The Los Angeles Opera announced that they will investigate allegations of sexual harassment against their general director and star performer Plácido Domingo.
Domingo, 78, was accused by nine women of sexually inappropriate behavior dating back to the 1980s in a report on Tuesday. The alleged victims asserted that Domingo was able to abuse his role as general director and artistic director of the LA Opera to leverage career possibilities while controlling casting choices.
The Spanish tenor has been with the LA Opera since 2000 starting as the artistic director and transitioning into the role of general director in 2003. Three women detailed accounts of Domingo behaving inappropriately with them during his time with the LA Opera, with one account detailing the opera star placing his hand a woman’s skirt and urging her to return to his apartment with him.
The LA Opera has vowed to hire outside investigative assistance to look into the allegations. “Plácido Domingo has been a dynamic creative force in the life of LA opera and the artistic culture of Los Angeles for more than three decades,” a statement from the company said. “Nevertheless, we are 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.”
Both the Philadelphia Opera and the San Francisco Opera canceled planned guest appearances by Domingo in the wake of the allegations. The Metropolitan Opera of New York has claimed they would wait to hear the results of the Los Angeles investigation before making decisions about their future plans to have Domingo work and perform with them.
Domingo, who has been married to his wife Marta since 1962, has denied accounts of inappropriate behavior but has acknowledged that times have changed. “The allegations from these unnamed individuals dating back as many as 30 years are deeply troubling, and as presented, inaccurate,” the singer said in a statement. “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.”
