NY tabloid names alleged classical rapist

NY tabloid names alleged classical rapist

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norman lebrecht

August 22, 2018

A month ago we carried a post from an American baritone Samuel Schultz, claiming that he had been raped by a well-known power couple in the opera world.

Samuel did not name his assailants, and nor did we.

The alleged rapists are named today in a tabloid newspaper on a website that is blocked to European visitors. Both have issued a statement, denying the allegation.

We have not mentioned the alleged culprits’ names for legal reasons, and we strongly advise commenters not to do so either.

UPDATE: The University of Michigan has announced a leave of absence for David Daniels.

2nd UPDATE: Two months on, Daniels denies all.

Comments

  • Olassus says:

    People who lace other people’s drinks and then go on to physically take advantage of them — which is happening more and more often — should be jailed for years. I believe this Schultz guy, having just read the New York tabloid story, and I hope he gets some justice.

  • Malcolm Kottler says:

    I am not sure why Norman won’t name names. But I can say now that a second US newspaper has picked up the story (I won’t mention its name or location), and I suspect that within 24 hours anyone in the world who wants to know will be able to read the original New York tabloid story.

  • Dark Purple Haze says:

    It is a simple matter to view US websites not available in Europe. Use a VPN (virtual private network) for your internet connection and select a server located in the US. Many VPN providers allow a free trial period so it may not even cost anything.

  • Caravaggio says:

    The accused are exactly of whom I thought of when the news first broke. May justice be served. No end to the irony that it was Ruth Bader Ginsberg who officiated the wedding of the two felons to be.

    • The View from America says:

      In fairness to RBG, it is perhaps possible that she might not have officiated at the nuptials had she known that the couple had engaged in this sort of behavior.

      But she does love her opera … so maybe she would have done so anyway.

    • David K. Nelson says:

      It might be worth pointing out that Justice Ginsberg’s son runs the very respected classical label Cedille, and has for many years. I suspect she was doing a favor to his friends or professional contacts. Which happens.

  • MWnyc says:

    For what it’s worth, I don’t know that I’d describe the alleged culprits as a “power couple,” especially now. Only one half of the couple is well-known, and he/she is certainly no longer, as the tabloid article says, “the most famous [musician of his/her type] in the world,” though that was arguably true at one point.

    • Bruce says:

      Is there a more famous countertenor at the moment? (Not asking if “better,” just more famous)

      • Nik says:

        Maybe not in the US, I don’t know about that.
        In Europe I would say that Scholl, Davies and Jaroussky have at least equal standing to the person in question.

        • MWnyc says:

          Even in the States, I think that Davies, Jaroussky, and Anthony Roth Costanzo are more famous at this point. The heyday of the countertenor in question was over at least a decade ago, and it was the ’90s and early ’00s when he was really famous.

  • Nik says:

    The Daily Mail (UK) also has the story including names. Accessible to all.

  • anon says:

    Rape victims need to know they need to ask for a rape kit to be performed at the emergency room, first in order to be given anti-HIV drugs, second to get the physical and DNA evidence for rape.

    (Sorry, this may sound gross, but don’t go to the bathroom, don’t wash yourselves, go straight to the emergency room with all the original clothing and bedsheets and towels you can gather.)

    Back in Houston in 2010 I’m not sure they were equipped to do all that for rape victims, but today, training of medical staff is getting better, and the drugs are available, in the big cities at least, or at university hospitals.

  • Hannah Baker says:

    This person has a reputation that is well known among other professionals and students for being in an open relationship, inappropriate behavior, and sleeping around. Like with Levine, you learn of their reputation immediately when you learn of their name and who they are. Not surprised one bit by this.

  • R. Romano says:

    I am not at all surprised at these allegations.
    I went to graduate school with the older of the two men, and he was well known for sleazy behavior and drug use back then.
    I’m not sure how this story will end though.
    I don’t think there is much the police can do so long after the alleged incident took place.

  • Ryan Romero says:

    I am not at all surprised at the story.
    I went to graduate school with the older of the two men, and he was an acquaintance of mine.
    His sleazy behavior and drug use were well known back then.
    I am not sure what the police can do after all this time, though.
    It will be interesting to see how this story unfolds….

