Charles Dutoit latest: Royal Philharmonic hedges on his future

The firm that handles the RPO’s PR has just issued this statement:

Following media allegations of inappropriate conduct by Charles Dutoit, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO) and Charles Dutoit have jointly agreed to release him from his forthcoming concert obligations with the orchestra for the immediate future.

As a leading international ensemble, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra is committed to the highest standards of ethical behaviour, which it expects from everyone that works with the RPO.  The Orchestra takes very seriously its responsibility to maintain a safe working environment for all its artists, musicians and staff.

These accusations are taken very seriously by the orchestra and the RPO believes that the truth of the matter should be determined by the legal process. The immediate action taken by the RPO and Charles Dutoit allows time for a clear picture to be established. Charles Dutoit needs to be given a fair opportunity to seek legal advice and contest these accusations. 

Dutoit is artistic director and principal conductor of the RPO, its figurehead for the past decade. The orchestra can ill afford to lose him. So they have hedged the statement with such terms as ‘for the immediate future’ and a statement that its expects Dutoit to ‘contest these accusations’.

Dutoit has not issued a response to the claims against him.