James Levine – time to pass the baton?

For seven years, James Levine has been splitting his time three ways: leading the Boston Symphony Orchestra, presiding over the musical side of the Metropolitan Opera, and sitting out large chunks of both institutions' seasons in alternating bouts of pain and recovery.

Says Justin Davidson in New York Magazine.

Levine has had sciatica, a hand tremor, and surgeries to repair a rotator cuff, remove a kidney, and relieve his back pain.

Not surprising then that he's decided to let go of the BSO reins. But Davidson goes further.

Levine's latest health crisis has prodded the BSO to hurry along a future it's been deferring for years. The Met has more leeway to renegotiate a relationship with a musician who's given it 40 astounding years and who still has plenty to offer on the podium even if he's no longer in charge. But even if he's in fine fettle for the anniversary gala on May 1, the time has come to make him conductor laureate for life and hand the keys to someone else.

via Justin Davidson on the Disappearing Conductor James Levine — Vulture

Gramilano( Editor )

Graham Spicer is a writer, director and photographer in Milan, blogging (under the name ‘Gramilano') about dance, opera, music and photography for people “who are a bit like me and like some of the things I like”. He was a regular columnist for Opera Now magazine and wrote for the BBC until transferring to Italy.

His scribblings have appeared in various publications from Woman's Weekly to Gay Times, and he wrote the ‘Danza in Italia' column for Dancing Times magazine.