Alagna defends Gerard Depardieu
NewsThe opera singer Rob erto Alagna has joined a pack of 56 artistic notables who have issued a petition in Le Figaro calling for the actor Depardieu not to be cancelled from French public life.
‘We can no longer remain silent in the face of the lynching that has descended upon him, in the face of the torrent of hatred that is being heaped upon his person, without nuance,’ they say.
Depardieu, 74, has been accused by several women of sexual assault. He is a staunch supporter of Vladimir Putin and has been granted a Russian passport.
President Macron recently spoke favourably and others have now rushed to sing the actor’s praises. They include the singer Carla Bruni and the theatre director Chiara Muti, daughter of the Italian conductor.
picture from 2013
Of course is Alagna rising to the defense of that long has-been, Depardieu (or of anyone in their clan). Remember what I keep writing about: The Mafia.
Also unsurprising is to see one of the Mutis as defender of one of their own.
Not surprised either. There are a lot of Muti haters on this site (not you A.L.). I am not a fan of the man or the conductor (in my view, massively overrated), but I believe that these haters are over the top. It is potentially misleading and confusing to carelessly mix together conversations about Muti and a Depardieu, or a Domingo, or a Bill Clinton who also have been accused of rape. Muti has two images. One is the public persona, revered by most of the classical music establishment; he and his entourage have been guarding and are guarding it religiously by relying on one approach that has proved superbly effective: cultivating a very small circle of prone journalists, even the same for dozens of years, and denying access to all the other press members. This approach has decreased in effectiveness with the rise of the internet and social media, and so has Muti’s overall impact. The second is a semi-public or more private image – his dirty underbelly- known only to those in the industry who intersected with him very closely. Someone like Muti is a very cunning, subtle character; to my knowledge he has never been accused of actions even vaguely similar to those allegedly committed by Depardieu or Domingo. This second image is not as controllable as it used to be, again because of the rise of new communications channels. Many of Muti’s public interviews have backfired on social media, like his crusades against MeToo, which are in themselves an interesting window into his mindset.
The noise and rumours – mostly innuendos, never proved, and almost never printed but rather circulating in the industry through word of mouth- around Muti seem to gravitate around the topic of serial womanizing; the sort of stories that rotate around men who have taken advantage of fame and positions of power. It is the type of noise that appears on tabloids like the Italian Dagospia. In this article, there are clear references to rumours about Muti that if true should concern any entity employing him https://www.dagospia.com/rubrica-2/media_e_tv/muti-fu-ndash-non-puo-sorprendere-che-maestro-abbia-inveito-270057.htm. The situations, if proven true, would be squarely in the realm of Me2 -related disciplinary actions, but arguably not in the realm of the courts. One former colleague and friend of mine worked in Milan, a few in Philly, and there have always been similar stories about the conductor going back to his youth. I have heard plenty of stories coming out of the Chicago Symphony, not only here on slippedisc. Over the years, sexual innuendos, again never proven, have always been accompanied by stories about the real Muti as a really bad person, the opposite of what transpires on tv; for example, the gossip article refers to people who in private allegedly saw Muti make an impression of the disabled conductor Jeffrey Tate – a despicable action if it was true. In my opinion, where there is so much smoke, most of times there is at least some fire; but it’s not the same type of stuff that we are discussing with regards to some of the other characters like Depardieu, at least not yet. The types of scenarios Muti has been associated with are fair game in connection to Me2 and power dynamics and sex; serious (very serious) for an organization like the CSO which should have by now looked into those given that it has conferred to Muti a title for life. I would not advise an organization to link itself to a character like Muti for life, but they must have made their considerations.
Bill Clinton was accused of rape, true. He also had an improper sexual relationship with an intern inside the Oval Office – very different situation, but still brought him an impeachment.
Then there is the fact that Muti père has accomplished nothing musically of note, nothing, in over three decades. Never mind Depardieu on film. And Alagna nowadays sounds like weathered leather.
