N.Y. Met suspends conductor Levine on sex allegations
New York’s Metropolitan Opera announced Sunday that it would be suspending legendary conductor James Levine after three men came forward, alleging he had molested them when they were underage. Their claims go as far back as the 1960s.
The 74- year- old has been conducting at the Met since 1971, only stepping down last year after his Parkinson’s disease began to interfere with his conducting ability. He now works as the opera’s music director emeritus, performing on occasion. With 37 Grammy nominations and 10 wins to his name, Levine has long been considered one of the world’s greatest living conductors.
He previously and most notably served as music director at the Boston Symphony Orchestra for seven years. The BSO released a statement on Sunday confirming it was not aware of any allegations made against Levine during his time there.
As has been the case with many of the sexual abuse allegations to take Hollywood by storm this past month, Levine’s reputation was considered an open secret. Greg Sandow, a classical music blogger who was initially contacted by the later two victims, told the New York Daily News, “These stories have been around for 40 years. It was so widely talked about.”
THE VICTIMS
Ashok Pai was the first to come forward, in 2016, filing a police report in Illinois, with claims that Levine had “groomed” him after they were introduced at the Ravinia Festival in Ravinia Park, Ill., in 1973 when he was four years old. The abuse began when he was just 16, escalating and spanning years, under the guise of a “musical mentorship.” Speaking to the Daily News, he claimed Levine sexually assaulted him “hundreds of times.”
In the police report, details of which were published by the New York Post, Pai, now 40, said, “It nearly destroyed my family and almost led me to suicide. I felt alone and afraid. He was trying to seduce me. I couldn’t see this. Now I can.”
Two similar claims have since followed, according to The New York Times, from two men named Chris Brown and James Lestock, who alleged Levine also abused them when they were underage music students, similarly grooming them over the years.
NOW WHAT?
The Met, which also cancelled Levine’s anticipated New Year’s Eve performance, has launched an investigation into the claims.
Peter Gelb, the Met’s general manager, said, “Based on these new reports, the Met has made the decision to act now, while we await the results of the investigation. This is tragedy for anyone whose life has been affected.”
Levine has yet to comment on any of the allegations.