James Levine was born in Cincinnati, Ohio to a musical family. He began to play the piano as a small child. At the age of 10, he made his concert debut as a soloist at a youth concert of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. After graduating from Walnut Hills High School, he entered the Juilliard School of Music in 1961. He graduated in 1964 and joined the American Conductors project connected with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra.

From 1964 to 1965, Levine served as an apprentice to George Szell with the Cleveland Orchestra, and then served as its assistant conductor until 1970. In June 1971, he was called in at the last moment to substitute for an ailing István Kertész to lead the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Chorus for the Ravinia Festival's opening concert. This concert began a long association with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and two years later, he was appointed music director of the Ravinia Festival. Levine held the position until 1993. In 1990, he arranged the music and conducted the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Chorus in the soundtrack of Fantasia 2000.

He was named principal conductor of the Metropolitan Opera in February 1972. He became the Met's music director in 1976. Following a May 2011 performance, Levine formally withdrew from all conducting engagements at the Metropolitan Opera.

Levine first conducted the Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO) in April 1972. In October 2001, Levine was named music director of the BSO becoming the first American-born conductor to head the BSO. On March 2, 2011, the BSO announced Levine's resignation as Music Director.

Levine has conducted regularly in Europe, with the Vienna Philharmonic, Berlin Philharmonic, and at the Bayreuth Festival. From 1999 to 2004, he was chief conductor of the Munich Philharmonic, and was credited with improving the quality of instrumental ensemble during his tenure.

Levine has initiated the Lindemann Young Artists Development Program, a professional training program for graduated singers with many famous alumni. Conductors he has helped and influenced through his musical mentoring include Marco Armiliato, James Conlon, and John Keenan.

Levine has experienced recurrent health issues in recent years. In September 2011, after falling and injuring his back while on vacation, the Met announced that Levine would not conduct for the rest of 2011. After two years of surgery and physical therapy, Levine returned to conducting for the first time on May 19, 2013. Source: Wikipedia

Usual Name James Levine
Alternative Spellings James Lawrence Levine
On Wikipedia James_Levine
Ensembles Boston Symphony Orchestra from 2004 to 2011
Munich Philharmonic from 1999 to 2004

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