tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8957911.post4115712419646288064..comments2024-03-27T21:41:50.122-07:00Comments on Iron Tongue of Midnight: Levine's ReputationLisa Hirschhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14014924958428072675noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8957911.post-63556515426277811482021-03-25T02:11:37.959-07:002021-03-25T02:11:37.959-07:00I think that, when judging the actual conducting, ...I think that, when judging the actual conducting, we need to draw a distinction between Levine of the health problems (which includes <i>all</i> of his Boston Symphony tenure) and the earlier Levine. If his repertoire was narrow, that's a common flaw among conductors who delve deeply into the standard repertoire. Levine's reputation was of complete command over a wide variety of standard material, of being tremendously hard-working, and easy and agreeable to work with.<br /><br />I think it's necessary to understand and acknowledge this, because I believe that these virtues were the <i>reason</i> his sexual abuses were so determinedly overlooked. His artistic value was so great that they'd brush anything else under the table. That's especially evident in the Ben Miller article you sent me.<br /><br />But if anyone is minded to excuse this separation on the grounds that on-podium and off-podium behavior are unconnected things, turn to the Levine of the health problems and the same thing is happening: he's valued so much that both the Met and the BSO were willing to overlook problems that rose to a grotesque level, and this time the problems <i>did</i> affect his conducting, but it took the longest time before anyone was willing to admit it, especially because Levine took the same tack towards his health problems as he did towards the abuse allegations: ignore it and, if forced to confront it, deny and look wounded as long as possible.<br /><br />Same thing. And it's by understanding this syndrome of response that we can best be prepared to stop someone like this again in the future.David Bratmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08090662884600828582noreply@blogger.com