Opera singer Placido Domingo apologises after union finds he sexually harassed women

Opera singer Placido Domingo apologised this week to the women who have accused him of sexual harassment, after an investigation by the American Guild of Musical Artists concluded that he had behaved inappropriately with female musicians.

One of the most feted opera stars of the modern era, Domingo said in a statement he had spent several months reflecting on the allegations made by his musical colleagues.

“I respect that these women finally felt comfortable enough to speak out, and I want them to know that I am truly sorry for the hurt that I caused them,” he said.

More than three dozen singers, dancers, musicians, voice teachers and backstage staff have said they witnessed or experienced inappropriate behaviour by the 79-year-old Spanish singer towards women at different opera houses over the last three decades.

The American Guild of Musical Artists (Agma), the labour union that represents performers and producers in opera houses and concert halls across the United States, hired a former prosecutor last September to investigate the complaints.

The union, of which Domingo is a member, announced its findings on Tuesday.

“The investigation concluded that Mr Domingo had, in fact, engaged in inappropriate activity, ranging from flirtation to sexual advances, in and outside of the workplace,” the statement said. “Many of the witnesses expressed fear of retaliation in the industry as their reason for not coming forward sooner.”

Domingo said in his statement he now understood the women’s fear.

“While that was never my intention, no one should ever be made to feel that way,” he said. “I am committed to affecting positive change in the opera industry so that no one else has to have that same experience.”

The union declined to make public its full report. Its board of governors will take “appropriate action”, the union statement said. Union spokeswoman Alicia Cook declined to discuss what action it would take regarding Domingo.

Domingo had disputed the allegations when they appeared in news reports last year, forcing him to sever ties with some of the foremost musical institutions in the United States.

He resigned as general manager of the Los Angeles Opera and pulled out of performing the title role in Verdi’s Macbeth at the Metropolitan Opera in New York.

LA Opera said it would comment once officials there had finished reviewing the union’s findings. The Met did not respond to a request for comment.

The allegations had less impact on his career in Europe, and he was still due to sing and conduct at performances in Vienna, Madrid, Moscow and Hamburg in the coming months, according to his website.

As a member of The Three Tenors singing group, Domingo — along with Jose Carreras and the late Luciano Pavarotti — helped bring opera to a wider audience with concerts around the world in the 1990s. Domingo took to singing baritone roles later in his career.

The union will announce plans in the coming weeks to prevent sexual harassment in the future, Leonard Egert, national executive director of Agma, said in a statement.

“Agma’s efforts to protect its members will not end with this investigation,” Egert said. “Agma is calling upon all companies in opera, dance, and choral concert fields to join an industry-wide initiative to positively change the culture.”