James Levine quotes

James Levine was an American conductor and pianist, renowned for his long tenure as music director of the Metropolitan Opera in New York. His leadership and musicianship helped shape the Met’s artistic direction for decades. He remains a figure of major influence and controversy in the classical music world. Here are 27 of his quotes:

A lot of people get impatient with the pace of change. (James Levine)
I was lucky that I met the right mentors and teachers at the right moment. View quote
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. View quote
James Levine
Most people treat the office manual the way they treat a software manual. They never look at it. View quote
James Levine
I grew up in an era where an orchestra was like a treasure chest. View quote
James Levine
It was just that we had this phenomenal honeymoon relationship that just kept on going. View quote
James Levine
Art has never been a popularity contest. View quote
James Levine
Its 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. View quote
James Levine
I thought I'd write one book and the world would change overnight. View quote
James Levine
There is no relationship between the gestures and what an orchestra will do. View quote
James Levine
At my age, you are naturally inclined towards teaching. (James Levine)
Everybody blames the culture without taking responsibility. View quote
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. View quote
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. View quote
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. View quote
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. View quote
James Levine
I have a big problem with conductors who gesture a lot. View quote
James Levine
Employee fathers need to step up to the plate and put their family needs on the table. View quote
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. View quote
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. View quote
James Levine
I can imagine wanting to work with this ensemble and this company always. (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. View quote
James Levine
We're in the midst of an evolution, not a revolution. View quote
James Levine
Second, if you're the boss, just because they don't ask doesn't mean your employees don't have needs. View quote
James Levine
I think this orchestra's strengths involve drama and voice. View quote
James Levine

James Levine

James Levine - Image
Photo: Ralph Daily, CC BY 2.0
Occupation: American Musician
Born: June 23, 1943
Died: March 9, 2021
Quotes count: 27