Thursday, March 3 BSO Maestro James Levine To Resign, Classical Community Reacts

Sara commented on The Emily Rooney Show on 03.04.11
I just listened to the conversation among Nelson, Bell, and Rooney about Levines programming and reasons for departure. Avi Nelson does not speak for me. He does not speak for me about the BSO, he does not speak for me about music, and he does not speak for me about the programming on WCRB, old OR new. He speaks out of ignorance, to those who want to be ignorant. The audience for classical music is not limited to people, like Nelson, who know only the familiar and like it that way. The audience for classical music can and should include those who dislike the familiar and want to hear music that wakes up some other part of themselves, music that expands them or connects to the other arts that they know or want to know. To quote the comment by Jim, "Thank god for Brian Bell."

Jim commented on The Emily Rooney Show on 03.03.11
Tonight’s discussion on James Levine was appalling. To have someone with the commanding ignorance of Avi Nelson discuss such serious matters would be like me discussing hockey. NOT a good idea. Mr. Levine is a figure of worldwide stature. I was there the night he fell after Beethovens 9th. Two thousand people, in a split second, went from stomping, ecstatic appreciation to absolute total silence. There was palpable fear and concern in the hearts of everyone there, relieved only by Mr. Levines rising up, brushing himself off, and doing a little jig to show us all that he was all right. Thank god for Brian Bell. His comments were well informed, sensitive, intelligent and interesting. On the other hand, we had the walking personification of the Philistine, the Babbitt, Mrs. Grundy while being haughty and condescending as well! For me there have been two people in Boston who were leaders and teachers for those of us who love music but are not musicians James Levine and Richard Dyer. It was always deeply interesting to go to symphony on Thursday and then read Dyer in the Friday Globe. It would be twice as interesting if Dyer wrote about great musicians such as Levine. Which is not to say that I am a "modernist" in the way that they both are. I am not. BUT, I was overwhelmed by hearing Schoenbergs Gurrelieder for the first time a couple of years ago. So much so that when we found out that they were repeating it at Tanglewood, my wife and I immediately bought tickets. This for a piece of music I never knew existed before hearing it at Symphony Hall under James Levine. So he taught me something. He brought me along. He opened my mind. He introduced a previously unknown and unimagined pleasure into my life. With the highest standards, the finest singers and musicians. What more could one ask? Yes, of course, I know...I could ask for more of the same. But meanwhile, I am incredibly grateful to James Levine and pray for his recovery. Oh...and if Bill Belicheck needs some public advice on future trades and he comes on this show, Id be happy go come on and offer my opinions. Ive seen a few games and, when I was a young man, I could really throw a ball. Really, Im available.