I can’t read Italian. Can you sum up what these rumors say? Is he putting the make on young female orchestra members?
Wow. People will say it’s just a tabloid. But tabloids never wrote such articles about Giulini or Abbado. And they are not writing such articles about Chailly or Luisi.
Gatti?!?…
Oh yes! Yesss! But why did Muti – the fearsome flag bearer and general of AntiMe2 and anti-Cancel armies – not sign the petition himself instead of letting his daughter Chiara sign alone? That is a missed opportunity Riccardo — you know you want to sign this just petition! You are about to be nominated Commander of the Legion of Honor next month, you have to head to the field and defend your Legion of Honor Buddy!!l
Maybe Muti is tired after his victorious battle to legitimize the Great Putin Bass (aka Abdrazakov) and conducting him in Ravenna. Maybe after legitimizing the Putin Bass, he does not want to right away legitimize a man accused of rape. Even for Muti that would constitute an excessive display of zeal. Let’s have Chiara sign instead; we know that Chiara would not sign before asking dad first. Legitimization by proxy is a good move.
Muti gave work to Gerard Depardieu, they performed Berlioz Lelio together. A nice video of Gerard having dinner with Putin here after being granted his Russian citizenship:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JDSNxgLRAM
I still prefer the picture of Muti with Putin, it conveys a deeper love:
https://c8.alamy.com/comp/B97X34/russian-president-vladimir-putin-left-and-riccardo-muti-right-conductor-B97X34.jpg (Note: Muti has received from Muti the RUSSIAN ORDER OF FRIENDSHIP; to our knowledge, he has not returned the fantastical award though many people suggested he should).
French authorities have brought preliminary criminal charges against Depardieu for allegedly raping the actress Charlotte Arnould on two occassions in August 2008. He has denied those allegations and all accusations of assault by other women. He is a Russian citizen now, he’s not going to get prosecuted for rape!
Harvey Weinstein, the target of accusations that fueled the #MeToo movement in 2017 and led to his conviction, received the Legion of Honor in 2012 from President Nicolas Sarkozy. Macron said he wanted to withdraw the award from Weinstein after the accusations against him became public, but that had yet to happen as of 2019. Criminal charges have been brought against Weinstein and he is has been found guilty of rape and sentenced to 23 years of imprisonment.
Muti and Depardied not only collaborated in classical music; they received the Legion of Honour (a jolly big deal!!). President Macron has gotten into big trouble presently for strongly praising Depardieu. President Macron rejected the suggestion by his own culture minister that Depardieu should lose the Legion of Honor, one of France’s highest awards, arguing it is merited for great artists who might be bad people. Does Muti agree with Macron? We don’t know, though I could make an intelligent guess.
On the other hand, we do know what Muti thinks of MeToo: “With MeToo, Mozart would be in jail” (though there is no documentary or anecdotal evidence that Mozart ever raped anyone or that criminal charges were brought against him). What does Muti think of his buddy Depardieu rape charges? The rape allegedly happened two years before they collaborated on Berlioz and hung out in Chicago. Did Muti and Depardieu discussed Charlotte Arnould and similar topics in Chicago? We don’t know.
Muti is also a buddy of Domingo, another man accused of assaulting women and having phone calls with sex traffickers. I am not saying it’s a pattern let’s be clear, I am just laying out the facts!
“Muti gave work to Gerard Depardieu, they performed Berlioz Lelio together.”
And how long ago was that?
“…. the fearsome flag bearer and general of AntiMe2 and anti-Cancel armies ..”
Somebody has to fight this modern-day fascism.
Just curious: is there any topic in classical music of interest to you other than Riccardo Muti? I don’t think I have ever seen you comment on anything else… Same goes for that other guy.
It was foolish of Macron: his remarks look like an attempt to pervert the course of justice.
Muti’s daughter came to the defense of an alleged rapist?
Shocking.
