In Friday’s (10/12) New York Times, Daniel J. Wakin writes, “James Levine is making a comeback. … The longtime and much loved music director of the Metropolitan Opera plans to return to the podium for the first time in two years, for a May 19 performance by the Met Orchestra at Carnegie Hall and for three productions at the opera house next season. … A fall in the summer of 2011 that caused severe damage to his spine forced him to bow out of all of last season and cancel involvement this season while he recovered. … In the interview Mr. Levine disclosed details about his condition. He remains unable to walk because of the spinal damage and acknowledged what many had suspected for a while: he has a nonprogressive condition related to Parkinson’s disease that causes hand tremors, which his doctors called ‘benign Parkinsonism.’ Mr. Levine said he would conduct from a motorized wheelchair that he uses. … The Met’s plans now call for Mr. Levine to lead a revival of Mozart’s ‘Così Fan Tutte’ (nine performances), starting on Sept. 24; a new production of Verdi’s ‘Falstaff’ (10 performances), starting on Dec. 6; a revival of Berg’s ‘Wozzeck’ (five performances), starting March 6, 2014; and the second half of the ‘Così’ run, starting on April 23, 2014.”
Posted October 12, 2012
