Metropolitan Opera suspends famed conductor James Levine over sex abuse allegations
The Metropolitan Opera in New York City announced today it is suspending conductor James Levine, as it investigates what it says are “multiple allegations of sexual misconduct” from the 1960s to the 1980s.
In a statement posted today on Facebook, the opera noted that the period of when the allegations were made included “the earlier part of his career at the Met.”
Levine will not be conducting or taking part in any other activities at the Met, the statement said.
“While we await the results of the investigation, based on these new news reports, the Met has made the decision to act now,” said Peter Gelb, Met General Manager. “This is a tragedy for anyone whose life has been affected.”
The suspension comes a day after the opera said it was launching an investigation of the conductor based on a 2016 police report filed in Illinois by a man who alleges he was molested as a teenager by Levine 30 years ago.
The New York Post first reported details of the police report.
According to the police report, the alleged abuse occurred when Levine, now 74, was a conductor at the Ravinia Music Festival in Illinois. Levine is now director emeritus…
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