James Levine - back problems force him to miss rest of this season

[listener]

James Levine, whose tenure as music director of the Boston Symphony Orchestra has been marked by injuries, will miss the remainder of the BSO's season due to his chronic back problems.

The BSO announced today that Levine, 66, will be replaced in a series of concerts over the next three weeks that were to have been his final performances of the 2009-2010. Levine underwent surgery for a herniated disc last fall, forcing him to miss months at the BSO and the Metropolitan Opera, where he also serves as music director.

He returned to Symphony Hall in January.

"This has been a difficult year for James Levine and we wish him the very best as he works with his doctors towards resolving his ongoing back problems," said BSO Managing Director Mark Volpe in a statement.

Replacing Levine on the podium will be Jayce Ogren, former assistant conductor of The Cleveland Symphony Orchestra, for the BSO's March 25, 26, and 27 world premiere of Peter Lieberson's "Songs of Love and Sorrow." Rafael Fruhbeck de Burgos will conduct the BSO's performances of Mendelssohn's "Elijah" on April 1, 2, and 3 in Symphony Hall and April 5 in Carnegie Hall. The BSO is still looking for a replacement during the third week Levine will miss.

Levine was not available for comment, according to the BSO, nor was his manager, Ronald A. Wilford. Levine, who began as the BSO's music director six years ago, is the highest paid conductor in the country due to his two high-profile jobs. His combined salary is $3.4 million a year, though he is not paid if he doesn't take the podium.

Levine was not available for comment, according to the BSO. Ronald A. Wilford, Levine's manager, said it was too early to know what course of treatment Levine would be taking. "He's in excruciating pain so they've got to figure out what to do about it," he said. Levine, who began as the BSO's music director six years ago, is the highest paid conductor in the country due to his two high-profile jobs. His combined salary is $3.4 million a year, though he is not paid if he doesn't take the podium.

link: http://www.boston.com/ae/specials/culturedesk/2010/03/levine_to_miss_remainder_of_bs.html

[Szykneij]

Almost a year to the day later, it happens again --


BOSTON - Boston Symphony Orchestra music director James Levine has withdrawn from his remaining schedule this season because of illness.

The orchestra said Tuesday that "ill effects from a recent procedure addressing his ongoing back issues, further complicated by a viral infection," forced Levine to cancel the concerts.


http://www.bostonherald.com/news/regional/view.bg?articleid=1320340&srvc=rss

[MishaK]

Says now that he's resigning from the BSO for good: http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/03/02/james-levine-to-resign-as-music-director-of-boston-symphony-orchestra/?hp

[Scarpia]

Says now that he's resigning from the BSO for good: http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/03/02/james-levine-to-resign-as-music-director-of-boston-symphony-orchestra/?hp

That makes sense.  To maintain two heavy posts with health which is so frail seems unsupportable.

Reminds me of a tangential question.  Is this any good?

[Mirror Image]

I've followed Levine for a few years, but he seems to me that he just overworks himself. I love his earlier recordings, especially with composers like Mahler and Berg.

[MishaK]

Reminds me of a tangential question.  Is this any good?

Didn't even know that existed.

[Chaszz]

I would have thought that keeping both jobs and adding a third in Europe, say the Berlin Philharmonic, would have been the tonic he needed. But what do I know.

[bhodges]

Levine has now bowed out of this coming Sunday's MET Orchestra concert (Fabio Luisi is stepping in) although at the moment he is still doing Die Walküre, tonight and Saturday. But I sense the situation is not improving. 

--Bruce

[eyeresist]

He should wear a corset and conduct sitting down, or does he already do this?

[Wendell_E]

He should wear a corset and conduct sitting down, or does he already do this?

He's conducted sitting down for a while.  I don't know about the corset.

Levine has now bowed out of this coming Sunday's MET Orchestra concert (Fabio Luisi is stepping in) although at the moment he is still doing Die Walküre, tonight and Saturday. But I sense the situation is not improving. 

--Bruce

He's also withdrawn from the Met's June Japan tour (Luisi will conduct the Don Carlos and Bohèmes Levine was supposed to lead) and all his Tanglewood appearances this summer.  The July 25th Tanglewood Pelléas et Mélisande be replaced with an orchestral program.  He's supposed to return to the Met for the new production of Don Giovanni, opening Oct. 13.
http://www.operanews.com/operanews/templates/content.aspx?id=19872