Plácido Domingo now run away the most loyal fans and many friends. After the Spanish opera star apologized to women who had accused him of sexual assault months ago, the events on Thursday, especially in the home of the 79-year-old, went wild. In Spain, where criticism and consequences have so far been sparse, Domingo is now being turned away.
This affects not only the cultural world, but also politicians, colleagues and the media. “Plácido Domingo is heading towards the end of its legend,” was the headline of the newspaper “El País”, as aptly as it was relentlessly.
Tragic and rapid
A tragic, rapid end. After the Madrid Teatro de la Zarzuela unloaded the icon on Wednesday, Domingo announced on Thursday from Mexico under pressure its five performances scheduled for May in the Teatro Real of the Spanish capital. “La Traviata” has to do without him. The aim was to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Domingo debut in real.
The Úbeda festival in southern Spain also canceled a Domingos concert scheduled for May 3 on Thursday. That was the last “domino stone” in Spain. The “Tenorissimo”, the flagship figure of the Spanish music world, is no longer allowed to sing at home. “Everything indicates that Domingo’s career has ended,” noted not only the newspaper “Ideal”.
Not all appearances canceled
With his decision to cancel the Teatro Real himself, Domingo apparently did not want to send a signal, but only to “slap his face” through the traditional opera house as well as on April 2nd at “Simon Boccanegra” to inspire the audience despite everything, and in other European cities like Moscow, Vienna and London he did not cancel (yet?).
Meanwhile, Domingo seems to be still a long way off. In the latest announcement, Madrileño emphasized that his first broadcast “probably gave the wrong impression”. His apology was “honest” and “came from the heart”. But: “I know what I haven’t done, and I will deny that again and again.” He never “behaved aggressively” and “never did anything to disrupt or prevent a career”. He would only cancel appearances if the organizing houses had “problems” with it.
The opera star could see disaster coming at the Teatro Real. The house had already announced an emergency meeting on Wednesday to advise on an unloading of Domingos. In a broadcast, after the tenor’s cancellation on Thursday, they were informed that they had “zero tolerance for all kinds of harassment and abuse”. And you declare solidarity with the victims.
The socialist government had reacted faster than the “Royal Theater”. Already on Wednesday, just a few hours after Domingo’s apology, Madrid had canceled two opera star appearances at the state Teatro de la Zarzuela in the capital. This decision was made “due to the seriousness” of the allegations and “out of solidarity with the women concerned”, it said.
After the allegations of numerous women became known, Spain initially reacted very differently. In December Domingo was celebrated in Valencia with an unusually long standing ovation. Domingo has not only been protected by representatives of the right-wing populist party Vox, which speaks of “radical feminism” in Spain in connection with the protection of women. Politicians from moderate conservative parties, artists and media commentators had also remained loyal to the man, who also worked as a conductor and director. The “tenor about the tenor” was here: Domingo is simply a charmer who likes women. It couldn’t be a crime.
Now the friends and protectors of yore suddenly changed the fronts. Or just kept silent. Where are “now everyone who put his hand in the fire for him” and “who the brave women who had shown him as liars” asked the writer Ledicia Costas ironically on Twitter. Culture Minister José Manuel Rodríguez tried to explain the new position of his department. “So far the situation has been different, so far the presumption of innocence has been true,” he said. Before Domingo apologized, an investigation by the US Association of Music Artists (AGMA) confirmed the allegations made by many singers.
According to the allegations, he resigned as head of the Los Angeles Opera in October. Some houses and orchestras in the US canceled Domingo’s performances. Others – especially in Europe – continued to hold onto the classic world star. There is now advice and discussion almost everywhere.
While the repertoire of his musical role model Enrico Caruso (1873-1921) included 40 roles, Domingo sang more than 150 roles. In Vienna he once received applause of over an hour and around 100 curtains. A few years ago, the so-called “world champion of opera” had switched to baritone. “This way I can extend my career a little.”
The musician never wanted to know anything about retirement. “When I rest, I rust.” Now he has to change his schedule. “His career has ended, there is no doubt about it. I am now only worried about his health, his life was the stage,” said the German Press Agency, a representative of the opera world, who wanted to remain anonymous and knows Domingo very well . (apa/ Dpa)
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