Domingo resigns from L.A. Opera
LOS ANGELES » Opera singer Placido Domingo on Wednesday resigned as general director of Los Angeles Opera, saying that accusations of sexual misconduct had compromised his ability to continue in the role.
“Recent accusations that have been made against me in the press have created an atmosphere in which my ability to serve this Company that I so love has been compromised,” Domingo said in a statement to the opera house.
“While I will continue to work to clear my name, I have decided that it is in the best interests of L.A. Opera for me to resign as its General Director and withdraw from my future scheduled performances at this time.”
More than three dozen singers, dancers, musicians, voice teachers and backstage staff have said in recent weeks that they had witnessed or experienced inappropriate behavior by Domingo toward women at different opera houses over the last three decades.
Domingo, 78, has disputed the accusations but Los Angeles Opera in August said it would hold an independent investigation.
It has yet to make public any findings of the probe. He has been general director at L.A. Opera since 2003.
L.A. Opera on Wednesday described Domingo as “an outstandingly talented artist (and) also the driving force behind the creation, development and growth of L.A. Opera.”
His departure from Los Angeles Opera raised the possibility that the storied, five-decade American opera career of Domingo, 78, could be drawing to a close.
The announcement came a week after he agreed to withdraw from a run of performances at the Metropolitan Opera and said that he would not return there, and after several other prominent American arts organizations canceled his appearances.
His European calendar, however, remains full.
The accusations against Domingo were first reported in August by the AP, which wrote that he had frequently pressured women into sexual relationships, and sometimes professionally punished those who rejected him.
In addition to being one of opera’s biggest stars, he has held leadership positions at Washington National Opera as well as in Los Angeles.