Levine fired by Met after it finds evidence of sexual abuse

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The Met did not release specifics of the evidence.

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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 offence. 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 cancelled at numerous orchestras. Dutoit has denied the allegations.

The Met said in its statement “the investigation also found that any claims or rumours that members of the Met’s management or its board of directors engaged in a coverup 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.”

Ronald Blum, The Associated Press