Mexico (AFP)
Placido Domingo will receive a Mexican award, the Premio Batuta for musical excellence, announced Friday the organizers after saying the day before that the tenor would not have the price because of the accusations of harassment that weigh on him.
Placido Domingo, 78, was chosen last May to be distinguished with fifteen other personalities during the first edition of Premio Batuta, during a ceremony scheduled for Saturday in Mexico City.
But that was before the publication of multiple allegations of sexual harassment against the famous Spanish tenor, who denies guilt.
The organizers announced Thursday their decision to suspend the awarding of the prize to Domingo "until everything clears up".
But Friday, they said that the tenor would receive his prize, even if he will not be physically present in Mexico. The world star of the opera must participate in the ceremony by video.
"The classical music community celebrates the six decades of absolute commitment of the Spanish tenor to the arts," said the organizing committee.
After giving up appearances in New York and seeing several of his canceled performances in other cities in the United States, Placido Domingo left Wednesday the direction of the Los Angeles Opera, which he had held since 2003.
"Recent accusations in the media have created an atmosphere that prevents me from being useful to this company that I love so much," said the tenor.
In a survey published in August by the US Associated Press, nine women said they were harassed by the singer from the late 1980s.
The Associated Press published a second investigation on Sept. 7 claiming that 11 other women, also claiming to be victims, had come forward.
Placido Domingo gave up last week to perform at the Metropolitan Opera in New York. The Philadelphia Orchestra and the San Francisco Opera have canceled performances scheduled this season, and the Dallas Opera has canceled a concert scheduled for March 2020.
While his American career seems to be coming to an end, Placido Domingo continues to give performances across Europe. Ovationate this summer at the festival Salzburg, Austria, and Szeged, Hungary, it is expected in the coming weeks in Zurich and Moscow.
© 2019 AFP