After having suspended conductor James Levine, 74, over allegations of sexual abuse, New York’s Metropolitan Opera has fired him, after an internal inquiry found « credible evidence » to support claims he sexually abused young male musicians.
Levine who denies the allegations, was music director at the Met for 40 years. He retired for health reasons in 2016, but had continued to work with the opera as music director emeritus.
« The investigation uncovered credible evidence that Mr Levine had engaged in sexually abusive and harassing conduct both before and during the period when he worked at the Met, » the opera house said in a statement. It said there was also evidence that the conductor abused and harassed « vulnerable artists in the early stages of their careers ».
According to the Met, more than 70 people were interviewed during this investigation.
