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Classical 101

James Levine Suspended from the Met

Jonathan Tichler
/
Metropolitan Opera
James Levine conducts the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra in 2013.

This past weekend, many of us eagerly listened to the Metropolitan Opera’s performance of Giuseppe Verdi’s Requiem only to have our hearts sink within the day. James Levine’s much-heralded return to the podium coincided with breaking news of multiple allegations of sexual abuse by the conductor.

As information continued to emerge, the Met suspended its relationship with Levine, cancelling all future engagements with the conductor, pending an investigation into the allegations.

"While we await the results of the investigation, based on these new news reports, the Met has made the decision to act now," said Met general manager Peter Gelb in a statement. "This is a tragedy for anyone whose life has been affected."

Classical 101 Program Director Cheryl Dring moved to Columbus in 2016, having worked in public radio since college. With stops in Austin, Madison, Dayton, Sacramento, New Orleans, Baton Rouge and Shreveport, Louisiana, she has seen much of the country through the lens of public radio and local arts.