Liberal predators continue to drop like flies."

Maybe so, but this is all beginning to eerily resemble the Salem witch trials or China's cultural revolution.

[CaptainK]

It’s amount is “off” so the people who will sue him have a small pot to pick from.

[montag813]

Unbelievable. Levine?? He’s a Met legend. NO “icon” is safe.