Levine bows out as Met music director after 40 years

NEW YORK (AP) — James Levine, the former Boston Symphony Orchestra maestro, will retire as the Metropolitan Opera's music director at the end of the season because of Parkinson's disease, ending a 40-year run that lifted the company to a golden era but became increasingly problematic as his health declined. Met general manager Peter Gelb said Thursday that Levine, who will turn 73 in June, will become music director emeritus and a successor will be appointed in "a couple months." While Levine i

NEW YORK (AP) — James Levine, the former Boston Symphony Orchestra maestro, will retire as the Metropolitan Opera's music director at the end of the season because of Parkinson's disease, ending a 40-year run that lifted the company to a golden era but became increasingly problematic as his health declined. Met general manager Peter Gelb said Thursday that Levine, who will turn 73 in June, will become music director emeritus and a successor will be appointed in "a couple months." While Levine i…