James Levine Suspended by The Met

[Stanfordian]

I really had no idea about these revelations. It's a desperate situation and one wonders who else is going to stand accused.

Many unconvicted offenders had probably felt safe owing to the passage of time.

[Richard Barrett]

I really had no idea about these revelations.

I was hearing stuff about Levine already in the early 1980s, indeed from a certain individual who went on to become Controller of Radio 3. It has always somewhat put me off listening to his recordings.

[Conchis]

Levine must be one of the most recorded conductors in history. If his recordings are banished from the airwaves/catalogue, that will be a big chunk of recorded history gone.

I have never been a Levine fan. He convinces in Italian opera (I'd rate his recording of Cavalieria Rusticana as the best of the many availalbe) but his handlingo of the basic symphonic repertoire has never engaged me and I've decided I really don't like his Wagner recordings (for the same reason I don't like Goodall's).

If horrible personal revelations about the likes of Giulini, say, or Klemper were to emerge (both very unlikely, I'd have thought) and their recordings were dispesnesd with, that really would be a tragedy.

[Petrushka]

Levine must be one of the most recorded conductors in history. If his recordings are banished from the airwaves/catalogue, that will be a big chunk of recorded history gone.

I have never been a Levine fan. He convinces in Italian opera (I'd rate his recording of Cavalieria Rusticana as the best of the many availalbe) but his handlingo of the basic symphonic repertoire has never engaged me and I've decided I really don't like his Wagner recordings (for the same reason I don't like Goodall's).

If horrible personal revelations about the likes of Giulini, say, or Klemper were to emerge (both very unlikely, I'd have thought) and their recordings were dispesnesd with, that really would be a tragedy.

I never particularly cared for his Wagner either but, as I say above, his Sony box of Mahler symphonies is well worth having, while his coupling of Stravinsky's Rite with the Mussorgsky/Ravel Pictures is also a favourite. Another highly regarded disc is of Schoenberg/Berg/Webern with the BPO. I don't have that CD and if anyone now wants to part with their copy, I'll gladly take it.

[Beef Oven!]

I never particularly cared for his Wagner either but, as I say above, his Sony box of Mahler symphonies is well worth having, while his coupling of Stravinsky's Rite with the Mussorgsky/Ravel Pictures is also a favourite. Another highly regarded disc is of Schoenberg/Berg/Webern with the BPO. I don't have that CD and if anyone now wants to part with their copy, I'll gladly take it.

I have that 2VS CD and it's rather special. Get it if you can, Petrushka - quite cheap s/h.

His Wagner IMO, is terrible. Especially Parsifal.

I like his Mahler.

Levine needs to be held to account if he's broken the law. But personally, I don't care about his extra-musical life.

[cloughie]

I never particularly cared for his Wagner either but, as I say above, his Sony box of Mahler symphonies is well worth having, while his coupling of Stravinsky's Rite with the Mussorgsky/Ravel Pictures is also a favourite. Another highly regarded disc is of Schoenberg/Berg/Webern with the BPO. I don't have that CD and if anyone now wants to part with their copy, I'll gladly take it.

There was a really good Petrouchka CSO on RCA on LP which to my knowledge never made it on to CD in the UK.

[Beef Oven!]

I have never been a Levine fan......... and I've decided I really don't like his Wagner recordings (for the same reason I don't like Goodall's).

Goodall and Levine are very different. Are you sure you really know your reasons why you don't like Goodall's Wagner? I think that if you understood this better, you'd possibly realise that you like neither of their efforts, but perhaps for different reasons. Remember, you mentioned Goodall's virtues down-thread, vis-a-vis Levine.

[Conchis]

Both of Levine's recordings of Parsifal are unsatisfying but his earlier (Bayreuth) performance would be my candidate for the worst Wagner opera recording issued on a major label. It really is a dreary trudge.

The 1993 one is somewhat better, imo, though that is largely down to a superior cast.

The only part of his (unfinished) Mahler cylce I'm famliar with is the 10th. This is supposedly the worst recording in that cycle: I don't find it to be particularly bad, but then i don't much like the work, anyway.

Levine's relationship with Peter Gelb has always fascinated me. Gelb is a powerulf behind the scenes power-broker - a sort of David Geffen of classical music - who has made (and presumably broken) the careers of many American artists. Presumably, he will have been aware of the rumours for many years: why has he now suddenly decided to hang Levine out to dry?

[Beef Oven!]

" ....... why has he now suddenly decided to hang Levine out to dry?

If Levine has done something wrong and/or illegal, he's not being 'hung out to dry'. He's being held to account, surely? Isn't the question more about why is it coming out now, rather than before?

[MickyD]

I have that 2VS CD and it's rather special. Get it if you can, Petrushka - quite cheap s/h.

His Wagner IMO, is terrible. Especially Parsifal.

I like his Mahler.

Levine needs to be held to account if he's broken the law. But personally, I don't care about his extra-musical life.

[Petrushka]

If Levine has done something wrong and/or illegal, he's not being 'hung out to dry'. He's being held to account, surely? Isn't the question more about why is it coming out now, rather than before?

Levine is a wounded beast, 74 years old and stricken with Parkinson's Disease, so his power base will have crumbled. If any of Levine's activities were illegal then the courtroom, rather than the pages of the New York Times, is the proper place for his accusers. There must have been an awful lot of people 'in the know' about this over many years and therefore complicit.

The chickens have certainly come home to roost as they usually do in the end.

[teamsaint]

It wouldn't be all that surprising if, ( especially with Pet's comments in mind) he has been sacrificed at this stage to divert attention from elsewhere.

[Sir Velo]

AFAIK you cannot actually hear Levine, or Pickett or King on any of their recordings. In fact one may well make a case for arguing that their contributions are greatly overplayed anyway. Criminal though their actions may be, by blacklisting their recordings one is effectively penalising the hundreds of other musicians who contributed greatly to each of these issues. And, frankly, let's leave the mudslinging to the gutter press, eh?

[Barbirollians]

Levine as far as I am aware has not yet faced a court unlike Pickett and King who are both convicted sex offenders . Presumption of innocence should not be forgotten.

[pastoralguy]

I was in a charity shop earlier this year on a busy Saturday afternoon when the young assistant put a Rolf Harris cd on. The gasps of horror were comment enough. The music stopped in the middle of 'Tie me kangaroo down, sport' as people started leaving the shop.