Levine out; Luisi in

AP

Following a fall in which he damaged a vertebra, James Levine has withdrawn from the remainder of his Metropolitan Opera assignments this year.

Fabio Luisi, who recently upped sticks to New York, replaces him for all performances.

Elevated from Principal Guest Conductor to Principal Conductor, Luisi moves a step closer to the big prize. Levine remains as Music Director. For now.

Comments

[Duane M]

Poor Maestro Levine has had the worst misfortunes. I pray he will have a remarkable recovery!

[Justin Chapman]

It's time Jimmy called it a day. The bizarre thing is that having the same music director for over 80 years simply can't be good for the artistic rejuvenation of any house...

[Lauren]

Eighty years??!! That's stretching the point a bit! It's 40 years since he made his debut with the Met but he didn't become Music Director until 1976 (Principal Conductor for the three years before that).

[Nikolaus Vogel]

lol @ Lauren! Justin was posting in the middle of the night - obviously a typo!