Controversial conductor is arrested in London on underage sex charges

It became known today that the orchestral conductor Jan Latham-Koenig was arrested on Wednesday at Victoria train station.

He is appearing now at Westminster magistrates court, charged with arranging/facilitating a child sexual offence and sexual communication with a child not involving penetration. He is also charged with communicating with a boy aged under 16 in order to engage in sexual activity with them.

Latham-Koenig, 70, was born in Britain and has enjoyed an extensive international career. In 2020 he was awarded an OBE for services to music and UK/Russia cultural relations. He has continued conducting in Russia since Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. Recently, he signed on with Valery Gergiev’s former agent in Munich.

In the past year he was named artistic director at the ⁦Festival Puccini⁩ at Torre del Lago and music director of the Teatro Colon in Buenos Aires.

UPDATE: He spoke to confirm his name and address at Westminster Magistrates’ Court. Judge Maria Karaiskos KC released Mr Latham-Koenig on conditional bail and adjourned the case to 9 February.