  • EagleArts says:

    Huge and violent allegations, let’s hope there is corroborating evidence. Too bad he waited three weeks to see a doctor as I’m certain there were options at Rice or in Houston to see one sooner.
    A horrifying experience for sure, but let’s remember that in the course of the #MeToo movement’s ascent stories are often more complex than they seem at first…..

  • steven holloway says:

    One has only to pick up a copy of the Daily Mail or google same. Of course, being the Mail, the first part of the story features Justice Ginsburg in disproportionate measure. If every news item about married rapists made an issue of the cleric, judge or register office official who performed the nuptials for the perpetrator(s)…well, we’d be reading some rather bewildering stories.

  • B M says:

    Sex and drugs and some agreed-upon nonmonogamy between consenting adults is a fun Saturday night and no one’s business but the participants’.

    Drugging and raping people against their will is a profound violation of their bodily integrity.

    Is the difference that hard to see? Apparently it is, for the men named in the story and for R(yan) Ro(mer/man)o

  • Michael B. says:

    Five minutes on the internet allowed me to identify the alleged perpetrators and confirm it (at least with respect to the allegations; under United States law, there is a presumption of innocence and proof of a criminal charge must be beyond a reasonable doubt). It’s silly to drag Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg into this, though.

    I shall not be the first to name names on this site, though.

  • Cynical Bystander says:

    So on the basis of an allegation not proven commenters here feel free to judge the alleged assailants guilty and to pedal the homophobia that is common currency on this site from the usual suspects.

    • M2N2K says:

      Just out of curiosity and willing to learn: where do you see “homophobia” in this post or in any of the comments preceding yours?

      • Cynical Bystander says:

        “No end to the irony that it was Ruth Bader Ginsberg who officiated the wedding of the two felons to be.”

        “Like with Levine, you learn of their reputation immediately when you learn of their name and who they are.”

        Implicit in both these comments, not to mention the reference to Ruth Ginsberg which is just gratuitously offensive

        • adista says:

          She did officiate the wedding. This is a fact. Why are facts “gratuitously offensive”?

        • M2N2K says:

          Reference to the Supreme Court Justice may be unnecessary and misspelling her last name is certainly an unfortunate error: all of it may indicate the commenter’s opposition to her, but there is no explicit “homophobia” in that – she has many other views that this commenter may dislike besides her support of gay rights. By the way, even someone’s opposition to gay marriage is not in itself homophobic – it may simply indicate the person’s conservative view of marriage.
          Reference to James Levine can be easily explained by the fact that he is the most prominent and famous musician among those who are accused of sexual crimes: at the time of all those “revelations” last year his name was known to many who would know “immediately” who he is – artistic boss of the Met – and his not-unblemished reputation was known to quite a few as well.
          If there is no clear indication that either of those comments are homophobic – and you have not shown any – then you are committing the same sin of which you are accusing others: presuming guilt based on your own interpretation of text and reaching your verdict when evidence is nowhere near the level where it should be before making such a pronouncement – beyond reasonable doubt.

  • Marcus Clayton says:

    Somehow, I am not too shocked to read this. The story is being reported in many news outlets and websites.
    I can only wonder, though, are there other victims out there that have yet to come forward after being sexually assaulted by this “power couple”?
    I would think so………

    • CD says:

      I worked with David Daniels at San Francisco Opera and he made inappropriate sexual comments to me while there. I was also younger at the time and didn’t know how to handle the situation, since he was a star performing with the company. After speaking with other colleagues and friends in the business, I quickly learned that he is known for his inappropriate behavior. One story that was often shared, was how he invited young singers back to his apartment for drinks to discuss their careers. Once they arrived, he would inevitably make some sort of sexual advance to see if they were receptive. It saddens me to think that he would do something this extreme, but I must admit, I am not surprised. I hope that, if there are others that have experienced abuse at his hands, they also have the strength to come forward.

      • EagleArts says:

        If you care to share, what were the nature of these comments? Specific “I wanna do x with/to you” or more generally lascivious sexual comments that can make someone rightly uncomfortable.
        Curious.

