Conductor James Levine, accused of sexual abuse
(Image credit: AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

James Levine, who led New York's Metropolitan Opera as conductor, musical director, and artistic director from 1971 until he was fired in 2018, has died. He was 77, and his longtime doctor, Len Horowitz, said Wednesday that Levine died of natural causes on March 9 in Palm Springs, California.

Levine was a giant at the Met, where he conducted 2,552 performances, and in the world of opera. But after being sidelined with health issues, he was fired after the Met found credible accusations of sexual abuse and other misconduct dating back to the 1960s. His final performance was Verdi's Requiem in December 2017. Levine had been scheduled to take up the baton again in Florence, Italy, in January, but the performances were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, The Associated Press reported Thursday.

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Peter Weber, The Week US

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.