Metropolitan Opera conductor, 74, is accused of molesting a 15-year-old boy from 1985 to 1993

  • James Levine, 74, is currently the director emeritus of the Metropolitan Opera
  • A lawsuit alleges that he sexually abused a 15-year-old boy and continued the abuse for eight years
  • The lawsuit alleges that Levine and the boy met multiple times and that Levine anally penetrated him with a finger and fondled his penis without consent
  • 'Emotionally I have been hurt by this and confused and paralyzed,' victim said

By Dailymail.com Reporter

Published: 19:10 EST, 2 December 2017 | Updated: 23:51 EST, 2 December 2017

A Metropolitan Opera conductor sexually abused a 15-year-old boy and continued the abuse for nearly 10 years, a lawsuit has alleged.

The victim, whose name has been withheld, nearly committed suicide due to the abuse, the New York Post reports.

The lawsuit alleges that James Levine, 74, abused the boy during his tenure as a conductor at the Ravinia Music Festival, a summer concert series held in Chicago's North Shore suburbs.

Levine was one of the recipients of the 2002 Kennedy Center Honors. He is pictured at the reception for the honorees, who included James Earl Jones and Elizabeth Taylor
Levine is pictured at a younger age with a towel over his shoulder

James Levine, the 74-year-old director emeritus of the Metropolitan Opera, has been accused of sexually abusing a 15-year-old boy. He is pictured at left in 2002; it is not known what year the photo at right was taken

Levine is pictured leading the orchestra in Berlioz's 'Symphonie fantastique' at a 2015 performance. The alleged abuse occurred between 1985 and 1993 and involved anal penetration and fondling

Levine is pictured leading the orchestra in Berlioz's 'Symphonie fantastique' at a 2015 performance. The alleged abuse occurred between 1985 and 1993 and involved anal penetration and fondling

The alleged victim, now 48, says that the abuse began when he was 15 and when Levine was 41.

The unidentified man describes how he met Levine at the Ravinia festival when he was four years old after his parents took him backstage to meet the conductor.

He told police that Levine showered him with gifts such as batons and, one evening when he was 15, drove him home. The year was 1985.

While in the car, the alleged victim states, Levine took his hand and held it 'in a prolonged and incredibly sensual way'.

The boy, per his recollections, began to wonder about his sexuality and asked his peers: 'Am I gay because he held my hand?' The adult male identifies as heterosexual.

The lawsuit goes on to state how the following year, Levine took the boy to the ritzy Deer Path Inn in Lake Forest.

There, the lawsuit alleges, Levine fondled the boy's penis.

The lawsuit states that 'hundreds of incidents' occurred between Levine and the boy at the Deer Path Inn.

The lawsuit alleges that 'hundreds of incidents' occurred at the Deer Path Inn in Lake Forest, Illinois. The alleged victim and Levine met while the conductor was working at the Ravinia Music Festival, which is held in nearby Highland Park

The lawsuit alleges that 'hundreds of incidents' occurred at the Deer Path Inn in Lake Forest, Illinois. The alleged victim and Levine met while the conductor was working at the Ravinia Music Festival, which is held in nearby Highland Park

Pictured is the gate of the summer festival at wintertime

Pictured is the gate of the summer festival at wintertime

In 1987, the lawsuit alleges, Levine penetrated the boy's anus with his finger. Levine allegedly kissed the victim's penis during another incident.

At the same time, the lawsuit states, Levine would give the boy gifts -with an alleged total value of $50,000 - and also wrote him a college recommendation later.

The abuse stopped in 1993, the lawsuit states. By then, the pair would occasionally dine together at New York City restaurants near Lincoln Center. 

The victim's police statement reads in part: 'He inflicted shame and guilt on me. Making [it] hard for me to see the wrong. 

'Emotionally I have been hurt by this and confused and paralyzed.'

Levine has not yet commented on the allegations. The victim's police statement reads: 'Emotionally I have been hurt by this and confused and paralyzed'

Levine has not yet commented on the allegations. The victim's police statement reads: 'Emotionally I have been hurt by this and confused and paralyzed'

The alleged victim first told the Lake Forest, Illinois Police Department of the alleged abuse in October 2016.

The department has decided to investigate the case, though the statute of limitations for the alleged crime has expired. 

The alleged victim also told a Metropolitan Opera board member of the alleged abuse. The board member told him to contact police.

Levine is currently the director emeritus of the Metropolitan Opera and served as its music director for 40 years. He started at the opera in 1971.

The Post reports the Levine has long been subject to rumors of sexual misconduct. 

DailyMail.com has reached out to Levine's manager for comment.  

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