The Oklahoma City Philharmonic has a lot to Celebrate!

This month Maestro Joel Levine celebrates his birthday—the first of several events the Oklahoma City Philharmonic is celebrating this year.  While his birthday is something that deserves recognition, there’s another milestone just around the corner!

Joel Levine is also celebrating his thirtieth year in Oklahoma City. He leads the Philharmonic for its seventeenth season, having helped create Oklahoma's largest performing arts agency and one of America's most successful regional orchestras. His style of music direction reflects a desire to bring the public and orchestra closer together to increase the knowledge and enjoyment of the audience.  Whether he’s telling an amusing anecdote or sharing “inside” information, he invites the audience to share his love of music.  It’s an invitation that is impossible to refuse.  

Oklahomans aren’t the only beneficiaries of Levine’s talent.  Under his leadership, the orchestra has appeared on both national and international television broadcasts, and released a CD on the Warner-Reprise label. Maestro Levine's reputation for sensitive musical accompaniment has enabled the Philharmonic to present one the country's most distinguished series of world-renowned guest artists. He has been called a "remarkable musician and visionary" by cellist, Yo-Yo Ma.

He has received international recognition for performances reflecting many different styles in the classical repertoire. His program of Schubert and Schumann symphonies with Germany's Brandenburg Symphony Orchestra led the reviewer to write: "Joel Levine proved that he is an absolute master of his profession; the audience honored this impressive performance with much applause."  Engagements in the great European capitols include concerts with the Czech National Symphony Orchestra in Prague's Dvorak Hall, and the Symphony Orchestra of Portugal in Lisbon. Other international invitations have included orchestras in Spain, Israel and an appearance with the Mexico City Philharmonic. In June, he has been invited to the capitol of Rumania to conduct the Bucharest Philharmonic.

Maestro Levine has conducted many of America's major ensembles including three seasons with The National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., and the orchestras of Saint Louis, Detroit, Minneapolis, Baltimore, Indianapolis, Seattle, Denver and New Orleans. The national press has praised his performances: "...the orchestra played with clarity and energy..." (Los Angeles Times); "...fine musicianship..." (Washington Post); "Levine brings the needed sheen and rhythmic verve to the music"  (Minneapolis Star); "he got zesty performances from the orchestra" (Indianapolis Star); "Levine drew a crisp, bold and tonally lustrous account of the varied score from the orchestra and full-throated chorus..." (Houston Post). His Detroit Symphony performances received "four stars" -- the highest rating from the Detroit News.

Oklahoma City audiences enjoyed Maestro Levine's accomplished opera conducting at the Philharmonic's 100th anniversary production of La Bohème. Also known for his work with major artists in the world of classical dance, he has performed Rodeo with Agnes deMille, and conducted for three of this century's greatest male dancers: Rudolf Nureyev, Edward Villella, and Peter Martins. For the Kansas City Ballet, he collaborated with the great choreographer, Alvin Ailey and conducted the first contemporary performance of a "lost" Balanchine ballet, "Divertimento."
Throughout the past thirty years, Maestro Levine has shared his incredible gifts with the community.  It’s only fitting that, during this momentous year, we should pay a proper tribute to a man that has so enriched our cultural landscape.  So, Happy Birthday, Maestro!