Yes, we need a full explanation from Mr. Gelb as to why this truly 11th hour+ burden was thrust upon our beloved opera company and guest singers.
Mr. Gelb, we're waiting to hear.
7
Out of curiosity, why is she referred to Ms. Netrebko? I thought she was married. Her instagram page shows a husband, and if you are on instagram, she has an enjoyable page.
Just bring to you attention that Gelb made his decision after the twitter from state senator. Isn't this an example of a government pressure?
A tragic end to a great career.
1
@Scott
Not performing in MET is not an end. If this is becoming a practice to accuse in harassment without any proof it's our US problem not Domingo's. He will always be a great singer and person. A shame
4
@al
He will not be a "great person" if the multiple multiple allegations are substantiated .
9
I just have a little anecdote to share about Domingo. I had tickets to see him in Ernani with Milnes and Arroyo way long ago in 1969 or 1970. Some little man came through the curtain to announce that Domingo was sick and could not appear. In his stead would be none other than Franco Corelli! The audience went wild! I never heard Domingo live, but I certainly remember that Corelli performance...amazing...and so was Arroyo and Milnes!
9
I will continue to go to the opera when there's a performance I want to see - overall, I love the MET and can't imagine NYC without it's cultural presence. Having said this, I will never donate to the requests for charitable contributions again based on their treatment of Placido Domingo. Moreover, I despise this entire MeToo stuff, where anonymous accusations can ruin a person's life, no trial required. It's nothing short of a liberal version of McCarthyism. This holds in ALL cases, not just against people I admire. I despised Kavanaugh and HIS RECORD should have precluded his being rejected to the Supreme Court, not unfounded accusations that would never hold up in a court of law. I no more believe these accusers than I disbelieve them. They may or may not be right in their accusations BUT until a person is PROVEN GUILTY, they are always in my view INNOCENT. That's what I believe and nothing is going to change it, including the constant accusations that "it's so hard to come forward". Of course it's hard - life is hard - but no one should have their lives ruined simply because an anonymous person decides to throw out an accusation in some cases 30 years after the fact. NO, ladies and gentlemen, that isn't a society that I am willing to accept and the dismissal of Domingo was an egregious case of rushing to judgment well before ANYTHING was proven.
19
@ManhattanWilliam. — you are somehow under the delusion that the Met is a court of law where the “innocent until proven guilty” standard applies. It is not. It is a workplace, where standards are quite different, much like a corporation that must determine whether sexual harassment has occurred among its workers, without going outside its own boundaries to adjudicate things in criminal courts. Is this so hard for you to understand, much less accept? Common sense, in fact common decency, should tell you that yes, these women are to be believed, and that Domingo is far from being an innocent, put-upon lamb.
20
Leaving aside Mr. Domingo's guilt or innocence, it was a silly indulgence to cast him in baritone roles. He lacks the power, impact, color and depth to sing baritone roles. He was a very fine tenor who should have retired gracefully and continued in the roles of administrator and teacher.
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@Elliot
But he stubbornly remained (now 78) despite a leathery woolly voice—
And we have to wonder if that was he way of continuing to gain access to his prey—young women—especially at LA Opera, which he directs.
1
@Elliot
But he stubbornly remained (now 78) despite a leathery woolly voice—
And we have to wonder if that was his way of continuing to gain access to his prey—young women—especially at LA Opera, which he directs.
1
@Elliot Your opinion. His performances were thrilling as far as I'm concerned and losing him makes me very sad.
2
It is disturbing that our largest performing arts organization is perhaps its least transparent. Though the amount of public funding it gets is a tiny sliver of its budget, still it is a nonprofit and therefore its operations are the public’s business. If the allegations against Levine and Domingo are true than the Met is no better than Penn State or the USA Gymnastics team in its systemic long-term enabling of sexual predators. But we’ll never know the extent of the truth because the process has taken place behind closed doors with lawyers and hush money. If this took place in any realm other than the rarefied world of classical music this would be front-page news and a major scandal.
At the very least the Met could, say, donate all the proceeds of a high-profile performance to groups representing victims of sexual assault and saying more about the subject on its website beyond its self-serving statement regarding James Levine. Even the NFL, not exactly the most sensitive or self-reflective of organizations, does things like donate to the National Domestic Violence Hotline and devotes a page to the subject on its website. And they give its accused players due process.
But if the Met cared what the public thought it would have retired the Lepage Ring cycle after one season. Twenty years ago the place was always full and now it never is. I don’t understand how Gelb has kept his job.
6
The MET is incapable of treating anyone fairly both victims and accused -- look at the mess of Jimmy Levine. I blame Gelb and the gutless trustees
12
The Met is entitled to make decisions based on its own best judgement, but when, as it did in a previous Times piece, it lays Mr Domingo's removal to "safety," it insults the public's intelligence. The notion that a 78 year-old opera singer, already under intense scrutiny, poses a danger to anyone on a crowded stage is just silly.
22
I am always disheartened when I read or hear of the shortcomings of persons who, for the most part, have given the world so much joy and pleasure. We all have done things we may regret. Surely, when it comes to exceptional persons like Placido Domingo the good they have done must outweigh the bad. That is not to say that repentence and atonement can easily be dismissed or that wrongs should not be righted. It should mean that the good someone has done shoud be balanced with the so-called "evil that lives after them". In the last analysis it is God who is the judge.
