Conductor James Levine has been fired by New York’s Metropolitan Opera after an investigation found evidence to support claims of sexual abuse and harassment. Levine was suspended in December 2O17 when the allegations were first made public. The 74-year-old conductor, who made his Met debut in 1971, denies the claims.

Levine was appointed the company’s music director in 1976, and stepped down two years ago due to ill health, taking the title music director emeritus and heading up the young artists’ programme. Between 1986 and 2004, he was the Met’s artistic director.

The Met said that more than 70 people were interviewed in their investigation.

“The investigation uncovered credible evidence that Mr Levine had engaged in sexually abusive and harassing conduct both before and during the period when he worked at the Met,” the company said in a statement. “The investigation also uncovered credible evidence that Mr Levine engaged in sexually abusive and harassing conduct towards vulnerable artists in the early stages of their careers, over whom Mr Levine had authority. In light of these findings, the Met concludes that it would be inappropriate and impossible for Mr Levine to continue to work at the Met.”

Levine has not been charged with any criminal offence. The Lake County state’s attorney’s office in Illinois said in December it investigated a sexual abuse allegation of misconduct dating to the 1980s but concluded “no criminal charges can be brought”, citing multiple factors, including “the relevant age of consent in Illinois at the time of the alleged incidents.”