LEVINE, JAMES [LAWRENCE] (23 JUNE 1943–)

American conductor and pianist, born in Cincinnati, Ohio. At age 10 he performed a concerto with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, then studied piano with Rudolf Serkin. He graduated from the Juilliard School of Music in 1964, and served as assistant conductor of the Cleveland Orchestra in 1965-1970. Then he went to the Metropolitan Opera, as principal conductor in 1973-1974, as music director from 1976, and artistic director from 1986. Levine has also conducted in Salzburg and Bayreuth, and is director of the Ravinia Festival, summer home of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. In 2002, he was honored at the 25th annual Kennedy Center Honors by President George Bush. Levine is to begin a new appointment as director of the Boston Symphony Orchestra in 2004.