New York’s Metropolitan Opera today announced the retirement of their music director, the legendary maestro James Levine, at the end of the season. In a statement, the MET cited health reasons for Levine’s departure from the position he has held since 1976. He has struggled with a form of Parkinson’s disease in recent years. Levine will assume the title of Music Director Emeritus, the first such position in the company’s history, and will continue in his role as the artistic leader of the MET’s Young Artist Development Program.
According to the statement, Levine intends to conduct his remaining performances this season (through the end of April), as well as two concerts scheduled in May at Carnegie Hall.
“Through 45 years of unwavering devotion, Maestro Levine has shaped the MET Orchestra into the world-class ensemble it is today,” said Jessica Phillips, chair of the orchestra committee and a clarinetist in the Met’s orchestra, via statement. “He has a unique ability to inspire those around him to perform to the best of their abilities and beyond. We eagerly anticipate his upcoming projects as Music Director Emeritus, which promise to add to an already incomparable legacy of tireless dedication and artistic integrity. It is an honor to carry the values Maestro Levine has instilled in us into this new era at the Metropolitan Opera — the house that Jimmy built.”
Levine debuted at the Met in 1971, and over the course of his career with the iconic company, has conducted 2,551 opera performances.
Levine is scheduled to return to the Ravinia Festival this summer in celebration of the 45th anniversary of his debut at the Highland Park venue.
A Ravinia spokesman issued a statement late this afternoon saying: “The entire Ravinia Family continues to look forward to the return of James Levine after a 20-year absence from our venue, where he launched his professional career. The fact that he has announced his retirement from the Met makes this gala homecoming event more important.”
In a New York Times article in February, Michael Cooper wrote:
[Mr. Levine’s] health has been the subject of much speculation since last fall, when he repeatedly halted a final dress rehearsal of Tannhäuser that was supposed to be a run-through. But while he looked frail during the run, many of the performances were very moving.
In that same article, Levine stated:
Sometime in the foreseeable future I have to stop, but I would hope that we could decide it in a way which wasn’t rushed by the fact that I wasn’t giving them what they need. I’ve been a very lucky boy most of my life, and I don’t think anybody gets through life without having to solve a serious problem once in a while. But I want it to get, again, the way it was, because I think our collaboration isn’t finished.
“There is no conductor in the history of opera who has accomplished what Jim has achieved in his epic career at the Met,” said Peter Gelb, the MET’s General Manager, in a statement. “We are fortunate that he will continue to play an active and vital role in the life of the company when he becomes Music Director Emeritus at the end of the season.”
