Background
LEVINE, James was born on June 23, 1943 in Cincinnati, Ohio, United States. Son of Lawrence M. Levine and Helen (Goldstein) Levine.
conductor pianist Music Director
LEVINE, James was born on June 23, 1943 in Cincinnati, Ohio, United States. Son of Lawrence M. Levine and Helen (Goldstein) Levine.
Studied theory and interpretation with Walter Levin. Studied piano with Rosina Lhevinne and Rudolf Serkin. Studied conducting with Jean Morel, Fausto Cleva and Max Rudolf.
Student, Juilliard School, New York City. Degree (honorary), University Cincinnati. Degree (honorary), New England Conservatory.
Degree (honorary), Northwestern University. Degree (honorary), State University of New York, Potsdam. Degree (honorary), Juilliard School.
Conductor and pianist. Assistant Conductor, Cleveland Orchestra 1964-1970. Principal Conductor, Metropolitan Opera, New York since 1973, Music Director since 1976, Artistic Director since 1986.
Music Director Ravinia Festival since 1973, Cincinnati May Festival 1974-1978. Regular appearances as conductor and pianist in Europe and the United States of America with orchestras including Vienna Philharmonic, Berlin Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony, Philadelphia Orchestra, Salzburg and Bayreuth Festivals. Conducted Metropolitan Opera premieres of I Vespri Sicilian! (Verdi), The Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny (Weill), Lulu (Berg), Porgy and Bess (Gershwin), Le Rossignol (Stravinsky), Idomeneo, La Clemenza di Tito (Mozart).
Conductor Salzburg Festival premiere of Schonberg’s Moses and Aaron 1987.