Opera superstar Plácido Domingo has withdrawn from the Metropolitan Opera’s production of Verdi’s Macbeth. Domingo, who pulled out of his starring role in the opera following the final dress rehearsal, has been accused of sexual harassment by multiple women, including nine in an initial report by the Associated Press in August and 11 more in another report in September. Mezzo soprano Patricia Wulf and soprano Angela Turner were identified as two of the accusers, while the others were anonymous. “The allegations from these unnamed individuals dating back as many as thirty years are deeply troubling, and as presented, inaccurate,” Domingo said when the first reports emerged.

Plácido Domingo

Domingo’s sudden withdrawal came in the midst of mounting pressure on the company’s General Manager Peter Gelb to follow in the footsteps of Dallas and San Francisco Opera and The Philadelphia Orchestra, who cancelled upcoming performances with Domingo. Until very recently Gelb had stood by Domingo, with the Met waiting on the result of an investigation by LA Opera, telling staff – according to a report by NPR – that he believed the AP’s reporting lacked “corroboration”.

Protests were reportedly planned for Domingo’s performances...