Anne-Sophie is horrified at Charles Dutoit’s return to Paris
mainThe Orchestre National de France has issued a dubious defence of its decision to call in Charles Dutoit, who is accused of sexual molestation, to conduct Le Damnation de Faust next week. The orchestra said it was unable to find another Belioz specialist who was available at short notice.
What – in the whole of France? in the whole of Europe? Give over.
This morning, the French soprano Anne-Sophie Schmidt, who is one of eight women who accused Dutoit of offences against them, called the invitation ‘just deplorable’ and ‘a slap in the face of those who are trying to stop violence against women’.
Here’s her statement:
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! CHARLES DUTOIT is BACK !!!!!!!!!!!
J’apprends avec un certain écoeurement que Mr Dutoit vient d’être engagé pour remplacer Emmanuel Krivine à la tête de l’orchestre National de Radio France pour diriger La damnation de Faust le 3 février prochain, alors même que 8 artistes dans le monde ont eu le courage de le dénoncer pour harcèlement sexuel.
C’est un coup de poignard au regard de la défense des violences faites aux femmes et un signal fort pour l’inconscient collectif, d’engager à peine la page 2018 tournée, un homme qui n’est pas digne de confiance et qui échappera à la justice grâce à la prescription des faits.
Circuler il n’y a rien à voir.
Tout juste déplorable!
Well, the audience – if they do not have a new conductor of whom they approve – might look to return their tickets.
There is no surer way to make an organisation act.
Agreed, but a little ass-backward. The responsibility is on the Orchestre National de France at this point. Shame. Are there no Berlioz specialists available who do not engage in sexual assault? Hiring Dutoit is more than deplorable, it is immoral.
Good for and courageous of her to not remain silent. Yes, the decision to hire CD is deplorable and a slap in the face.
I personally know a woman (not one of the public accusers) who was assaulted by Dutoit. It is absolutely disgusting that he is still working.
==I personally know a woman (not one of the public accusers) who was assaulted by Dutoit
Since both you and the woman who was assaulted are both anonymous, might you please be able to give some detail or context of this ?
Again – “Anne-Sophie” has no last name, whereas “Charles Dutoit” does.
I’ll agree with you this time. And of course there are two somewhat more famous Anne-Sophies in the music world, so it was certainly not clear from the headline to which he was referring.
Her last name is on the cover of the CD: Schmidt.
…but not in the headline.
… and in Norman’s introduction to this piece!
The CD cover is not in the headline!! When I saw the headline in the newsfeed I also thought of the wrong one. Apart that, why is it that men invariably list women by their prominent first name and give males both names. It happens in every field, not just music.
Emil has no last name, whereas Charles Dutoit does.
Bravo.
If you can’t understand the difference between the name I choose to use when commenting on a blog and the way a journalist refers to a public personality, I can’t help you.
Get over yourself, O holier-than-thou one.
Read the article.
“Read the article”? Well, sure. But that doesn’t negate the fact that the headline of the article was worded in a way that will make people think Norman was referring to some other, more famous individuals.
Ah, the man gets headline status while the woman gets a passing mention of her full name in the article. Equality!
Furthermore, this is an article specifically about Anne-Sophie Schmidt, which makes the discrepancy even more striking.
You are too virtuous for this world, Emil [Surname].
L’inconscient collectif n’existe pas!
It’s so hard to find a conductor these days who knows Berlioz.
Stéphane Denève!
Robin Ticciati (just kidding).
And, of course, John Nelson.
Listen to Les Troyens!
John Nelson
Then don’t schedule the piece. There is a higher road. Many arts organisations feel they don’t need to adhere to societal values (the Met scheduling The Death of Klinghoffer, for example) and create their own morality in the name of art. Arrogance.
John Nelson?
https://bachtrack.com/interview-john-nelson-les-troyens-strasbourg-november-2017
Just in case you have not come across this conductor.
François-Xavier Roth.
There used to be lots of them, but they’re all dead, except John Eliot Gardiner.
There used to be lots, especially in Berlioz’ own time. Nowadays it’s just John Eliot Gardiner…
==two somewhat more famous Anne-Sophies
Yes, on first seeing the heading I thought ‘Mutter or von Otter ?’
What would be justice? What sentence should be ruled agaisnt him, after his trial and conviction? I would like to ask his judges about it, including what code representing a society it was based, such a law etc.
A fair question.
The proffered reason bringing Dutoit off the bench is, of course, risible nonsense. There are plenty of competent Berlioz conductors around the world; Berlioz’s work isn’t exactly a rarity on concert programs. If the orchestra wants to say the allegations remain unproven, or simply stay silent as to why Dutoit is conducting, at least they’d have a plausible response. Why are they going their way to tell such a blatant, obvious, and transparent lie?
But if these conductors are so good, they will be working elsewhere and simply not free. That’s what good conductors do.
So no good conductor is ever available to step in, is that it?
All the more surprising that a Dutoit or a Gatti might get the boot in that case!
Accused. Not convicted. Presumed guilty until proven innocent?
That is the French way.
It’s not, actually. It’s quite the opposite, especially in these matters.
I sure hope when Dutoit is taken to civil court everyone from the court of public opinion shows up to see what it looks like when BOTH sides present their case.
I’m willing to stipulate Dutoit certainly appears to be a dirty wretch; but is there any chance one or more of the accusers could qualify for “floozy” status? I’m sorry, I have seen far too much #metoo bullsh#t to buy every piece of news. And, no, I do not believe “friend of a friend,” “friend who says,” or any other bullsh#t peddler.
Take. It. To. Civil. Court. Or. Shut. Up.
“Floozy” status. Hmmm. For someone with no stated firsthand knowledge of the allegations in question, you seem rather willing to force your way into a discussion you contend should be confined within the walls of a courthouse — and all because you feel aggrieved at having to hear about women accusing men of severe sexual misconduct. No, a woman’s sexual history has no bearing on the validity of her accusations against a man for sexual misconduct. Who’s “peddling bullsh#t” here, exactly? Asking for a friend.
The basketball player Derrik Rose was taken to civil court on a vile sounding gang rape charge, but he won easily. Anyone looking at the details of that case could see that the women was one of those ‘floozies’ and a gold digger who was just looking to make a buck. Anyone with an ax to grind is claiming sexual harassment now. Many charges are false.
Circulez not circuler
On the question of the celebrité of “Anne-Sophie” i’d like to add that for many opera fans in France, “Anne-Sophie” may well mean “Schmidt” before any others, as her “style français” is unique and has shone a spotlight on many lesser-known corners of the repertoire as well as the “standards”… Mélisande, Marguerite….etc. I think it’s still courageous and altruistic to stand up to a powerful figure in musical life, many years after; there are some who would prefer to let sleeping dogs lie, even now.
What is shocking is that so few conductors can do Berlioz. The British conductor who specialized in Berlioz was worlds better than Dutoit.