Conductor
James Levine was an American conductor of towering influence who transformed the Metropolitan Opera into a world-class institution during his four decades as Music Director, while simultaneously maintaining a parallel career as a symphonic maestro of uncommon versatility.
Defining moments and milestones
Levine emerged in the 1960s as a prodigiously gifted conductor, winning the American Conductors Competition in 1961 at age seventeen. He rose to prominence through his work at the Cleveland Orchestra under George Szell, then at the Ravinia Festival, before joining the Metropolitan Opera in 1971—where he would remain for four decades as Music Director, reshaping American opera through exacting standards and visionary programming. His parallel symphonic career, anchored by his tenure at the Boston Symphony Orchestra, established him as a major interpreter of the Germanic repertoire.
Music Director of the Metropolitan Opera (1976–2016), during which he conducted over 2,500 performances and elevated the company to international prominence
Oberlin Conservatory of Music; studied conducting and piano
A chronological journey through key moments
Recordings featuring James Levine in the Society index
Additional recordings will appear here as the catalog expands.