        • CD says:

          I wasn’t going to get into specifics of my interaction with him, because I do not want to be questioned or attacked, as I see Schultz has been. But, if it helps people understand his history of inappropriate behavior, here is what happened. Daniels put his hand down his pants and adjusted himself. Pulled his hand out of his pants. Put his hand towards me and said “Wanna sniff?” He also came up behind me, rubbed my shoulders and pressed his crotch into my back. All of this happened while at work at the Opera. During this same time, a singer friend of mine was also invited to his apartment to talk about his career. When he arrived, Daniels had porn playing. He asked if he should turn it off or leave it on. He did this to a young singer, whom he was supposedly going to mentor. My friend tried to just laugh it off and said “No, turn it off. I’m straight.”

  • Ben says:

    The NY Times has it now.

  • PG says:

    Why Gatti, Dutoit etc .. who have done nothing compared to these two rapists can be named and not these criminals? Because they are homosexual and werre married by the grand priestess of the supreme court liberal wing?

  • A. Davies says:

    Just an anecdote: I once sat in the front row at one of this gentleman’s recitals, and the person sitting next to me said, ‘You realise he’s looking at you?’ I was quite young at the time (and considerably younger than the gentleman in question). It was pretty embarrassing. Of course, this is an etiquette issue for artist and audience alike. If I’m sitting near the stage I try to avoid making eye contact with anybody on the stage.

  • Nelson says:

    Seeing that The NY Times (among other sources) has it now, shouldn’t you amend the title and somewhat snide reference to it appearing (solely) in a “tabloid”.

    I have a number of friend who know Schultz, and worked with him once professionally. No question, we all agree that he is the furthest from the sort of character who would bring such charges in a frivolous manner that can be imagined. Indeed, the charges haven’t been proven, and perhaps can’t. But that doesn’t mean that the perpetrators (if possible to prove their guilt) should not be called to account. So tired of hearing stories of power being wielded to pressure those vulnerable young people who have so much to lose, and such a long road ahead when they feel they can, and must speak up. I know we, as readers, are weary, in a sense, of the now common refrain of these latter day allegations. This one hits close to home, and I hope those who find that, from the comfort of their armchair, they need to “blame the victim” really take a step back…..and don’t.

    • EagleArts says:

      Most people are interested in the space between frivolous, possibly untrue charges and believing everything happened exactly as Shultz describes. With people’s personal reputations and careers being tried/destroyed on Facebook and blogs instead of in court this space becomes even more interesting.

      I’m so sorry for what happened to Schultz.

      IMO the two alleged perpetrators seem astonishingly cavalier the morning after according to the victim’s account. Out to breakfast with Schultz lying in the bed and then an off the cuff remark to not worry about barebacking. Did the night before start out consensual and take a wrong turn?

      • The View from America says:

        I’d say drugging someone’s drink qualifies as a “wrong turn”.

        • EagleArts says:

          “Allegedly drugging someone’s drink” is what should be said. This incident is within the statute of limitations and should be pursued by the police and tried in court, not on facebook and blogs.

  • A. Davies says:

    “We will not mention the alleged culprits’ names for legal reasons”

    Given that their names appear in UK, Spanish, US, and Canadian media, I’d be surprised if there were legal reasons that prevented their publication here. The Daily Mail may not be the finest in British journalism, but they do have lawyers who would have had the article pulled by now if it were legally dubious (indeed, I assume that the legal department will have been consulted before they published the story).

    • The View from America says:

      It’s all over the place now, including on the Wikipedia page devoted to the singer in question.

  • william osborne says:

    Based on what has been reported, I think this will be a difficult case for the police and the U of M. So far there are no corroborating reports from other victims, and rape drugs are generally impossible to trace even a couple days after being ingested. On one hand we do not want people falsely accused, but on the other we don’t want a first-time-is-free loophole in prosecuting these crimes. If there are other victims, I hope they will step forward.

    A few years ago there was a serious and I believe credible allegation of a drug rape involving one of America’s top orchestras.

  • Herbert von Solti says:

    I am confused. I thought just a day or 2 that I saw an article here…or linked through here, naming the 2 people, who were shown pictured with RBG…with the article specifically mentioning U of M.

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