Breaking: Royal Opera suspends Grigolo for alleged groping

The Italian tenor Vittorio Grigolo is being investigated by Covent Garden for an incident in which he appeared to have manhandled a female chorus member while on stage in a Tokyo performance of Gounod’s Faust.

The ROH said: ‘Following an alleged incident on September 18 involving Italian tenor Vittorio Grigolo, the Royal Opera House opened an immediate investigation and Mr Grigolo was suspended.

‘We are unable to comment further on this matter whilst this investigation is ongoing.’

Grigolo’s people are not saying anything either. Not even ‘whilst’, which is Covent Garden-speak for ‘between gritted teeth’.

He was replaced for the final tour performance by Georgy Vasiliev.

The Italian tenor, 42, has a huge reputation at the Met, but a lower profile at Covent Garden.

More details as they come through.