Levine, James

Levine, James,

1943–, American conductor, b. Cincinnati, Ohio. A piano prodigy, he was a soloist with the Cincinnati Symphony at the age of 10. After extensive musical studies, he served (1964–65) as an apprentice to George SzellSzell, George
, 1897–1970, American conductor and pianist, b. Budapest. He moved with his family to Vienna during his childhood and started his piano training at an early age studying at the State Academy of Music in Vienna and in Leipzig.
..... Click the link for more information.  with the Cleveland Orchestra, becoming (1965–70) its assistant conductor. Particularly renowned for his wide knowledge and sensitive performances of the operatic repertoire, Levine made his conducting debut with the Metropolitan Opera orchestra in 1971. He became the opera's principal conductor in 1973, musical director in 1976, and artistic director in 1986, transforming its orchestra into a great opera and symphony ensemble. He stepped down as artistic director in 2004, but continued as music director and then (2016) music director emeritus. In 2018 he was fired for sexually abusive and harassing conduct; he then sued for breach of contract and defamation. Levine also was music director of the Munich Philharmonic (1999–2004) and the Boston Symphony Orchestra (2004–11).

Bibliography

See Dialogues and Discoveries by R. C. Marsh (1998).

Levine, James

(1943– ) conductor; born in Cincinnati, Ohio. From a musical family, he studied piano in childhood and soloed with the Cincinnati Symphony at age ten. After studies in piano and conducting at the Juilliard School of Music (from 1961), he became assistant conductor of the Cleveland Orchestra. He made his opera debut conducting Tosca at the Metropolitan Opera in 1971; two years later he became the house's principal conductor and in 1976 its music director. In that position he built the Met orchestra into one of the finest in the world, and he guest-conducted orchestras and opera companies internationally.