Posted May 06, 2011

James Levine is celebrating his 40th year conducting at the Metropolitan opera.  Levine took the podium to celebrate with the premiere of the Robert LePage production of Die Walküre.  Levine was 27 when he started conducting at the Metropolitan Opera, some credit him with turning the Met Orchestra into one of the finest ensembles anywhere in the world.   Maestro Levine has over 2,500 Met performances to his credit.

Fresh Air host Terri Gross interviewed James Levine and you can hear a podcast of the program

http://www.npr.org/programs/fresh-air/      navigate down the left side of the frame and click the link audio link near Levine’s photo.  In this interview, the self-effacing Levine is generous with praise for his colleagues.  Terry Gross couldn’t resist the “Kill da Wabbit” clip.

Coming soon are a book entitled “James Levine, 40 Years at the Metropolitan Opera” and a documentary to be aired on PBS later this year.

Congratulations Maestro, long may you wave!