Levine, James, 1943–, American conductor, b. Cincinnati, Ohio. A piano prodigy, he was a soloist with the Cincinnati Symphony at the age of 10. After extensive musical studies, he served (1964–65) as an apprentice to George Szell Szell, George (sĕl), 1897–1970, American conductor and pianist, b. Budapest.
..... Click the link for more information. with the Cleveland Orchestra, becoming (1965–70) its assistant conductor. Particularly renowned for his wide knowledge and sensitive performances of the operatic repertoire, Levine made his conducting debut with the Metropolitan Opera orchestra in 1971. Extremely popular, he became the opera's principal conductor in 1973, musical director in 1976, and artistic director in 1986. He also was music director of the Munich Philharmonic from 1999 to 2004, when he became music director of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Levine is a frequent guest conductor of American and European orchestras and festivals.

Bibliography

See Dialogues and Discoveries by R. C. Marsh (1998).

Levine, James

(born June 23, 1943, Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.) U.S. conductor. He debuted as a pianist at age 10 with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. At Juilliard he studied piano with Rosina Lhévinne (1880–1976) and conducting with Jean Morel (1903–75). He was assistant conductor of the Cleveland Orchestra from 1964 to 1970. A guest appearance conducting Tosca (1971) led to his appointment as principal conductor (1973) and later music director (1975) and artistic director (1986) of the Metropolitan Opera. He built the flagging Met orchestra into a virtuoso ensemble and became recognized as one of the world's greatest conductors. He served as director of Chicago's Ravinia Festival from 1973 to 1993 and was named music director of the Boston Symphony Orchestra in 2004.

Levine, James (1943– ) conductor; born in Cincinnati, Ohio. From a musical family, he studied piano in childhood and soloed with the Cincinnati Symphony at age ten. After studies in piano and conducting at the Juilliard School of Music (from 1961), he became assistant conductor of the Cleveland Orchestra. He made his opera debut conducting Tosca at the Metropolitan Opera in 1971; two years later he became the house's principal conductor and in 1976 its music director. In that position he built the Met orchestra into one of the finest in the world, and he guest-conducted orchestras and opera companies internationally.