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PEOPLE & ARTS Wednesday 14 august 2019
Concerts canceled, investigation opened into Placido Domingo

By JOCELYN GECKER predated the merger.
Associated Press "The Kennedy Center did
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — not receive any docu-
Two music companies mented complaints about
canceled appearances Mr. Domingo's behavior pri-
by Placido Domingo and or to WNO's affiliation with
the Los Angeles Opera said the Kennedy Center, and
Tuesday it would launch an we have not received any
investigation in response to since then," the statement
an Associated Press story said, adding that the com-
in which numerous women pany has "zero tolerance
accused the opera legend policies with regard to ha-
of sexual harassment and rassment, discrimination or
inappropriate behavior abuse of any kind, and we
spanning decades. take allegations of this na-
Domingo has been gener- ture very seriously."
al director of the LA Opera Retired mezzo-soprano
since 2003 and previously Patricia Wulf, the sole ac-
served as the company's cuser to allow her name to
artistic director, jobs that be used, told the AP that
gave him the power to Domingo behaved inap-
cast roles and — his accus- propriately with her when
ers say — make, or break, she worked at the Wash-
careers. In this Friday, July 12, 2019, photo, Placido Domingo speaks during a news conference about his ington Opera. Even after
Some of the women told upcoming show "Giovanna d'Arco" in Madrid, Spain. she repeatedly rebuffed his
the AP that Domingo used Associated Press advances, she said, his per-
his power at the LA com-
pany and elsewhere to try actions and relationships munities."
to pressure them into sexual were always welcomed The San Francisco Opera
relationships, with several and consensual." said it would scrub a sold-
saying that he dangled The LA Opera said it would out Oct. 6 concert featur-
jobs and then sometimes hire outside counsel to in- ing Domingo, which had
punished them profession- vestigate the "concerning been to mark his 50th an-
ally if they refused his ad- allegations" against Domin- niversary with the compa-
vances. go. ny. It was promoted as a
On Tuesday, the Phila- "Placido Domingo has "special one performance-
delphia Orchestra and been a dynamic creative only event" with "one of
San Francisco Opera an- force in the life of LA opera the most influential singing
nounced they would and the artistic culture of actors in the history of op-
cancel upcoming perfor- Los Angeles for more than era" and was one of sev-
mances featuring the star, three decades," the com- eral gala events this year
regarded as one of the pany said in a statement. to celebrate his legendary
greatest opera singers of all "Nevertheless, we are com- career. Retired opera singer Patricia Wulf poses for a portrait in her
time. mitted to doing everything The Met held a black-tie home in rural northern Virginia, Friday, July 12, 2019.
New York's Metropolitan we can to foster a profes- dinner in April for Domin- Associated Press
Opera said it would await sional and collaborative go, where seats started at
the results of LA Opera's in- environment where all our $2,500. He is scheduled to years," Rabl-Stadler said in
vestigation "before making employees and artists feel play the lead of "Macbeth" a statement. "In addition sistence continued and he
any final decisions about equally comfortable, val- in three Met shows in Sep- to his artistic competence, would often knock on her
Mr. Domingo's future at the ued and respected." tember and October. I was impressed from the dressing room door, caus-
Met," where he is sched- Three women quoted in "We take accusations of very beginning by his ap- ing her to fear emerging if
uled to appear next month. the story detailed encoun- sexual harassment and preciative treatment of all he was in the hallway.
The 78-year-old Domingo ters that they said occurred abuse of power with ex- festival employees." Wulf recalled the compas-
is one of the industry's most while working with Domin- treme seriousness," the op- "I would find it factually sion of a male colleague
powerful figures and more go at LA Opera, including era house said in a state- wrong and morally irre- who offered to stand up for
than three dozen people in one woman who told the ment, noting that "Mr. Do- sponsible to make irre- her if she wanted to report
the opera world told the AP AP that he stuck his hand mingo has never been in a versible judgments at this him. "They're not going to
that his behavior has long down her skirt after urging position to influence cast- point," she said. fire him — they'll fire me,"
been an open secret. her to come sing an aria for ing decisions for anyone Domingo served as artistic she remembered telling
The accusers who spoke him at his apartment. other than himself" at the director for the Washing- him.
to the AP — all but one of In canceling its invitation for Met. ton Opera from 1996-2003 Too fearful to complain
whom requested anonym- Domingo to sing at its Sept. At the Salzburg Festival in and as the company's about Domingo at the
ity — said they had feared 18 opening gala, the Phila- Austria, where Domingo general director from 2003 time, Wulf said she spoke
speaking out previously delphia Orchestra issued a is scheduled to appear to 2011, during which time out now to end the culture
would kill their careers due statement saying: "We are Aug. 31 — his next sched- its name was changed to of silence about abuse in
to his immense standing. committed to providing a uled performance — festi- Washington National Op- the opera world.
Domingo issued a state- safe, supportive, respectful, val president Helga Rabl- era. In 2011, the company "I'm stepping forward be-
ment to the AP calling the and appropriate environ- Stadler said organizers merged with the Kennedy cause I hope that it can
allegations "deeply trou- ment for the orchestra and agreed he should appear Center. help other women come
bling and, as presented staff, for collaborating art- as planned. In a joint statement to AP, forward, or be strong
inaccurate," adding "I be- ists and composers, and for "I have known Placido Do- the institutions said the al- enough to say no," she
lieved that all of my inter- our audiences and com- mingo for more than 25 legations against Domingo said.q