Fabio Luisi Talents Being Rewarded at Highest Level

According to the New York Times, musical director James Levine will be bowing out of all scheduled conducting performances at the Metropolitan Opera this fall. Duties were immediately handed over to principal guest conductor Fabio Luisi. Watch this video from 1987 of Maestro Luisi conducting the radiant Kallen Esperian in an exquisite reading of Boito's "L'altra notte in fondo al mare" from Mefistofele at the Komische Oper Berlin. [Source]

Luisi Taking Over For Levine: "Epochal Changing of the Guard"

Luisi at the MET (Photo: Sara Krulwich/New York Times)

As Fabio Luisi prepares to conduct Rigoletto at the Metropolitan Opera on Tuesday, the New York Times speculates that he may be the heir apparent to James Levine's job as Music Director. Although the Italian-born maestro refuses to discuss the matter, dismissing the topic as inappropriate, there is plenty of evidence to suggest he is slowly making his way to New York for more important duties. Getting ringing endoresments from one of the MET's favorite artists doesn't hurt either: "He’s like James Levine, an all-arounder,” the German soprano Diana Damrau said of Mr. Luisi. “He loves voices, and he listens and he reacts.” [Source]