Audio is now available for Terry’s interview with James Levine. Enjoy!

When the performance comes, the orchestra has to be empowered to function within this conception without having to check with the middle man. It’s not possible to feel and play and respond to what you feel inside and keep looking to have a constant alignment with the gesture of the conductor.

— James Levine on his methods of conducting. 

Conductor James Levine on wildly gesticulating conductors: “If your orientation is to watch the conductor, you get your aural sense interfered with in a way that is not completely controllable and conscious — because you see the conductor gesturing in a way that shows something about his feeling about the passage. And this, unconsciously, you measure against what you hear. And I think the most satisfying pieces that I hear live are usually conducted by conductors who have a very clear-cut idea of what their function is at a rehearsal and what their function is at a concert.”

Dies Irae - Verdi

boston:

Levine stepping down as BSO music director

- Boston Symphony Orchestra music director James Levine, whose tenure was marked by artistic highs but long absences due to his health problems, will step down from his post at the end of orchestra’s summer season in Tanglewood, the BSO has announced.

Tomorrow: James Levine

fyeahoperasingers:

Soprano Kathleen Battle sings ‘Je veux vivre dans’ from Gounod’s ‘Romeo et Juliette.’  1988, and that’s James Levine conducting.

Say what you want about her attitude (or what she’s wearing), but you can’t deny that she can sing.

Tomorrow: conductor James Levine

Celebrating James Levine’s 40 Years at The Met