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The Metropolitan Opera in New York City suspended conductor James Levine following multiple allegations of sexual abuse.
Three men have come forward accusing him of abusing them as teenagers. These allegations first surfaced following new stories about a 2016 police report in Illinois.
This victim, Ashok Pai, alleged the conductor abused him when he was 16 and Levine was in his 40s.
The Met confirmed they knew about the report when it was first filed. However, they took no action because Levine denied the allegations and the police also did not continue pursuing the case.
Since then, two more accusers have come forward, Chris Brown and James Lestock. Both men allege he abused them when they were each 17 as students at the Meadow Brook School of Music in Michigan.
Three men came forward with accusations
Met Opera suspends James Levine after sexual abuse allegations
The Met Opera suspended famed conductor James Levine. | Photo: Flickr/Ralph Daily
4 December 2017
Anya Crittenton
The Metropolitan Opera in New York City suspended conductor James Levine following multiple allegations of sexual abuse.
Three men have come forward accusing him of abusing them as teenagers. These allegations first surfaced following new stories about a 2016 police report in Illinois.
This victim, Ashok Pai, alleged the conductor abused him when he was 16 and Levine was in his 40s.
The Met confirmed they knew about the report when it was first filed. However, they took no action because Levine denied the allegations and the police also did not continue pursuing the case.
Since then, two more accusers have come forward, Chris Brown and James Lestock. Both men allege he abused them when they were each 17 as students at the Meadow Brook School of Music in Michigan.
Sunday (3 December) evening, the Met tweeted their statement announcing the suspension.
‘We are suspending our relationship with James Levine, pending an investigation,’ the statement reads. ‘[He] will not be involved in any Met activities, including conducting scheduled performances at the Met this season.’
They also revealed they hired Robert J. Cleary, a former US attorney, to investigate 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,’ Met General Manager Peter Gelb added. ‘This is a tragedy for anyone whose life has been affected.’
The Met named Levine principal conductor in 1972 and then music director in 1976.
Levine’s manager did not immediately respond to GSN’s comment request.
Three men have come forward accusing him of abusing them as teenagers. These allegations first surfaced following new stories about a 2016 police report in Illinois.
This victim, Ashok Pai, alleged the conductor abused him when he was 16 and Levine was in his 40s.
The Met confirmed they knew about the report when it was first filed. However, they took no action because Levine denied the allegations and the police also did not continue pursuing the case.
Since then, two more accusers have come forward, Chris Brown and James Lestock. Both men allege he abused them when they were each 17 as students at the Meadow Brook School of Music in Michigan.
Three men came forward with accusations
Met Opera suspends James Levine after sexual abuse allegations
The Met Opera suspended famed conductor James Levine. | Photo: Flickr/Ralph Daily
4 December 2017
Anya Crittenton
The Metropolitan Opera in New York City suspended conductor James Levine following multiple allegations of sexual abuse.
Three men have come forward accusing him of abusing them as teenagers. These allegations first surfaced following new stories about a 2016 police report in Illinois.
This victim, Ashok Pai, alleged the conductor abused him when he was 16 and Levine was in his 40s.
The Met confirmed they knew about the report when it was first filed. However, they took no action because Levine denied the allegations and the police also did not continue pursuing the case.
Since then, two more accusers have come forward, Chris Brown and James Lestock. Both men allege he abused them when they were each 17 as students at the Meadow Brook School of Music in Michigan.
Sunday (3 December) evening, the Met tweeted their statement announcing the suspension.
‘We are suspending our relationship with James Levine, pending an investigation,’ the statement reads. ‘[He] will not be involved in any Met activities, including conducting scheduled performances at the Met this season.’
They also revealed they hired Robert J. Cleary, a former US attorney, to investigate 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,’ Met General Manager Peter Gelb added. ‘This is a tragedy for anyone whose life has been affected.’
The Met named Levine principal conductor in 1972 and then music director in 1976.
Levine’s manager did not immediately respond to GSN’s comment request.