4
“...God is the final judge.” An ongoing, anchored belief and tradition for many believers in various hierarchical structured religions.Mr. Domingo chose an option.He had the ability, to distance himself from an as of yet “unadjudicated” accusation at the Met. There are no reports that he apologized to the alleged “victims” - which paradoxically leaves the power with the victimizer, not with the violated person.Or asked to be forgiven; which leaves the FINAL human decisions (to do so, or not; when;how; where, etc.) with the aggressed person(s).
During these Days of Awe, and self reflection/assessment, Jews- believers, ask those whom they have hurt,intentionally or not, by words or deeds, by anchored traditions, to be forgiven.NOT of God.Yom Kippur. Humans choose to pray to their God(s). Or not. Humans choose to PREY, or NOT, on one another. As well as on our earthly abode.
There is increasing, sustained, concern about various sexual predators. Famous people who “ should know better.” The initial shock, the media scoop, are transitory.Confusion continues as evidence, proof and truth are mixed up. Religiosity “limits” forgiveness and compassion to Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and selected Holy-days, for only certain theologies.The rest of the week-toxic, violating WE-THEY cultures are enabled. Empowered. Continued. Shamelessly. I wonder how many perturbed opera goers are perturbed by the off-stage scenario of “kidnapped,” caged,neglected, abused children? Policy predators?
4
I love the opera “Macbeth,” but one thing I don’t understand: Macbeth is a baritone role - why would one of the world’s greatest tenors be singing it in the first place?
3
@Edward Hall
Placido Domingo started his career as a baritone - for 10 years no less, then through technical perfection he slowly worked himself into a spinto Tenor.
Many of the greatest voices were originally Baritones who then gained additional technique to
make the transition. Some succeed while others may not.
As people age, voices tend to lower in pitch - but not always.
Mr Domingo is the most intelligent artist knowing what to do next with his voice - now returning to more comfortable ranges and guaranteeing a longer stage life; and, that aside, he is a magnificent Operatic conductor to the joy of so many singers.
16
@JBT
Thank you for giving me information and understanding about the human voice I did not know before. Whatever Placido Domingo's hormonal shortcomings there is no question that he thrilled millions of us with his operatic performances. That cannot be taken away from him. I might add that some might think it an honor to go to bed with him. There are many ways to show appreciation.
@JBT —congratulations on being the first person to suggest that Domingo was a magnificent conductor. You may also be the last.
12
I am a woman in the performing arts world. I have been subjected to sexual harassment. Mr. Domingo may well be guilty. But I also know men who have been falsely accused. I don't think it helps anybody to do away with the presumption of innocence before deciding that someone's career should be over.
So, no, I don't "admire the Met’s intrepid cast, chorus and orchestra for rallying." I don't admire what is in essence an angry mob who decides someone's guilt and punishment without due process. That's why the "Me Too" movement will always leave a very bad taste in my mouth.
42
@janeqpublicma BRAVO and thanks for your thoughtful and balanced comment! You are absolutely right in every way and it's good to hear this especially from a woman. For me, fair means fair and no one should be allowed to defame another person, remaining anonymous no less and 30 years after the fact. That will NEVER be OK with me and I appreciate your realizing this as well as I do.
11
It is very sad that Mr. Domingo's career has ended in the way that it has. Domingo was the Laurence Olivier of opera---not just one of the greatest tenors in opera history, but also one of its truly greatest actors. His performances were events and the characters he created will never be forgotten. I saw him perform over 60 times.
What is more disturbing right now is Peter Gelb's automatic suspension of Vittorio Grigolo's performances next March at the Met. Grigolo was recently on tour in Japan with the Royal Opera in which a woman accused Grigolo of improper behavior ( to what degree we do not yet know). Gelb is awaiting the verdict of that situation, which may not even be concluded by next March. Why should a major young singer have his career interrupted so far in advance, thereby tarnishing his name when the charges may end up being frivolous at best. And if they turn out to be true, Gelb could always take action further down the road, but why now? This is a single incident, not 20 women as in Domingo's case. There is, after all, in this country the rule of law: Innocent until proven guilty. In Grigolo's case, Me. Gelb has jumped the gun and has made a poor managerial decision.
34
@robert
His career isn't ended in Europe where he's scheduled to sing in many venues through next year. Apparently the 'cancel culture' has found little purchase there.
12
The loser in the production of this Macbeth soap opera is Peter Gelb, who entirely mishandled the Domingo situation. But that is not new news, he mishandled the Levine situation as well and consequently the Metropolitan Opera paid him off in mediation. In keeping Mr. Domingo's contract in tact through the dress rehearsal Mr. Gelb infuriated the staff and musicians he allegedly leads. Further, he left more egg on Mr. Domingo's face than was necessary. The fact that the local state senator Brad Hoylman who does not have a log in this fire other than to represent the district had to speak out tells you how bad it really is for the employees at the Metropolitan Opera. I'm pleased Mr. Lucic and Ms. Netrebko gave laudable performances. After all, Mr. Lucic is the real deal for the part and Mr. Domingo was an interloper.
41
@Bill We have NO IDEA how that Levine case was settled. The non-disclosure agreement was as much a plus for Levine as it was for the Met. Probably gave him $1 (one dollar). And not nearly enough egg on Domingo's face. Some were angry that he was allowed to resign instead of getting fired. As for Macbeth, your "laudable performances" is quite a stretch. It was an interesting night that I did not want to miss but I will return again to see the real thing. I have no idea where this reviewer heard "bravos galore". Must have been the applause at the very end of the opera. The cast tried so very hard but all of that was transmitted to the audience.
3
@Lola5 You don't, I do. He was paid out to make him go away.
1