Plácido Domingo disinvited from opera’s opening gala
Alleged harassment behind the decision
The Philadelphia Orchestra has pulled its invitation to tenor Plácido Domingo to headline its season-opening gala Sept. 18 after an Associated Press article in which nine women said he had sexually harassed them, starting as far back as the 1980s.
“We are committed to providing a safe, supportive, respectful, and appropriate environment for the Orchestra and staff, for collaborating artists and composers, and for our audiences and communities,” the orchestra said in a statement Tuesday.
Domingo, 78, a famous figure in the opera world, was a top administrator at the Washington National Opera for 14 years, and is well known for his generosity and commitment to the art form. But he also has a reputation for womanizing.
The AP article, published Tuesday, paints a picture of a man who has used his power to win sexual favors and has withheld jobs when his advances are rejected.
Domingo could not be reached for comment. In a statement, the tenor told AP the allegations are “deeply troubling and … inaccurate.”
“I believed that all of my interactions and relationships were always welcomed and consensual. People who know me or who have worked with me know that I am not someone who would intentionally harm, offend, or embarrass anyone,” according to the statement. “However, I recognize that the rules and standards by which we are — and should be — measured against today are very different than they were in the past. I … will hold myself to the highest standards.”
Patricia Wulf, a mezzo-soprano at the Washington National Opera, was the only one of the nine accusers who would allow her name to be used in the story. Domingo is still active as a singer, conductor and administrator; he is general director with the Los Angeles Opera.
One singer who spoke to AP said Domingo’s pursuit of her was relentless, even after she rebuffed him and reminded him that she was married. “It’s a shame your husband doesn’t understand about your career,” he reportedly told her.
That singer, now 49 and retired, said that once Domingo took control of casting decisions at the L.A. Opera, he never hired her again.
Other women told AP that Domingo had made overtures to them, and almost three dozen people in the field confirmed that “they witnessed inappropriate sexually tinged behavior by Domingo and that he pursued younger women with impunity.”
Seven of the nine accusers said they believed their careers had been negatively affected by their refusal of Domingo’s advances.
Kennedy Center President Deborah Rutter and WNO General Director Timothy O’Leary said in a joint statement that the organizations have zero-tolerance policies regarding sexual harassment, discrimination and abuse of any kind.