Fabio Luisi named Principal Conductor at the Met
Conductor James Levine has suffered another setback on his long road to recovery. At a press conference this morning, Metropolitan Opera general manager Peter Gelb announced that Mr. Levine will not conduct the company's new productions of Don Giovanni and Siegfried.
In addition, Mr. Gelb promoted Fabio Luisi as the Met's new Principal Conductor, effective immediately. Mr. Luisi, who spent much of 2010 and 2011 subbing in for Mr. Levine, will conduct the premieres of Don Giovanni on Oct. 13 and Siegfried on Oct. 27. Mr. Levine will remain as Music Director.
Mr. Levine was rushed for emergency surgery after falling while on vacation in Vermont. The conductor has a long history of medical problems, including shoulder injuries, back injuries and a battle with cancer. These medical problems have forced Mr. Levine to conduct while sitting down, and ultimately cost him his position as the music director of the Boston Symphony Orchestra.
However, Mr. Levine bounced back in April, focusing on his Met commitments and leading spectacular readings of Berg's Wozzeck and Wagner's Die Walküre. However, he stepped down from the BSO and cancelled his commitment to this summer's Tanglewood festival, citing doctors' orders and the need for six months of rest. The BSO was forced to scramble to find conductors for its summer season.
According to a report in the New York Times, the Met's 2011-2012 Don Giovanni performances will be split between Mr. Luisi and Louis Langrée, the French conductor who leads Mostly Mozart. Mr. Luisi will conduct Siegfried, with one performance led by up-and-coming conductor Derrick Inouye.
This morning's rehearsal of Götterdämmerung (which is scheduled to premiere on Jan. 27, 2012, completing the Met's new production of the Ring) was cancelled. It is not known whether Mr. Levine will be recovered in time to conduct these winter performances of the six-hour opera, or whether he will be able to lead the three complete Ring cycle slotted for April and May of next year.
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| James Levine will not conduct Don Giovanni and Siegfried this fall. |
In addition, Mr. Gelb promoted Fabio Luisi as the Met's new Principal Conductor, effective immediately. Mr. Luisi, who spent much of 2010 and 2011 subbing in for Mr. Levine, will conduct the premieres of Don Giovanni on Oct. 13 and Siegfried on Oct. 27. Mr. Levine will remain as Music Director.
Mr. Levine was rushed for emergency surgery after falling while on vacation in Vermont. The conductor has a long history of medical problems, including shoulder injuries, back injuries and a battle with cancer. These medical problems have forced Mr. Levine to conduct while sitting down, and ultimately cost him his position as the music director of the Boston Symphony Orchestra.
However, Mr. Levine bounced back in April, focusing on his Met commitments and leading spectacular readings of Berg's Wozzeck and Wagner's Die Walküre. However, he stepped down from the BSO and cancelled his commitment to this summer's Tanglewood festival, citing doctors' orders and the need for six months of rest. The BSO was forced to scramble to find conductors for its summer season.
According to a report in the New York Times, the Met's 2011-2012 Don Giovanni performances will be split between Mr. Luisi and Louis Langrée, the French conductor who leads Mostly Mozart. Mr. Luisi will conduct Siegfried, with one performance led by up-and-coming conductor Derrick Inouye.
This morning's rehearsal of Götterdämmerung (which is scheduled to premiere on Jan. 27, 2012, completing the Met's new production of the Ring) was cancelled. It is not known whether Mr. Levine will be recovered in time to conduct these winter performances of the six-hour opera, or whether he will be able to lead the three complete Ring cycle slotted for April and May of next year.
