Metropolitan Opera Uses Two Conductors
   Thu Dec 25, 1:25 PM ET
   http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20031225/ap_en_mu/people_conductors

   NEW YORK - The Metropolitan Opera needed two conductors to
   get through its Christmas Eve performance of Berlioz's
   "Benvenuto Cellini."

   Artistic director James Levine began Wednesday night in the
   pit, but at the end of the first scene, Derrick Inouye suddenly
   appeared on the podium and conducted the remaining two scenes
   in the first act.

   Levine has had a cold, and Met spokesman Jonathan Tichler
   said at intermission that the maestro thought he was blowing
   his nose so much that it became a distraction.  In addition,
   Levine's eyes teared up so much that he had trouble reading
   the score.

   Levine returned after intermission and, seated and hunched
   over the score, conducted the second act.  After the opera,
   Levine and Inouye both appeared for curtain calls.

   Inouye, a Canadian, is music director of the Regina Symphony
   and principal guest conductor of the Norddeutsche Philharmonic
   in Rostock, Germany.  He had replaced Levine for the Dec.  18
   performance - Inouye had been scheduled to make his Met debut
   in this opera on Jan.  1.

   With its offices closed for the holiday, the Met could not
   determine the last time two conductors were needed for a
   regular performance.

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-Neb Rodgers <[log in to unmask]>