Just curious: is there any topic in classical music of interest to you other than Riccardo Muti? I don’t think I have ever seen you comment on anything else…
Thinking ahead about how this might play out in a court of law, we predict that Depardieu’s defense will claim that when the legendary actor leaned on her in an erotic burst, she simply gave way and never said no. So it was consensual.
The defense will respond with these pictures as decisive piece of evidence: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2784637/Gerard-Depardieu-looks-far-heartthrob-old-shows-fuller-figure-set-LA.html
Experts will testify that any mammal smaller than a rhino would give way if leaned upon by Gerard; and that the victim was most likely fighting for air and incapacitated to withdraw her consent.
what exactly are they afraid of?….all those supporters of Depardieu?
Being themselves cancelled for the same deeds.
(It’s the domino effect and Depardieu is one big fat domino.)
He played Dominique Strauss Kahn in the 2014 film Welcome to New York, in which he goes full frontal (far from his first or most risqué or most fearless nude scene in his career).
If Strauss Kahn did what he did in Paris instead of New York, he’d be President of France right now, serving his second term.
If Harvey Weinstein were French, he’d be getting his Commandant medal of the Légion d’Honneur from Président Strauss Kahn today.
All three, Depardieu, Strauss Kahn, Weinstein, would be feasting on a wild boar served by nude servers at Versailles right now. Perhaps with Alagna singing Nussun Dorrma with Muti at the piano.
And Emmanuel Macron would be yet another ingratiating Minister of Culture, giving an interview in Paris Match that “they sure don’t make men like that anymore” then complaining off–the-record that despite having organized the party, he and his provincial little wife weren’t even invited.
They all have much to answer for. Ask their wives, ex-wives, girlfriends, ex-girlfriends and concubines who these men really are. Honor among swine!! They are all drinking wine from the same chalice while giving interviews about the virtues of art and how culture is disintegrating at lightning speed. Men of influence believe they are entitled to have sex with any woman or man they wish and that the pursued should feel privileged to be with them. They make promises they have no intention of keeping. They are not seeking forgiveness, they are seeking a pass from their deluded fans and groupies. This is the dark side of the music industry. The side you don’t learn about at those $70k per semester conservatories.
You nailed it. And your description of this type of man fits someone I know almost to the letter. That he’s still employed by an organization I am familiar with is a disgrace.
Regarding the wives, the tabloid article posted by anonymous makes a clear allusion about Muti’s wife, that she had to “swallow bitter bites” (“bocconi amari”). If it is true, I feel very sorry for her.
None of this is new in human history. What IS new is the inability of their ‘objects of affection’ to say NO or demonstrate very much by way of sophistication or finesse in dealing with predators. Or to even understand that they even exist!! In the animal world the bear would already have eaten them.
Absolutely spot on. I’ve spent much of my career wresting myself out of the slimy clutches of these kind of people. Disgusting.
Yikes! Merry Christmas…and other stuff…
Of course Alagna defends him… like the others, he is now scared of what women could say about him if they will ever decide to do public. And as we already know, Alagna is already famous for his escapades with many of his female colleagues (e.g. Elina Garanca among many others) and also to have abused to some extent in the past.
I am surprised Holender is not on the supporters list
This is just a reminder that nobody has been convicted yet. Kevin Spacey was accused of sexual assault and his career nearly destroyed. However, in October 2023 twelve jurors at Southwark Crown Court cleared Pacey of nine charges. Another three charges had been dismissed. In October 2023 in New York City, Spacey was found not liable in a civil sexual assault suit brought by actor Anthony Rapp. I assumed he was guilty when I first read about the charges in 2022. Perhaps we should have more patience before assuming guilt.
Why don’t you let your grandson spend some quality alone time with Spacey.
The man creeps me out, guilty or not guilty.
Good for him! Enough of this bullshit.
What on earth does “being a staunch supporter of Vladimir Putin” and being “granted a Russian passport” have to do with your right to participate in public life? If you try to silence speech you disagree with, then you’re not for free speech. Also, take a hypocrisy test: Did you buy Nazi sympathizer Karajan’s records when he was alive? You did? Then take a SEAT.