James Levine was an American conductor and pianist celebrated for his long tenure as the music director of the Metropolitan Opera. His leadership and interpretation of operatic and orchestral works earned him widespread acclaim and recognition in the classical music world. Levine's contributions to music and his influence on the development of operatic performance have left a lasting legacy in the field.

"It wasn't that I ever knew I'd be at the Met for 20 years, or 30 years, or 40 years, or anything like that."



"More and more couples are having this negotiation or discussion, but I'm still amazed at the number who aren't and where the cultural norm sort of kicks in and they just assume that mom's got to be the one who stays home, not dad."



"As major orchestras around the world are gripped in various kinds of crises and upheaval, we need to be sure that we are bringing up this new generation."



"And, over the last thirty years we have seen men's participation in both housework and childcare has increased and women's have stayed at about the same."



"It's just that, when the orchestra look at me, I want them to see a completely involved person who reflects what we rehearsed, and whose function is to make it possible for them to do it."



"What's interesting is that both men and women are struggling with this issue in remarkably similar percentages, but the big difference is that women tend to talk about this when men keep it silent."



"Great cataclysmic things can go by and neither the orchestra nor the conductor are under the delusion that whether they make this or that gesture is going to be the deciding factor in how it comes out."



"It has to be able to play at the maximum expression and communication in every style, and the only way you can do that is - like Verdi said - working with a file, every day, little by little, until the orchestra's collective qualities emerge."



"But the important thing is to lie down and fall asleep. That little nap means you wake up fresh again and can continue."

