Statement from the Boston Symphony Orchestra:

‘The Boston Symphony Orchestra learned about the recent allegations against James Levine on Saturday evening, December 2. The BSO finds this information deeply disturbing and awaits the findings of further investigations on the matter. Mr. Levine has not conducted the BSO since January 2011 and is not scheduled to conduct the orchestra at any time in the future.

‘The Boston Symphony Orchestra adhered to a due diligence process, including a personal and professional review of all aspects of James Levine’s candidacy prior to his appointment as music director in 2004, and decided to move ahead with his appointment. During Mr. Levine’s tenure with the BSO, 2004-2011, the Boston Symphony Orchestra management was never approached by anyone in connection with inappropriate behavior by James Levine.

UPDATE: Who has questions to answer?

From the diva’s Instagram account today.

Dale Johnson will step down as artistic director of Minnesota Opera at the end of the season after 23 years in the job and 33 with the company.

He will continue to advise President and General Director Ryan Taylor on new work and new artists.

Over the past month, I have been contacted by at least half a dozen news organisations and journalists, all of whom request my help on investigations they were conducting into allegations of misconduct against the emeritus music director of the Metropolitan Opera. They included Reuters, AP, BBC Newsnight and other well-known operations.

I refused, with one exception, to respond to any request since it was clear to me that these were no more than speculative fishing expeditions. There was, and remains, no evidence to substantiate a welter of suppositions against Mr Levine. Like everyone in the music world, I have heard rumours and investigated some of them. None has been supported by independent third-party testimony.

The accuser whose story is told in the New York Post contacted me many months ago and several times since. I advised him at first contact to report the matter to the police, which he did. I have his deposition. It is alarming and unpleasant. It is backed by a diary the kept at age 16. It is not, however, substantiated by any other witness.

On this basis, I declined to publish his allegations. So, too, did the New York Times, which (I am told) is conducting its own inquiry into an incident, possibly related to the Brooklyn Bridge.

The rumours about James Levine remain rumours until proven. Unless they are, he has no case to answer.

In these extraordinarily dangerous times, when superpower leaders are wilfully blurring the line between truth and lie, there is a duty on journalists to stick to the facts, the whole facts and nothing but the facts. That rule applies in James Levine’s case as it does in every other.

NL

UPDATE: Boston Symphony statement

UPDATE: The Met suspends Levine

UPDATE: Who has questions to answer?

The Opéra de Paris has opened a provocative new production of La Bohème by Claus Guth.

Baby, it’s cold outside.

Life on Mars? No, that was Bowie.

Get me outa here!

The director’s hut.

all photos (c) Bernd Uhlig/Opéra National de Paris

Following the allegation of sexual molestation by its former music director that were published last night by the New York Post, the Met has issued this advisory:

The Met would like to let our supporters know that we are deeply disturbed by the news articles that are being published online today about James Levine. We are working on an investigation with outside resources to determine whether charges of sexual misconduct in the 1980s are true, so that we can take appropriate action.

Menahem Pressler, 94 this month, rehearsing ‘en bateau’ in Jerusalem, with Iddo Bar Shai.

Video courtesy of Lady Annabelle Weidenfeld.