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Macleans.ca

Canada’s magazine

MUSIC: Age before beauty II

Because I have let whim decide this blog’s topics for more than six years now, I know reading Inkless can be frustrating  for readers who want it to be about federal politics only (and especially for those who wish I would cheerlead for one or another of the political parties). But much of the kick that comes from writing this blog has to do with the moments when an off-the-wall post manages to reach a wide and engaged audience. That happened when I wrote about criticisms of James Levine, the Boston Symphony Orchestra’s music director.  That post had nothing to do with anything that usually goes on this blog, but it found an audience that stretched as far as Boston and New York City. Some of the ensuing debate is captured in the comments below the original post.

Leave James Levine aloooooone!

The truly weird backlash against Boston Symphony Orchestra music director James Levine continues. Jeremy Eichler, the Boston Globe‘s music critic, pens a cranky year-ender whose theme is that Levine’s “larger artistic vision” is lacking. He elaborates with a trademark display of the vague hand-waving language often used by writers who can’t really explain what they’re on about: