Quotes by James Levine

About James Levine:

James Lawrence Levine is an American conductor and pianist. He is primarily known for his tenure as Music Director of the Metropolitan Opera, a position he has held since 1976. He has made numerous recordings, as well as television and radio broadcasts, with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra. Levine has also held leadership positions with the Ravinia Festival, the Munich Philharmonic and the Boston Symphony Orchestra. In 1980, he started the Lindemann Young Artists Development Program and often works to train promising singers, conductors, and musicians for professional careers. After suffering severe health problems, Levine took a hiatus from conducting for almost two years. He returned to conducting in 2013.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

At my age, you are naturally inclined towards teaching.

James Levine

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.

James Levine

Art has never been a popularity contest.

James Levine

Women tend to have recognition and peer group support - recognition from friends and family that this has to be a big issue in their lives. They're more comfortable expressing the need for support and receiving it.

James Levine

So, the total number of hours spent on the stuff you have to do to take care of a family, working and caring for stuff at home, the total number of hours is actually about the same for mothers and fathers.

James Levine

They've really got to recognize that all of us bring some of our family issues to work and our work home.

James Levine

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.

James Levine

A lot of people get impatient with the pace of change.

James Levine

I thought I'd write one book and the world would change overnight.

James Levine

My hunch is that probably men are doing more both outside the home and inside the home.

James Levine

If you factor in not just who's doing what at home, but how much more time working fathers are spending on work outside the home, on average they spend two hours more per day outside the home.

James Levine

Employee fathers need to step up to the plate and put their family needs on the table.

James Levine

It was just that we had this phenomenal honeymoon relationship that just kept on going.

James Levine

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.

James Levine

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

James Levine

I grew up in an era where an orchestra was like a treasure chest.

James Levine

I have a big problem with conductors who gesture a lot.

James Levine

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.

James Levine

I think this orchestra's strengths involve drama and voice.

James Levine

Working mothers do an hour more per day than working fathers do and working mothers do on average an hour more per day with the kids than working fathers do.

James Levine

Author Bio

  • NameJames Levine
  • DescriptionAmerican conductor and pianist
  • AliasesJames Levine
  • BornJune 23, 1943
  • CountryUnited States Of America
  • ProfessionConductor; Pianist; Musician
  • AwardsNational Medal Of Arts; Gold Decoration For Services To The City Of Vienna; Charles E. Lutton Man Of Music Award