James Levine Fired By Met Opera For Sexual Abuse, Harassment

NEW YORK, NY — James Levine, the longtime conductor at the New York Metropolitan Opera, was fired Monday after an investigation revealed he had engaged in sexual abusive and harassing behavior, the opera announced.

The Metropolitan Opera began an investigation into Levine after learning of allegations that the conductor abused a man when he was still a teenager three decades ago. Levine's accuser contacted the police department in Lake Forest, Illinois, in October of 2016 to report that he'd had sexual contact with the conductor when he was younger than 18.

Levine served as music director at the Ravinia Festival, outside Chicago, from 1973 to 1993.

The three-month investigation revealed "credible evidence that Mr. Levine had engaged in sexually abusive and harassing conduct both before and during the period when he worked at the Met. The investigation also uncovered credible evidence that Mr. Levine engaged in sexually abusive and harassing conduct towards vulnerable artists in the early stages of their careers, over whom Mr. Levine had authority," according to a statement from the Metropolitan Opera.

The Metropolitan Opera questioned more than 70 people over the course of the investigation, the opera said in a statement. The investigation found claims that the opera's board engaged in a cover-up of the allegations against Levine were unsubstantiaed.

"We recognize the great concerns over these issues that have been expressed by the Met community both inside and outside of the opera house, and wish to provide the assurance that the Met is committed to ensuring a safe, respectful and harassment-free workplace for its employees and artists," the opera said in a statement.

Levine served as music director of the Met from 1976 to 2016, when he assumed the position of music director emeritus. During his tenure at the institution, Levine cemented himself as one of the most prominent conductors in classical music.

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