|
Levine, 72, who has battled Parkinson's disease and other
health issues in recent years, will step down at the end of the
current 2015-16 season in May. He will be named music director
emeritus and will continue to work with the Met's young talent
development program, the Met said in a statement.
His successor at the Met, one of the most prestigious opera
houses in the world, will be named in the coming months.
With his wild hair, portly figure and bespectacled face, Levine
is beloved by musicians, singers and audiences.
He made his Met debut in 1971, becoming music director five
years later. He has led more than 2,500 performances, conducting
more than 85 different operas ranging from classical to
contemporary works.
But ill health has taken an increasing toll. In 2011, he injured
his spine in a fall and was left partially paralyzed. After a
two-year absence, he returned to conduct using a wheelchair at
the orchestra's podium.
Thursday's statement said that in recent years Levine had
"struggled with the effects of Parkinson’s disease, making it
increasingly difficult for him to conduct a full schedule of Met
performances."
Peter Gelb, the Met’s general manager, said on Thursday that
there "is no conductor in the history of opera who has
accomplished what Jim has achieved in his epic career at the
Met."
(Reporting by Jill Serjeant)
[© 2016 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] Copyright 2016 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
 |
|
