Met musicians issue statement on James Levine
mainThe shock has been such that it has taken the musicians more than a week to respond. Here’s what they say:
The allegations against former and long-time Music Director James Levine have left the musicians of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra deeply affected. Amidst the anguish felt in the wake of these events, we extend our admiration for the courage shown by those who have come forward. We stand against abuse, be it in the workplace or in society at large, and these painful circumstances have shed light on the need for transformative change in the way these issues are confronted and the ways in which abuse can be prevented from happening in the first place.
Together with our union, Local 802, we have called upon the management of the Metropolitan Opera to ensure a safer workplace by committing to sharing the results of their investigation fully and transparently. Only in this way can we improve the manner in which these issues are addressed in the future.
In difficult moments, we, as artists, find solace and strength in the power of our voices and in opera itself. Each night this week, as we have readied for performances, we have collectively redoubled our commitment to creating the finest and most artistically vibrant opera in the world. As we find ourselves joining a critical national conversation, we feel fortunate to be able to share the power of musical expression with our audience and work to make our society stronger.
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