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Spanish opera star Placido Domingo received an award at Teatro Real in Madrid on Thursday, a day after receiving a standing ovation for his first performance in his home country since a union said he had regularly harassed women.
Last year, Spain canceled scheduled performances of Domingo in publicly funded theaters, while the singer withdrew from the shows after an investigation by the American Guild of Musical Artists found that ‘he behaved inappropriately with the female performers.
More than three dozen singers, dancers, musicians, vocal teachers and backstage staff have said they have witnessed or experienced inappropriate behavior over the past three decades.
American institutions, including the Metropolitan Opera in New York and the San Francisco Opera, canceled scheduled engagements with Domingo and he resigned as general manager of the Los Angeles Opera.
Domingo has apologized for making his colleagues uncomfortable, but denies behaving aggressively or acting to hinder the career of another artist. No formal charges have been brought against him.
His return to Madrid on Wednesday for a charity concert to benefit the Red Cross drew a large crowd, including regional leader Isabel Diaz Ayuso, who said it was a “source of pride” to reunite with the singer in Spain.
Arriving at the ceremony, in which he was awarded the title of Honorary World Heritage Ambassador to Spain, Domingo spoke of the pride he felt to be back and the thrill of the show the day before.
“I feel great emotion, this is my city, the big city of Madrid … After singing last night … it was such a special night that I feel I have all the strength.”
Fans outside of the concert have championed Domingo’s legacy.
“We love him and we follow him almost everywhere … We love him as a person as an artist as a singer,” said Wilda from southern Germany, who travels the world to attend. his concerts.
Equality Minister Irene Montero, a leading figure in the feminist movement in Spain, criticized those who applauded the singer.
“I would like them to wonder what message they are sending to these women and those who are sexually assaulted every day in our country,” Montero tweeted.
Neither Domingo’s agent, nor the Red Cross, nor the Association for the Dissemination and Promotion of Spanish World Heritage, which organized the award ceremony, could be reached for comment. According to his website, he is expected to sing or conduct in France, Germany, Italy and Russia this year, among other countries, but no American venues are listed.
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