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PEOPLE & ARTS Wednesday 13 november 2019
Singer Andrea Bocelli: 'Absurd' to shun opera legend Domingo

By ADRIANA GOMEZ LICON rect."
MIAMI (AP) — Italian tenor Bocelli is the most promi-
Andrea Bocelli is staunchly nent artist to speak out on
defending opera legend the Spanish opera star's be-
Placido Domingo, calling it half, taking issue with the
"absurd" that opera houses "call-out culture" and argu-
have canceled the star's ing that people should dif-
performances over sexual ferentiate between public
harassment allegations be- figures' morality and their
fore they are fully investi- artistry and skills.
gated. If criminal accusations are
"I am still appalled at what brought forward, Bocelli
happened to this incredible said, people should not
artist," Bocelli said. "I don't make a judgment until the
understand this. Tomor- accused person is convict-
row a lady can just come ed and sentenced.
up and say Andrea Bocelli "Whenever that happens,
molested me 10 years ago, then the moral judgment
and from that day on, no against this person would
one wants to sing with me of course change on my
anymore; the opera houses end, but not the artistic
won't call me anymore. This judgment, because they
is absurd." This Nov. 8, 2019 photo shows Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli during an interview at his home in North are two different things," he
Bocelli spoke to The As- Miami, Fla. said.
sociated Press through an Associated Press "There have been in the
Italian translator during an past many artists who have
interview at his Miami-area Square Garden. he withdrew from a slate punished them profes- dubious morality," Bocelli
home. Bocelli, one of the Three U.S. music compa- of performances at New sionally if they rejected said, adding that there
world's most famous classi- nies canceled Domingo York's Metropolitan Opera. him. One soprano said he are two aspects to judging
cal singers, is preparing for appearances following The AP spoke to more than grabbed her bare breast an artist. "One is the moral
a U.S. tour that begins next allegations of sexual ha- 20 women, many of whom under her robe. one, which must be dealt
month in San Francisco rassment made by mul- said Domingo tried to pres- Domingo has disputed the with in courts and here on
and closes with two nights tiple women in twoAP sto- sure them into sexual rela- allegations, calling them "in Earth and by our good Lord
at New York City's Madison ries earlier this year and tionships and sometimes many ways, simply incor- up in the skies. q

Special South African gin is infused with elephant dung

By NQOBILE NTSHANGASE with the date and coor-
MOSSEL BAY, South Africa dinates of where the ele-
(AP) — The makers of a phant dung was collected.
South African gin infused "So, you're able to compare
with elephant dung swear almost different vintages of
their use of the animal's ex- the gin," Ansley said.
crement is no gimmick. After about five sizeable
The creators of Indlovu Gin, bags of dung are collect-
Les and Paula Ansley, stum- ed for a batch of 3,000 to
bled across the idea a year 4,000 bottles of the gin, the
ago after learning that ele- droppings are dried and
phants eat a variety of fruits crumbled, then washed
and flowers and yet digest to remove dirt and sand.
less than a third of it. Eventually only the remains
"As a consequence, in the of the fruits, flowers, leaves
elephant dung, you get and bark eaten by the el-
the most amazing variety of ephants are left behind.
these botanicals," Les Ans- Those botanicals are then
ley said during a recent visit sterilized and dried again
to their operations. "Why and placed in an airing
don't we let the elephants cupboard. Think of it like
do the hard work of col- a "spice cupboard," Ans-
lecting all these botanicals A gin tasting session is held at the Botlierskop Private Game Reserve, near Mossel Bay, South Af- ley said. Eventually, the re-
and we will make gin from rica, Monday, Oct. 23, 2019. mains are infused in the gin.
it?" he recalled his wife sug- Associated Press The couple are not above
gesting. testing the gin on friends
Her idea came after a sa- ration. "OK," I said sleepily. couple, both scientists, They described the gin's before explaining its prov-
fari during which a wildlife "Let's give this a bash. Let's puzzled for a while before flavor as "lovely, wooded, enance. Even with an ex-
ranger described an el- see how it works out." working out the gin-making almost spicy, earthy" and planation in advance, they
ephant's digestive process. The first batch of elephant process. one that changes subtly get raised eyebrows.
Weeks later, he said his wife dung came by mail from Now they collect the dung with the seasons and loca- "The initial reaction of most
woke him up in the middle the park where they had themselves, using their bare tion. people is, 'What? There's no
of the night with the inspi- taken their safari. Then the hands. The gin bottles are marked way.' q