In Sunday’s (9/19) Boston Globe, Geoff Edgers writes, “James Levine, attempting to make a comeback after major back surgery, says he feels good and is eager to start his seventh season as the Boston Symphony Orchestra’s music director. But Levine is not making any promises about his health. And after scrambling in the past to replace the oft-injured Levine on short notice, the BSO says that this year it will be prepared if the 67-year-old conductor, who missed 60 percent of his scheduled concerts last season, is not able to lead the orchestra. Both Levine and the BSO are hoping for the best, while trying to prepare for the worst. … ‘I frankly wish we were having this conversation after we do my first performance. Otherwise, it’s all speculative,’ said Levine, who is preparing to open the Metropolitan Opera’s season with a new production of Wagner’s ‘Rheingold’ on Sept. 27. ‘I had a huge surgery, and the purpose of the surgery was to take away pain that was making it really impossible to work without distraction. Now when I work, I have literally a whole body that doesn’t have a pain in it. It’s kind of like a miracle.’ ”
Posted September 20, 2010
