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 One of the most feted and powerful opera stars of the modern
era, Domingo said in a statement he had spent several months
reflecting on the allegations made by his musical colleagues.
"I respect that these women finally felt comfortable enough to
speak out, and I want them to know that I am truly sorry for the
hurt that I caused them," he said.
More than three dozen singers, dancers, musicians, voice
teachers and backstage staff have said they witnessed or
experienced inappropriate behavior by the 79-year-old Spanish
singer toward women at different opera houses over the last
three decades. [nL2N26F224]
A former prosecutor was hired to investigate the complaints last
September by the American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA), the
labor union that represents performers and producers in opera
houses and concert halls across the United States.
The union, of which Domingo is a member, announced its findings
on Tuesday.
"The investigation concluded that Mr. Domingo had, in fact,
engaged in inappropriate activity, ranging from flirtation to
sexual advances, in and outside of the workplace," the statement
said. "Many of the witnesses expressed fear of retaliation in
the industry as their reason for not coming forward sooner."
Domingo said in his statement he now understood the women's
fear.
"While that was never my intention, no one should ever be made
to feel that way," he said. "I am committed to affecting
positive change in the opera industry so that no one else has to
have that same experience."
The union declined to make public its full report. Its board of
governors will take "appropriate action," the union statement
said. Union spokeswoman Alicia Cook declined to discuss what
action it would take regarding Domingo.
Domingo had disputed the allegations when they were first
reported by the Associated Press (AP) last year, forcing him to
sever ties with some of the foremost musical institutions in the
United States.
Women told the AP that Domingo, who is married, forced wet
kisses on them, groped them and sought to pressure them into
meeting him privately outside work for sex. They described it as
a pattern of behavior stretching back to the 1980s that had long
been an open secret in the opera world.
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Opera singer
Placido Domingo sits during an event at the Manhattan School of
Music in New York, U.S., May 11, 2018. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton
Following the report, Domingo resigned as general manager of the Los
Angeles Opera and pulled out of performing the title role in Verdi's
"Macbeth" at the Metropolitan Opera in New York.
LA Opera said it would comment once it reviewed the findings of a
separate investigation it commissioned from law firm Gibson Dunn.
The Met did not respond to a request for comment.
The allegations had less of an impact on his career in Europe, and
he was still due to sing and conduct at performances in Vienna,
Madrid, London, Moscow and Hamburg in the coming months, according
to his website.
The Teatro Real in Madrid and the Royal Opera House in London
confirmed that Domingo would still appear on their stages for "La
Traviata" and "Don Carlo" this year. Milan's Teatro alla Scala,
where Domingo is scheduled to sing in "La Traviata" in November,
declined to comment.
The Hamburg State Opera, where Domingo is booked to sing in March,
said it took the complaints about Domingo "very seriously." Michael
Bellgardt, a spokesman for the opera house, said his colleagues
"will also exchange information with the other institutions in
Europe and then go public."
As one of the Three Tenors singing group, Domingo, Jose Carreras and
the late Luciano Pavarotti helped bring opera to a wider audience
with concerts around the world in the 1990s. Domingo took to singing
baritone roles later in his career.
The union will announce plans in the coming weeks to prevent sexual
harassment in the future, Leonard Egert, national executive director
of AGMA, said in a statement.
"AGMA's efforts to protect its members will not end with this
investigation," Egert said. "AGMA is calling upon all companies in
Opera, Dance, and Choral concert fields to join an industry-wide
initiative to positively change the culture."
(This story corrects statement from LA Opera to say it would comment
on separate investigation, not union's.)
(Reporting by Inti Landauro in Madrid and Jonathan Allen and Maria
Caspani in New York; writing by Andrei Khalip and Jonathan Allen;
Editing by Mike Collett-White and Bernadette Baum)
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