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Levine cancels appearances with Phila. Orchestra; Tilson Thomas steps in

The much-anticipated return of eminent conductor James Levine to the Philadelphia area on Feb. 18-20 will not happen. On Friday, Levine, who is battling Parkinson's Disease but has been described as eager to return to conducting, withdrew from his guest conducting engagement with The Philadelphia Orchestra.

James Levine, conductor of the Metropolitan orchestra in New York, was to guest-conduct with the Philadelphia Orchestra on Feb. 18-20, but he announced his withdrawal on Feb. 12.
James Levine, conductor of the Metropolitan orchestra in New York, was to guest-conduct with the Philadelphia Orchestra on Feb. 18-20, but he announced his withdrawal on Feb. 12.Read moreMarty Sohl.

The much-anticipated return of eminent conductor James Levine to the Philadelphia area on Feb. 18-20 will not happen. On Friday, Levine, who is battling Parkinson's Disease but has been described as eager to return to conducting, withdrew from his guest conducting engagement with The Philadelphia Orchestra.

Levine is in the midst of changing his medical regimen; the reason given in a statement for his withdrawal was that travel and performance "would be detrimental to his current medical treatment."

"On behalf of the musicians and staff of the Philadelphia Orchestra, we extend our best wishes to Maestro James Levine," said orchestra president and CEO Allison Vulgamore in a statement.

Into Levine's place, at short notice, steps famed composer/conductor Michael Tilson Thomas, music director of the San Francisco Symphony and artistic director of the New World Symphony. Tilson Thomas had been on a composing break and had reportedly finished his work early. He expressed admiration for Levine's "unmatched musicianship" and wished him a speedy return to conducting.

For the three nights, Tilson Thomas retains the Brahms Serenade No. 2 from the original Levine program, but the rest of the program has changed. It now includes Charles Ives' "Decoration Day" from A Symphony: New England Holidays as well as Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 2 ("Little Russian").

Organist Paul Jacobs was scheduled to perform Saint-Saëns' Symphony No. 3 ("Organ"). With Levine's cancellation, Jacobs announced that he will reschedule his performance for Nov. 17-19, to coincide with his world premiere performances of Christopher Rouse's Organ Concerto. That program will celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Fred J. Cooper Memorial Organ at the Kimmel Center and will be led by the orchestra's music director, Yannick Nézet-Séguin. Information: 215-893-1999 or www.philorch.org.

jt@phillynews.com

215-854-4406 @jtimpane