The worldwide opera singer Placido Domingo withdrawn from Metropolitan Opera (MET)’s performance “Macbeth”. It was scheduled to appear three times from the 25th. Domingo will also cancel four performances of Mrs. Butterfly, which was scheduled to appear in November. Regarding him, allegations of sexual harassment have surfaced this year.
Domingo made the following statement: “While I strongly dispute recent allegations made about me, and I am concerned about a climate in which people are condemned without due process, upon reflection, I believe that my appearance in this production of Macbeth would distract from the hard work of my colleagues both on stage and behind the scenes. I thank the leadership of the Met for graciously granting my request.”
Domingo’s allegations of sexual harassment emerged in August this year, when the US Associated Press news agency（AP） newsletter delivered an article about eight singers and one dancer confessing Domingo’s sexual harassment. In response to this, the Los Angeles Opera, where Domingo has served as general director since 2003, began investigating with outside experts. In September, AP News delivered an additional 11 women’s accusations.
During this time, the American performance groups such as the Philadelphia Orchestra, San Francisco Opera and Dallas Opera have announced that they will cancel their performance, in contrast to European theaters waiting for the results of their investigation. The only acceptable was MET.
These days, One of the media in the US pointed out the possibility of further accusations from inside MET, because that there are doubts about his appearance among MET’s orchestra and choir. There was also a time for discussion about the Domingo’s appearance between the general manager Peter Gelb and the staff.
The Met said in a statement that Domingo had “agreed to withdraw from all future performances at the Met, effective immediately”, adding: “The Met and Domingo are in agreement that he needed to step down. The Met has no further comment at this time.”
Domingo’s MET debut was in 1968 with the performance of “Adriana Lecouvreur”. Domingo was the second singer at that time, but because Franco Corelli canceled it, he sang from the first day of the performance. Since then, continuous appearance. So far, he has performed 706 times as a singer and 169 times as a conductor.
It was celebrating 50 years of debut at last season.
Recently, he has been active as a baritone singer, and in this installment of Macbeth, he was scheduled to sing the role of Macbeth, and co-starring with Anna Netrebko was a hot topic. Željko Lučić will be on stage as a substitute.
Photo：Metropolitan Opera / Ken Howard
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