James Levine Rehearses Falstaff (Met Opera)

Watch a musical rehearsal for the new production of Verdi's "Falstaff" with Music Director James Levine, which opens December 6. Clip taken from the Live in HD transmission of "Tosca" on November 9, 2013, hosted by Renée Fleming.
The Metropolitan Opera
2013-14 Season

[@stijn4687]

The true hero here is the pianist....

[@alexanderfelides1944]

This is how Richter grew so mighty. He was the vocal coach/rehearsal pianist/conductor at the Odessa Opera and Theater!

[@marcinwasowski8909]

Pure gold 😀👏

[@roccowalker6925]

Pro trick : you can watch series at flixzone. Been using it for watching lots of of movies recently.

[@allanuriah3436]

@Rocco Walker Yea, been watching on Flixzone} for since november myself :)

[@wehaveasituation]

What a gig!

[@747Aerophilia]

I don't know why, but watching this was just an incredible powerful experience.

[@solcarzemog5232]

That's a world-class pianist!

[@abalone317]

That's Jonathan Kelly! He's incredible!

[@bm4114]

This is the whole musical process at the met right here. There’s the world class pianist, the prompter who is giving cues right next to Levine, who is breaking this music down to specific nuances. The singers well prepared and collaborating like a chamber group. As others have said the pianist is the real star here, difficult passage in a difficult opera and he’s nailing it. Werk.

[@PamelaJean2013]

Glad to hear you all recognizing the pianist. What extraordinary musicians, all, and blasted difficult music to sing, especially all of the ensembles. What a delight to watch this.

[@katherinehiga9212]

So glad to see maestro Levine again at the Met Opera!

[@Wolf.88]

Thank u for posting. Beyond awesome. While watching this clip time and reality ceased. I was in another world. Maestro Levine!

[@spind]

What a genius ! Bravo James Levine !!!

[@planclops]

Even though I've been a musician an singer for a number of years, I still consider myself very new to opera. Thanks for the behind the scenes look! :)

[@ScarlettLime]

This is such a smart marketing tactic! I will definitely look into getting a seat to see this production now that I have (indirectly) experienced the priceless rehearsal process.

[@Johnnysaintrizz]

I love these!

[@darkinetix]

This is absolutely delightful to watch. In a world that makes people such as Miley Cyrus millionaires, I'm just so in awe of professional artists like this.

[@AnnapurnaMoffatt]

Amen.

[@juliyanmartinez3785]

Both professional artists

[@dha6232]

I can't imagine the pressure to deliver for this man and this whole establishment. Imagine your career resting in the hands of one or just a few people and their very subjective feelings about you... I guess as an artist you're either in or you're out. Angela Meade for example has never been granted a consistent place on the Met stage. Her Lucrezia Borgia at Caramoor is one of my favorite performance memories. The Met... it's a remarkable thing.

[@RichardKoenigsberg]

What commitment! So passionate and involved after all these years. So difficult to create something. And meanwhile, people are dropping bombs and killing one another: Life against Death.

[@georgeboskovic2903]

You wouldn't happen to know what Levine was also involved in?

[@tylerkoepp]

The cue director next to Jimmy is really fun to watch :)

[@AnnapurnaMoffatt]

Great to see Maestro Levine again.

[@georgeboskovic2903]

Still think that way?

[@veganonly]

@@georgeboskovic2903 He is the best !!! You are all idiots who believe such shit!!!!

[@spind]

@@georgeboskovic2903 Yes, I do !

[@papagen00]

@@spind Yes, Me Too!

[@AnnapurnaMoffatt]

Dear KZbin, Please invent the "Love" button.

[@wotan10950]

Annapurna Moffatt Do you mean the “Loves Boys” button?

[@georgeboskovic2903]

Levine had such a button, and we know how he used it.

[@cynthiaburton8656]

Did anyone else notice that Blythe is the only singer who is already off-book for this rehearsal? She's doing it by memory. She's brilliant!

[@kevinshort5245]

At this juncture they all are off book, believe me. They may be referring to their scores because it's a musical, but it's extremely rare that a singer arrives at a first Met rehearsal without their role memorized. Because staging takes place almost immediately.

[@emitch9213]

Maestro has brought his music. Are you going to walk in without your music. Seasoned bring their music.

[@SandrineAnterrion]

Fleming!! Glorious

[@christopherczajasager9030]

How lovely as an appropriate ad memoriam

[@bayreuthvinylman2616]

Rip Maestro Levine

[@georgeboskovic2903]

@@bayreuthvinylman2616 If there really is a God in heaven, then there will be no peace for Levine.

