The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Domingo denies abuse of power in US opera roles
INVESTIGATION: Spanish singer refutes allegations he sexually harassed women
Opera legend Placido Domingo has denied ever abusing his power during his management tenure at two US opera houses.
He was speaking as he embarks on a campaign to clear his name after two investigations found credible accusations he had engaged in “inappropriate conduct” with several women over a period of decades.
Domingo, in an interview with the Associated Press, deflected direct questions about whether he ever sexually harassed women, accusations that were first reported last summer.
The allegations have crippled his career in the United States, as well as his native Spain.
“I never promised a part to a singer, or never take a part from a singer,” he said.
“I have spent my whole life helping, and you know, encouraging and driving people.”
He added that responsibilities within opera companies are divided, meaning he never had sole sway over casting decisions.
“People that deserved to sing were singing,” he said.
Multiple performers said that Domingo harassed them and abused his power while he held management positions at Los Angeles Opera and Washington National Opera.
Numerous women said Domingo had dangled career opportunities as he pursued sexual relationships with them and then withdrew the offers or stopped hiring them when they rejected his advances.
Investigations by LA Opera and the American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA) found the sexual harassment allegations to be credible.
LA Opera did not find he had abused his power, but AGMA found a clear pattern of such abuse, according to reports.
Two of Domingo’s managers briefly cut off the interview when the singer was asked to respond to the fact that both investigations had found the sexual harassment accusations credible and that one had found a pattern of abuse.
AGMA has never released the full report of its findings, but Domingo’s team referred to two written statements by the union, one for the public and one for members, neither of which mentioned abuse of power.
They also cited Washington Opera never launching an investigation as an indication that such allegations were baseless.