(Photo by Chad Batka)

Despite the accusations of sexual harassment leveled against him, the tenor-turned-baritone is still set for his upcoming performance at the Salzburg Festival on August 31, 2019.

OperaWire reached out to the Salzburg Festival to inquire about the company’s stance on the famed artist and whether it would still allow him to perform in the concert performance of the Verdi opera in light of the accusations. The company’s press department sent along the following statement by Festival President Helga Rabl-Stadler. It has been published in full.

“I have known Plácido Domingo for more than 25 years. In addition to his artistic competence, I was impressed from the very beginning by his appreciative treatment of all Festival employees. He knows every name, from the concierge to the secretary; he never fails to thank anyone performing even the smallest service for him. Had the accusations against him been voiced inside the Festspielhaus in Salzburg, I am sure I would have heard of it.  

“Furthermore, as a jurist by training, my assumption is ‘in dubio pro reo.’ I would find it factually wrong and morally irresponsible to make irreversible judgments at this point, and to base decisions on such judgments. Artistic Director Markus Hinterhäuser, Executive Diretor Lukas Crepaz and I all agree that Plácido Domingo should perform in “Luisa Miller” at the 2019 Festival as planned. 

“Helga Rabl-Stadler, President of the Salzburg Festival.”

The AP revealed that eight singers and one dancer had accused Domingo of sexual harassment. The publication’s exposé revealed that in addition to making unwanted sexual advances, Domingo had used his power to influence the trajectory of certain careers depending on whether they rejected him or not.