[@wotan10950]

I wonder if Renee ever thought of singing Alice Ford. It would be a great role as she winds down her career. Of course she's already accomplished so much that she probably doesn't want to bother with new roles.

[@69EBubu]

Only for music and roles written specifically written for her (like in Puts' "The Hours")

[@fontdemora]

Long live to Jimmy Levine

[@fontdemora]

Waiting for today's live transmision from the Met

[@RG-vd3pw]

+Pablo FONT DE MORA James? :D

[@mjb14722]

James Levine is divine.

[@cvalkan1]

Mary Jane Still think so?

[@CzarDodon]

The fact is nobody is divine. If convicted, Levine rightly deserved to be punished and pay for his crimes, but that doesn't take away from his artistic merits! Were all the greats of the past morally perfect? god only know what skeletons....

[@jeanparke9373]

@@cvalkan1 Yes. I still do think so. And all the accusations on him are extremely homophobic and biased.

[@georgeboskovic2903]

And that is why perverts like him get away with their behavior: it's people like you who keep defending him.

[@eugeniogentili1048]

Rip James Levine 1943 2021.

[@brucedelacruz9973]

Can’t believe this is the first time seeing this. Wow everyone in this room is incredible. And Jonathan Kelly!! INCREDIBLE!! Super random, but does anyone know which specific score they’re using? As in the publisher/edition??

[@papagen00]

Just finished watching the "Falstaff" free Met stream. What a great show, my favorite Verdi opera. Maestro Levine will be sorely missed.

[@georgeboskovic2903]

Not by his victims, he won't.

[@papagen00]

@@georgeboskovic2903 'alleged' victims

[@georgeboskovic2903]

@@papagen00 Sure, the MET wanted to get rid of him at all cost because of 'allegations'.

[@charlescoleman5509]

What’s with the second conductor next to Levine.

[@WillnardAnderson]

James Levine!! Great conductor of all time!!!!

[@richardwebb2348]

The Met knew for years, or at least suspected, that he was an sexually abusive, entitled, narcissist, but did nothing. Being a good conductor is not an excuse. If you like your Mozart heavy-handed - he is your man.

[@veganonly]

That's all pure chic!!! For 30 years there was not even a word of these outrageous accusations against him, then after you found him no longer attractive, you wanted to get rid of this excellent conductor!!! These guys wanted to get into the box with him themselves because he could have made them famous!!!! Yanick hello!!! James Levin, we love you!!! ❤️❤️❤️

[@papagen00]

@@veganonly finally, a voice of reason! RIP Levine

[@assholester]

this is madness

[@franciscoortega1749]

The lady next to Levine really blows my mind? Didn’t know that job existed.

[@dennisdeemii]

she's the real conductor

[@papagen00]

The guy sitting next to Levine, waving his arms, what's he doing?

[@benmeixell2472]

Who is the woman next to Maestro cueing entrances? What is her title?

[@pinkbeachloverable]

She's probably the prompter

[@benmeixell2472]

Thanks Melody :-)

[@papagen00]

This is way better than the new Met Falstaff cast of 2023, especially Oropesa's Nanetta

[@jorgeandresossa]

The pianist is amazing!!!

[@nyc88s]

Jonathan Kelly, one of the Met's best pianists!

[@69EBubu]

Every coach/rehearsal pianist of virtually ANY serious opera house is expected to tackle any Verdi score. It starts getting more complicated with Wagner, Strauss (Elektra, Salomé, die Schweigame Frau, some parts of Capriccio..) or Berg (Lulu, Wozzeck...), and not mentionning, of course, all the new repertoire....

[@davidleavitt835]

I don't understand. James Levine is conducting. Who is to his right and what is he doing?

[@JEOS]

What's the name of this scene?

[@chrisvazan]

On my CD the track begins with Falstaff's brief aria, "Quand'ero paggio Del Duca di Norfolk."

[@peteradaniel]

Finale of act 2. They go from the start of finale, Meg Page interrupts Alice and Falstaff's 'romantic' meeting with "Signora Alice". The refrain played by the piano is also used as a fugue to introduce act 3 and is an indicator that the Finale has begun. It sounds like Verdi was inspired by fugal and polyphonic uses typical of earlier opera buffa, especially those of DaPonte/ Mozart and Rossini. It's difficult not to draw comparisons between this and the Act two finale of Nozze di Figaro.

[@JEOS]

Alex Daniel Thanks! That's so good!

[@milesclery-fox3036]

La Cesta.

[@yoonjungpark151]

Wow... that korrepetitor...👍

[@alexeiderperezhernandez461]

Jeje, the scenograpy behind them looks like Hansel und Gretel or something like that, very naïve. PD: the pianist is always the hero.

