Conductor James Levine, a giant in classical music and the music director of the Metropolitan Opera for 40 years, will retire at the end of the current season for health reasons, the company announced Thursday.

Levine, who has conducted more than 2,500 performances, will serve as music director emeritus of the prestigious New York house after the 2015-16 season. He has struggled with illness in recent years, and the Met cited health reasons as the reason for his departure.