Placido Domingo exits Met Opera performances after sexual harassment allegations
Opera icon Placido Domingo is dropping out of his performances at the Metropolitan Opera in New York following a series of allegations of sexual harassment and inappropriate behavior.
Also Tuesday, the Met announced it was suspending Italian tenor Vittorio Grigolo following an alleged incident with the Royal Opera House of London.
The Metropolitan Opera released a statement Tuesday afternoon, saying, "The Metropolitan Opera confirms that Plácido Domingo has agreed to withdraw from all future performances at the Met, effective immediately. The Met and Mr. Domingo are in agreement that he needed to step down. The Met has no further comment at this time."
Domingo first announced he would be dropping out in a statement to The New York Times.
"I made my debut at the Metropolitan Opera at the age of 27 and have sung at this magnificent theater for 51 consecutive, glorious years," Domingo said. "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 onstage and behind the scenes. As a result, I have asked to withdraw and I thank the leadership of the Met for graciously granting my request."
Domingo was set to sing the titular role in Verdi's "Macbeth" for three performances at the Met starting Wednesday night. He had an additional engagement with the Met this season to perform a minor role in Puccini's "Madama Butterfly."
He went on to say in his Tuesday statement that he considers the dress rehearsal of "Macbeth" to be "my last performance on the Met stage."
In early August, The Associated Press published a report detailing nearly a dozen women's accusations of sexual harassment, inappropriate behavior and retaliation. Domingo told the AP in a statement that the allegations were "deeply troubling, and as presented, inaccurate," adding that he "believed that all of my interactions and relationships were always welcomed and consensual."
Three weeks later, the AP published a new round of reports with additional accusations, which a spokesperson for Domingo called an "ongoing campaign by the AP to denigrate Placido Domingo" that was "not only inaccurate but unethical."
LA Opera, where Domingo serves as general director, announced they were launching an independent investigation on him following the first AP report. The American Guild of Musical Artists also announced it was launching its own wide-ranging independent investigation.
The Met had maintained that it would await the results of LA Opera's investigation before acting to change his appearances this season.
The controversy over a different performer also emerged on Tuesday,
In a separate statement obtained by ABC News, the Met said, "Following the alleged incident reported by the Royal Opera House concerning Vittorio Grigolo, the Met will be suspending him with immediate effect from all future performances, pending the outcome of the ROH investigation. The Met has no further comment at this time."
Grigolo had just been suspended by the Royal Opera House, NPR reported Tuesday afternoon.
The company said in a statement, "Following an alleged incident on September 18 involving Vittorio Grigolo, the Royal Opera House opened an immediate investigation and Mr Grigolo was suspended. We are unable to comment further on this matter whilst the investigation is ongoing."
The alleged incident reportedly involved inappropriate onstage behavior during a curtain call while the British company was performing with Grigolo in Tokyo, according to The Sun. ABC News reached out to Grigolo for comment. His manager declined to comment to NPR, citing the ROH investigation.
Grigolo, a younger tenor characterized by overt romantics, was scheduled to perform in Verdi's "La traviata" in February and March.
Epic Serbian baritone Željko Lučić will now be singing the role of "Macbeth" throughout its run this season at the Met, the company confirmed to ABC News, opposite Russian star Anna Netrebko, who had maintained her enthusiasm about working with Domingo.
Domingo's replacement for the fall "Butterfly" has not yet been made official.
