Former BSO Conductor James Levine Investigated For Alleged Sex Abuse

NEW YORK (CBS/AP) — New York's Metropolitan Opera says it will investigate allegations that its longtime conductor, James Levine, sexually abused a teenager in the mid-1980s.

Levine's accuser, now a middle-aged man, contacted police in Lake Forest, Illinois, in October of 2016 to report that he'd had sexual contact with the conductor when he was under the age of 18.

He told police his relationship with Levine lasted into adulthood.

Details of the police report were first reported Saturday on the New York Post website.

Met officials said in a statement that when they were initially contacted by police a year ago, Levine denied the accusations. They said the opera house will now conduct its own investigation.

Levine is 74. He stepped down as music director of the Met in April 2016.

Levine was music director for the Boston Symphony Orchestra for seven years, and resigned from that position in 2011.

BSO released a statement saying, in part: The Boston Symphony Orchestra adhered to a due diligence process, including a personal and professional review of all aspects of James Levine's candidacy prior to his appointment as music director in 2004, and decided to move ahead with his appointment. During Mr. Levine's tenure with the BSO, 2004-2011, the Boston Symphony Orchestra management was never approached by anyone in connection with inappropriate behavior by James Levine."

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