Farewell to the Maestro

I was at Simon Boccanegra last night, the first and (I think) last performance James Levine will direct since he announced his retirement. He got a very warm and enthusiastic ovation from the audience, and the singers made much of him after the performance. It's too bad there's no good way for him to come out on the stage any more.

I remember being in the audience the first time he came back and explaining to the couple in the box just why the applause for the conductor was so fervent... It truly is the end of an era.

Story from Your Classical Org.