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 The Los Angeles Opera, where Domingo is general director, was
responding to accusations made by eight singers, a dancer and
others in the classical music world in a report by the
Associated Press.
Domingo said in a statement that the accusations were
inaccurate.
The Associated Press reported allegations by the women of
inappropriate behavior. The news agency said it also had spoken
to almost three dozen other musicians, voice teachers and
backstage staff who said they had witnessed what the report
described as "sexually tinged" behavior by Domingo dating back
three decades in various cities.
"LA Opera will engage outside counsel to investigate the
concerning allegations about Placido Domingo," the opera house
said in a statement. The LA Opera is "committed to doing
everything we can to foster a professional and collaborative
environment where all our employees and artists feel equally
comfortable, valued and respected."
Domingo, in a statement distributed by his publicist Nancy
Seltzer, called the accusations "deeply troubling, and as
presented, inaccurate."
"Still, it is painful to hear that I may have upset anyone or
made them feel uncomfortable — no matter how long ago and
despite my best intentions," Domingo's statement said. "I
believed that all of my interactions and relationships were
always welcomed and consensual."
The San Francisco Opera and the Philadelphia Orchestra said they
had canceled planned appearances by Domingo in September and
October. The Salzburg Festival in Austria said it was going
ahead as planned with a performance by Domingo in the opera
"Luisa Miller" on Aug. 31.
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The Metropolitan Opera in New York, where Domingo is due to perform
in "Macbeth" next month and "Madama Butterfly" in November, said in
a statement that it took accusations of sexual harassment and abuse
of power seriously but would await the results of the LA Opera
investigation "before making any final decisions about Mr Domingo's
future at the Met."
Domingo, 78, is one of the most famous opera singers and directors
in the world and the LA Opera described him on Tuesday as a "dynamic
force" there for more than 30 years. He was one of the "Three
Tenors," along with Jose Carreras and the late Luciano Pavarotti,
who brought opera to a wider audience with concerts around the world
in the 1990s.
In the statement released by his publicist, Domingo added that while
he would not intentionally harm, offend or embarrass anyone, "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."
Hundreds of women have publicly accused powerful men in business,
politics, the news media, sports and entertainment of sexual
harassment and abuse since October 2017, fueled by the #MeToo social
movement.
(Reporting by Jill Serjeant; additional reporting by Jonathan Allen
in New York; editing by Howard Goller and Grant McCool)
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