The company's general manager, Peter Gelb, announced Friday the hiatus would allow James Levine to recover from a spinal injury he suffered in August during a fall. The Met's longtime chief conductor underwent emergency surgery and has been hospitalized the past three months.

He expects to return to his New York home next week, but Gelb says doctors expect full recovery for the 67-year-old to be a long-term process.

Levine hopes to resume his other duties sooner, including coaching and artistic planning.