Jimmy Levine and Steve Jablonsky

1. James Levine was for four decades the music director of the Metropolitan Opera in Lincoln Center. He struggled with health problems and surgeries for years, and missed two full seasons after a serious spinal injury in 2011. For a while he even conducted from a motorized wheelchair. But the pain and strain of Parkinson’s disease got to be too much even for such a stalwart as himself. So in April 2016 he announced his retirement at age 72. In total he conducted an astounding 2551 performances.

“For more than four decades the Met has been my artistic home, and I am tremendously proud of all we have been able to achieve together as a company,” Mr. Levine said in a statement, “from expanding the repertory to include new and seldom-heard works, to the development of the orchestra and chorus into one of the glories of the musical world.”

“Although I am unable to spend as much time on the podium as I would like,” he added, “I am pleased to step into my new role and maintain my profound artistic ties to the Met.”

2. You are probably aware of the concept of Six Degrees of Separation—the premise that all human beings on the planet are related. Well, here is another case in point. The above story may seem remote to you but there is a connection. In 1958 I was a student at the Aspen Music Festival in Colorado and Jimmy Levine stayed in the same motel, Ed’s Beds, in the room next to mine for the eight weeks of the summer.

I was a trumpet student and he was a piano student. We did not really get to know each other because I was 16 and he was 15 and, as budding musicians, we were both emotionally retarded. When the summer ended he went back to Cleveland and I went to Manhattan and we never saw each other again. Now we are both in our 70s and he is struggling with health issues and I have never felt better—the luck of the draw!

So, you know me and I knew Jimmy…how many degrees is that?

3. July 11, 2017: I am walking on the third floor of the Westchester Mall and I pass the Godiva chocolate store and notice a man in an expensive wheelchair checking out the victuals. He looks a lot like James Levine but I could not be sure so I asked the elderly woman who was his companion if that was he. She confirmed my suspicion so I said to him “I have something of yours that you forgot in Ed’s Beds.” Fifty-nine years ago he left his copy of the score to Bartok’s Piano Concerto 3 on his closet shelf and I found it. I have been meaning to return it but didn’t know how. He said I could keep it and so I shall, gladly.

4. Jimmy is now in a lot of trouble based on his sexual behavior for a very long time. There were always rumors about his predilection for young boys but it took decades for those molested by him to come forward. We are now in a period where the misconduct of men in power is no longer being overlooked and tolerated. Heads are on the chopping block in industry and the arts. Jimmy is now embroiled in controversy from which he may not come out unscathed. This is a sad state of affairs for all concerned and we would all like to live in a world where people are not prayed upon, but rather treated with dignity and respect. Our nation has a long way to go before we get there. With a self-admitted molester as president it may take a little bit longer.

Metropolitan Opera House at Lincoln Center