Baton Dropped

“He was always there, eyes alight, sweat on his brow, hands caressing the air. He has led more than two thousand and five hundred performances of more than eighty-five different operas; his brisk, effusive technique has been adequate to them all, and superior in many cases. He is an outwardly voluble man who has kept his personal life hidden, and few people, even those who have worked with him for decades, can say that they know him well. But as a musical personality he has exuded warmth and inspired trust.”
 — Alex Ross reflects on the legacy of James Levine, who will step down from his role as music director of the Metropolitan Opera when the season ends.