Conductor James Levine withdraws from Cincinnati Opera 90th anniversary celebration

Levine withdraws from Cincinnati Opera celebration

NEW YORK — Conductor James Levine has withdrawn from the Cincinnati Opera’s 90th anniversary gala concert and two performances of Wagner’s “Die Meistersinger von Nuernberg.”

The 66-year-old said in a statement Monday that his doctors have advised him to take time off to recover from impending back surgery. Levine announced April 4 that he would have a second back operation and will miss the rest of the Metropolitan Opera season. He is music director of the Met and the Boston Symphony Orchestra.

Edoardo Mueller, Steven Reineke and Henri Venanz will conduct the Cincinnati gala on June 19. Levine will be replaced in “Meistersinger” on June 23 and June 26 by John Keenan.

Levine remains scheduled for Mahler’s “Resurrection” symphony with the BSO on July 9 at the opening of its Tanglewood summer season in Lennox, Mass.