3 Men Accuse Ravinia Conductor James Levine Of Sexual Abuse

LAKE FOREST, IL — Longtime musical director and conductor at the Ravinia Festival, James Levine, has been suspended by New York's Metropolitan Opera following accusations by three men that he sexually abused them when they were teenagers. The allegations date back decades, and they include multiple accounts of abuse taking place on the North Shore near Ravinia, where the Levine was music director between 1973 and 1993 and remains set to conduct the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in a multi-year residency starting next summer.

One of Levine's accusers went to Lake Forest police in October 2016 to report "hundreds of incidents" at the Deer Path Inn in Lake Forest, according to the New York Post, which obtained a copy of the police file and reported its details Saturday. Levine, 74, allegedly told the boy that he could only "safely explore" his feelings with him.

“I began seeing a 41-year-old man when I was 15, without really understanding I was really ‘seeing’ him,” wrote the alleged sexual abuse survivor in a written statement attached the the Lake Forest Police Department report. “It nearly destroyed my family and almost led me to suicide. I felt alone and afraid. He was trying to seduce me. I couldn’t see this. Now I can."

The man, now 48, grew up in the area and had been hoping to pursue a career in music. He told investigators the prestigious conductor had invited him to come to New York to audition and encouraged him to engage in sexual "experimentation." He received more than $50,000 from Levine over the years, the man told police. The relationship ended in 2014 after Levine told him he would no longer send him any money, he said.

Lake Forest detectives investigated the case for at least seven months, and spoke to officials from the Met as well as journalists who have written about Levine over the years. One told police that stories of "alleged abuse have been widespread for decades and in my experience they seemed to be widely believed inside the classical music field though I've never heard anyone cite anything specific," according to the Post.

The Met said it first learned of the police report last year. It said Levine completely denied the charges at the time. After the Post's report on Saturday – which also included details of sexual contact in New York City – it said it would conduct its own investigation.

Then, Sunday, The New York Times published the names and accounts of three alleged survivors of abuse by Levine. They describe humiliating and intimidating sexual encounters, many involving masturbation.

"I was vulnerable," one of the men told the Times. "I was under this man's sway, I saw him as a safe, protective person, he took advantage of me, he abused me and it has really messed me up."

Following the publication of the three men's accounts, the Metropolitan Opera issued a statement Sunday saying Levine would not be involved in any scheduled performances or any Met activities.

"While we await the results of the investigation, based on these new news reports, the Met has made the decision to act now," said Met General Manager Peter Geld. "This is a tragedy for anyone whose life has been affected."

Six months after the Lake Forest police report, Ravinia Festival announced a five-year contract with Levine for him to become its first conductor emeritus. He is currently scheduled to direct the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in an ongoing residency starting next summer.

A festival spokesperson released a statement to the media saying it first learned of the allegations through a media inquiry late Friday afternoon. It said it believed the investigations were "ongoing" and declined to confirm whether Levine would remain in his position pending the results of the investigation.

"Ravinia finds these allegations very disturbing and contrary to its zero-tolerance policies and culture. Ravinia will take any actions that it deems appropriate following the results of these investigations," said the festival's statement.

Lake Forest police said the case was "an open investigation," and said that all case reports and related documents cannot be released at this time. Deputy Chief Rob Copeland said he expected that "more information will be forthcoming pending further review of this case." A spokesperson for the Lake County State's Attorney confirmed it is currently reviewing the case.

The Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association released a statement to the Chicago Tribune saying it has "no comment on this issue at this time."

Neither Levine nor his representatives have commented publicly about the allegations, although in a 1987 interview with The Times he did make a reference to allegations of misconduct.

Levine got a call from the Met's general manager "about reports of a morals charge in Pittsburgh or Hawaii or Dallas. Both my friends and my enemies checked it out and to this day, I don’t have the faintest idea where those rumors came from or what purpose they served. [My manager] says it’s because people can’t believe the real story, that I’m too good to be true,’" he told the paper 30 years ago.

Levine has been battling health problems, including Parkinson's disease and a spinal injury, in recent years.

When his new role as conductor emeritus was announced in April, Levine described a lifelong love for the Ravinia, "one of the world's most charming and inviting venues."

"This is a homecoming that few musicians are privileged to experience," Levine said at the time. "It's an exciting amalgamation of history and my future."

_{Top photo: James Levine | Associated Press Photo | Michael Dwyer, File}