Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
New York’s Metropolitan Opera has fired eminent conductor James Levine, after an internal inquiry found “credible evidence” to support claims he sexually abused young male musicians.
Mr Levine, who denies the allegations, was suspended in December when they were made public.
The conductor, now 74, was music director at the Met for 40 years.
He retired for health reasons in 2016, but had continued to work with the opera as music director emeritus.
“The investigation uncovered credible evidence that Mr Levine had engaged in sexually abusive and harassing conduct both before and during the period when he worked at the Met,” the opera house said in a statement.
It said there was also evidence that the conductor abused and harassed “vulnerable artists in the early stages of their careers”.
The Met said more than 70 people were interviewed during its investigation.