Posted on 12/03/2017 7:02:04 PM PST by ConservativeStatement
Levine retired from his active role as director early 2017. Unfortunately, the claims against him disgrace the Met and cast a wary shadow upon others.
It is harder to break into a career in classical music than it is to get into TV or the movies. Classical musicians who play at that level have spent thousands of hours alone in practice rooms from very young ages to get to a level where they can even have a chance of playing professionally. Now imagine if you knew that telling Lavigne no meant throwing all of that away.. evil what this man has done to these people.
You’re absolutely correct. It’s heartbreaking.
Worth just $1.4 million?
Yeah, sure...that’s what he tells the IRS.
He lives in the San Remo Apartments, one of the most expensive residences in NYC.....a storied place for the very rich.
Only very wealthy people are allowed in......takes a bundle to buy an apartmen and a bundle to maintain residence there.
Guess he only really had control over one of his batons.
I am looking for evidence beyond mere accusation.
I received this today:
Dear Mr. XXXXXXX
I’m sure you have read news reports over the past 48 hours detailing allegations of sexual misconduct on the part of James Levine, the Met’s Music Director Emeritus. The Board of Directors and I are deeply disturbed by these reports, and I want to assure you that we are committed to a complete investigation. This is a sad moment in the company’s history and a tragedy for anyone whose life may have been affected, and we are prepared to take whatever measures are called for. We will keep our loyal audience apprised of any developments as they happen, and in the meantime, I thank you for your support of the Met. I also want to assure you that we will never lose focus on our artistic mission to continue to deliver performances of the highest artistic level.
Thank you for your continued support of the Met.
Sincerely,
Peter Gelb
General Manager
I've donated small amounts before. My wife and I attend most of the Live in HD performances. The Met is a cultural institution (and I don't just say that because I grew up in New York.)
So far, we have accusations against Maestro Levine. They may well be true. These things very often are. But I've seen nothing that shows me that they are. Until then, I'm not willing to say we should punish Levine. Suspending him is one thing. That's appropriate. But until actual evidence emerges, that's as far as I think it should go.
In the meantime, I will continue to support the Metropolitan Opera as I have in the past. In fact, I'm looking forward to this Saturday's encore showing of Hansel and Gretel, the movie The Opera House about the building of the current Met (the old one was a gorgeous house, but not big enough), and Tosca in January.
Years ago, DH and I had seats off to his right at a performance. It was fascinating to see him totally immersed in the music as he conducted. His eyes would close and it was just the beautiful music and him as one.
Yes, I’e seen that. His immersion in the music is one reason he’s such a great conductor. And he apparently works VERY well with the singers.
MET FIRES JAMES LEVINE AFTER INVESTIGATION INTO SEXUAL ABUSE
James Levine, whose 46-year career at the Metropolitan Opera established him as a towering figure in classical music, was fired by the company on Monday after an investigation found evidence of sexual abuse and harassment.
Levine made his Met debut in 1971 and became one of the signature artists in the company's 135-year history, conducting 2,552 performances and ruling over its repertoire, orchestra and singers as music or artistic director from 1976 until he stepped down two years ago due to Parkinson's disease. He became music director emeritus and remained head of its young artists program but was suspended on Dec. 3 after accounts in the New York Post and The New York Times of sexual misconduct dating to the 1960s.
The Met hired former U.S. Attorney Robert J. Cleary, now a partner at Proskauer Rose, to head its investigation, and the company said more than 70 people were interviewed.
"The investigation uncovered credible evidence that Mr. Levine had engaged in sexually abusive and harassing conduct both before and during the period when he worked at the Met," the company said in a statement. "The investigation also uncovered credible evidence that Mr. Levine engaged in sexually abusive and harassing conduct towards vulnerable artists in the early stages of their careers, over whom Mr. Levine had authority. In light of these findings, the Met concludes that it would be inappropriate and impossible for Mr. Levine to continue to work at the Met."
The Met did not release specifics of the evidence.
Tim Fox of Columbia Artists, who represents the 74-year-old conductor, did not respond to an email seeking comment.
Levine has not been charged with any criminal offense. The Lake County state's attorney's office in Illinois said in December it investigated a sexual abuse allegation of misconduct dating to the 1980s but concluded "no criminal charges can be brought" and cited multiple factors, including "the relevant age of consent in Illinois at the time of the alleged incidents."
Levine's downfall follows that of 81-year-old Charles Dutoit. After The Associated Press reported sexual assault allegations against him, the Swiss conductor resigned as artistic director and principal conductor of London's Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and engagements were canceled at numerous orchestras. Dutoit has denied the allegations.
The Met said in its statement "the investigation also found that any claims or rumors that members of the Met's management or its board of directors engaged in a cover-up of information relating to these issues are completely unsubstantiated."
Following the death of Leonard Bernstein in 1990, Levine was regarded as the top American conductor and was given a starring role in the film "Fantasia 2000." Many of his performances were televised by PBS, and singers rearranged their schedules to appear in his performances or even to audition for him.
He was revered by the Met's orchestra, board and patrons during a reign as chief conductor (1973-76), music director (1976-86 and 2004-16) and artistic director (1986-2004). In addition, he was music director of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra's Ravinia Festival from 1973-93 and the Boston Symphony Orchestra from 2004-11, and chief conductor of the Munich Philharmonic from 1999-2004.
Instantly recognizable by his bushy frock of hair and towel draped over a shoulder during rehearsals, he regularly conducted at the Vienna Philharmonic, Berlin Philharmonic, Bayreuth Festival and Salzburg Festival
. His power waned only because of health problems.
Levine started conducting from a chair in late 2001 and tremors in his left arm and leg became noticeable a few years later. His health worsened in 2006, when he tripped and fell on the stage of Boston's Symphony Hall during ovations that followed a performance and he tore a rotator cuff, which required shoulder surgery. Levine had an operation in 2008 to remove a kidney and another in 2009 to repair a herniated disk in his back. He then suffered spinal stenosis, leading to surgeries in May and July 2011. He had another operation that September after falling and damaging a vertebra, an injury that sidelined him until May 2013.
Yannick Nezet-Seguin was hired two years ago to replace Levine as music director starting in 2020-21, but last month the Met said it had moved up the start of his tenure to next season.
"While this termination of the Met's relationship with Levine obviously brings a certain degree of closure, it is our hope that the Met's early introduction of Yannick Nezet-Seguin portends a willingness to invest more robustly both in talent and creating a healthy workplace culture," clarinetist Jessica Phillips, chair of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra Committee, said in a statement. "Such commitment to the future is essential if the institution wishes to attract the world's finest musicians, several of whom have already departed due to wage cuts, among other workplace issues. The artists of the Metropolitan Opera, like workers in every industry, deserve a safe place of work."
The Metropolitan Opera sent out a letter to its staff, saying it is implementing new measures to allow all employees to report concerns.
The letter also detailed plans to revamp sensitivity and anti-harassment training.
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