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Gatti dismissed the allegations as a "smear
campaign" and said he had asked his lawyers to protect his
reputation.
"He asked me to inform all media that he is extremely surprised
and that he firmly denies all sorts of allegations," a statement
sent by attorney Alberto Borbon said.
The allegations first arose in an article on July 26 in the
Washington Post, in which female singers accused Gatti of
groping and other inappropriate sexual behavior.
Gatti joined the Concertgebouw Orchestra in September 2016.
"Since the publication of the article in the Washington Post, a
number of female colleagues of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
reported experiences with Gatti, which are inappropriate
considering his position as chief conductor," the orchestra said
in a statement.
"The Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra has terminated the
cooperation with chief conductor Daniele Gatti with immediate
effect."
The accusations have "irreparably damaged the relationship of
trust between the orchestra and the chief conductor" and Gatti
will be replaced by other conductors in all upcoming concerts,
it said.
Gatti is the first international figure in the Netherlands to
come under scrutiny by the #MeToo social movement, which has
sought to hold accountable male business leaders, politicians
and entertainers for sexual misconduct, leading to resignations
in major corporations, Hollywood and among lawmakers.
Gatti was accused in the Post article of assaulting two women in
his dressing rooms, one in Chicago and one in Bologna, Italy in
the 1990s.
(Reporting by Anthony Deutsch, Editing by William Maclean)
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