American conductor James Levine. Reuters Yonhap News
James Levine, a world-renowned conductor from the United States who had retired in disgrace after suspicion of sexual harassment, died, reported by local media such as the New York Times (NYT) on the 17th (local time). Age 77.
According to NYT, Levine passed away on the 9th at her home in Palm Springs, California. The specific cause of death and the reason for the delay in the announcement of death were not known. He suffered from Parkinson’s disease and the aftereffects of spinal surgery, and he had long been in poor health.
Levine, who has been active for more than 40 years at the New York Metropolitan Opera (hereinafter referred to as the Met), one of the largest performing arts organizations in the United States, enjoyed high popularity as a representative of the American classical world until the sexual harassment scandal broke out.
Levine, who first joined the Met podium in 1971, became chief conductor the following year, and inaugurated as a music director in 1976, conducting more than 2,500 performances in the Met, and has performed the most among all of the Met conductors. From 2004 to 2011, he was also a music director for the Boston Symphony Orchestra.
In 2017, Levine crashed after disclosures of molesting a number of teenage men, and in March 2018 he was fired from Met Opera. In response, Levine sued Met for breach of contract and defamation, and Met responded with a correct complaint. The following year, Levine settled the lawsuit on condition of receiving $3.5 million from Met.
Go Kyeong-seok reporter [email protected]
News directly edited by the Hankook Ilbo can also be viewed on Naver.
