The Met’s disgraced opera conductor, James Levine, has finally broken his silence about the sexual abuse allegations made against him recently — calling them “unfounded.”
“As anyone who truly knows me will attest, I have not lived my life as an oppressor or an aggressor,” Levine wrote in a statement Thursday to the New York Times.
“As understandably troubling as the accusations noted in recent press accounts are, they are unfounded,” he said.
“I have devoted my energies to the development, growth, and nurturing of music and musicians all over the world — particularly with the Metropolitan Opera where my work has been the lifeblood and passion of my artistic imagination. My fervent hope is that in time people will come to understand the truth, and I will be able to continue my work with full concentration and inspiration.”
Levine was hit with numerous allegations of sexual harassment and abuse last weekend by several young men. He was forced to step down from his duties at The Met, as a result, and had remained silent up until Thursday.
The statement Levine released, denying the claims against him while praising his work in the process, didn’t sit well with his alleged victims.
“He is lying,” said James Lestock, who was allegedly abused by Levine when he was a 17-year-old cello student at the Meadow Brook School of Music in Michigan.
“The examples of instigating sex with a minor, physical abuse using physical pain leading to break down crying, all happened,” he told the Times. “I will take a lie-detector test. Will he?”
Lestock, now 67, is one of four men who have come forward and accused Levine of sexual abuse. Their accusations date back to the 1960s.
Chris Brown, former principal bass player for the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, claims that he was also allegedly abused by Levine while taking classes at Meadow Brook as a teen.
“Sexual abuse at any age is inexcusable,” the 66-year-old said. “Further, belittling those of us who were abused as less than fully human is repugnant. I stand by the story.”