New Yorkers might not have warm feelings for Boston these days, but a mutual affection for James Levine may be able to melt the baseball rivalry. Mr. Levine seemed to side with Boston. He noted that the Sox haven’t lost since he came to Boston.

Yet he remained humble in his brief public remarks during a gala at the Fairmont Copley Plaza: “I’m glad they wanted me, because I sure wanted them,” he said.

On Friday night, he debuted as music director of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. There were plenty of New Yorkers in the audience to watch the Metropolitan Opera’s longtime maestro take up the baton in Beantown, and fete him at a lavish gala afterward.

“I think music transcends the rivalry – we love New York and we’re hoping to have more of a presence in New York,” said Diddy Cullinane, who with her husband is hosting a New York reception for the orchestra when they perform December 5 at Carnegie Hall.

Indeed, since Mr. Levine is under contract at the Metropolitan Opera through 2011, the musical situation is a “win-win” for both cities.

On the eve of the opening games in the World Series at Fenway Park, it was hard not to mention the Red Sox.

Polite Bostonians didn’t exactly gloat. “To have this, and the Red Sox – it’s a great week for Bostonians who have a chip on their shoulder,” said Stephen Brown of UBS, the corporate sponsor of the orchestra.

“We’ve all been waiting for this night, and it seems about as real as the Red Sox winning,” said Jo Frances Kaplan.

Meanwhile, the musicians are pleased that under Mr. Levine, they’ll be performing with more fanfare when they come to New York.

“It’s exciting to go to New York and be conducted by Mr. Levine; that’s his hometown,” said the principal second violinist, Haldan Martinson.

“It was thrilling; the concert tonight signals the beginning of an exciting time in the musical community,” he added.

With any luck, it will be a time that outlasts the span of any one season in baseball.