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

Second, if you're the boss, just because they don't ask doesn't mean your employees don't have needs.

James Levine

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.

James Levine

You try on purpose to get players with different qualities which will rub off on one another.

James Levine

Everybody blames the culture without taking responsibility.

James Levine

We're in the midst of an evolution, not a revolution.

James Levine

We do not seem to be finding tomorrow's Toscas.

James Levine

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.

James Levine

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.

James Levine

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.

James Levine

The invisible dilemma is that men face the very real problem that they don't feel comfortable bringing these issues up and they tend not to be acknowledged at work.

James Levine

We found that when people put this issue on the table, it turns out that men acknowledge the issue, and employers and employees can work out solutions just as working mothers do.

James Levine

And so, little by little, I gradually divested myself of pretty nearly all of the guest conducting I used to do, because I was at the same time working in the places like the Met, where I could work in this sort of depth.

James Levine

There is no relationship between the gestures and what an orchestra will do.

James Levine

I was lucky that I met the right mentors and teachers at the right moment.

James Levine

Where my tastes in music are concerned, I'm a real maximalist.

James Levine

When they are performing in front of the public, they ought to have a sensation that's relatively easy, if the technical and the interpretive work was done before.

James Levine

I can imagine wanting to work with this ensemble and this company always.

James Levine

Most people treat the office manual the way they treat a software manual. They never look at it.

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