[@ilmaestro18]

Ben Meixell: I'm pretty sure that's the prompter.

[@auroramarthens5056]

Lisette! ♥️

[@markcombrinck-hertz3649]

hi mark

[@MrTrackman100]

My next life I will be a music artist (or not coming back at all).

[@ssrrapper]

But you could be a music artist now. Today.

[@MrTrackman100]

Ha! E Tardi!

[@hankmcaff9350]

why is there a 2nd conductor?

[@carl44acq]

I believe that is the prompter.

[@dramaticsoprano4788]

That’s Jane Klaviter - she was the assistant conductor and the prompter. Also just an incredible woman!

[@hankmcaff9350]

@@dramaticsoprano4788 Thanks for the info!!

[@ci7446]

Deviant Jimmy! Deviant Jimmy! Deviant Jimmy!

[@ImTheGirlOnTheMoon]

Lisette

[@waynestatecommunication7706]

Who is the woman next to Levine? If he is conducting why does she also seem to be making gestures towards the singers?

[@RIGGedlld]

I think she is giving the singers cues exactly when to come in... Not very sure

[@Swiss31012]

That's the prompter! (Jane Klaviter in this instance) She sits in a tiny box at the very front of the stage throwing musical and text cues at the singers... Often times a singer's saving grace if things should happen to go awry :)

[@simonboccanegra3811]

A bloated old lecher, long past his best, finally gets his comeuppance for his attempted conquests. But never mind the behind-the-scenes story, how about Falstaff!

[@wehaveasituation]

So sad that the Tar version of Jimmy Levine's cancelling was a vigorous boxing running gal, while the real maestro was for some reason so negligent of basic health that he lapsed naturally into an invalid. But he was the best.

[@richardvergara]

Was this before the downfall of Levine?

[@JacksonMushnick1]

Yes

[@69EBubu]

Obviously, yes.

[@w.urlitzer1869]

he's dead now.

[@wotan10950]

Levine will always have his recorded legacy to illustrate his genius. As far as the allegations, well, his proclivities are pretty odd, but does anyone seriously believe this doesn’t take place everyday in the corporate world, politics, Hollywood, Broadway, Frank Sinatra, or anyone else you can think of? It doesn’t make it right, but all the pearl-clutching is hard to take.

[@veganonly]

That's all pure chic!!! For 30 years there was not even a word of these outrageous accusations against him, then after you found him no longer attractive, you wanted to get rid of this excellent conductor!!! These guys wanted to get into the box with him themselves because he could have made them famous!!!! Yanick hello!!! James Levin, we love you!!! ❤️❤️❤️

[@richardwebb2348]

Levine died in ignominy on March 9th, 2021 - Disgraced and unrepentant.

[@woissbubba2012]

+1

[@jc2971]

My least favorite Verdi opera, but this is a treat to watch.

[@MrTrackman100]

Surely you jest!

[@jc2971]

notice what I said. least FAVORITE.

[@ci7446]

disgusting that a man in a powerful position should abuse it in a gross and indecent way!!!

[@scottwanthony]

I hope that NYC can come up with some kind of better flood protection for the city, or else sub-basements like this one are going to end up getting badly damaged by flooding.

[@IceAintNice]

that's your take away from this? Poor you.

[@scottwanthony]

muted

[@scottwanthony]

Now, Levine is now the one who has sunk beneath the waves, permanently. There's a reason I came here, a year ago, to watch this video. And it wasn't a sudden increased general interest in opera. Things were already swirling, even then.

[@vietrus7815]

We miss you Jim!❤️

[@veganonly]

That's all pure chic!!! For 30 years there was not even a word of these outrageous accusations against him, then after you found him no longer attractive, you wanted to get rid of this excellent conductor!!! These guys wanted to get into the box with him themselves because he could have made them famous!!!! Yanick hello!!! James Levin, we love you!!! ❤️❤️❤️

[@brandontylerj-bassbaritone]

ew. Go away troll. You go into the box and get famous. Disgusting 🤢

[@JWP452]

James Levine was thrown under the bus by the Met. :(

[@BEE-mp9vk]

Levine threw himself under the bus when he decided to be a predator.

[@georgeboskovic2903]

Try tell that to his victims.

[@richardwebb2348]

a well deserved destination.

[@JWP452]

@@richardwebb2348 Fuck Off! I knew Jimmy one summer at Tanglewood in 2005. I was in the chorus for Mahler's 8th. Half the queens there would have done anything to suck him off to further their career.

[@samdajellybeenie14]

Levine, what an utterly horrible person with such a tragic talent.