The Ravinia Festival has confirmed that conductor James Levine will step down as its music director after conducting the first two weekends of Chicago Symphony concerts in June 1993.
By then he will have held the title for 21 seasons, making him the longest-tenured music director in Ravinia history.
His growing commitment to the Wagner Festival in Bayreuth, Germany, including a new ”Ring” cycle in 1994, are assumed to be the primary reason for his departure. Levine, 49, who is conducting a revival of ”Parsifal” at the Wagner shrine beginning Sunday, was not immediately available for comment.
He made his Ravinia/CSO debut in 1971 at age 28.
A Ravinia spokesman said it is ”very premature” to speak of any successor and that no search committee has been formed. It is assumed that Levine will continue his relationship with Ravinia as guest conductor and chamber musician.
