This maestro likes to give massages, young students say
OrchestrasFrom the French magazine le canard enchainé, under the strapline ‘Metoo Classical music’:
Le flûtiste et chef d’orchestre est connu dans le milieu de la musique baroque pour son insistance à vouloir masser les pieds des musiciennes. Ses agissements lui ont déjà fermé des portes à l’étranger, sans qu’il n’y mette fin pour autant.
Alexis Kossenko, flûtiste accusé de proposer des massages de pied à des élèves tout juste majeures
Souvent à l’affiche du Théâtre des Champs-Elysées, Alexis Kossenko est reconnu pour ses talents en flûte baroque. Mais aussi pour ses méthodes… plus baroques encore : proposer à ses consœurs et étudiantes des massages de pieds qui remontent parfois jusqu’aux parties intimes.
Deux ex-élèves de Kossenko au Conservatoire national supérieur de musique et de danse de Paris, où il a effectué des remplacements au début des années 2010, décrivent le même modus operandi : le flûtiste amène ses élèves – jeunes majeures – pour des séances de travail à son domicile…
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The flautist and conductor is known in baroque music circles for his insistence on massaging female musicians’ feet. His actions have already closed doors for him abroad, but he has not stopped them.
Alexis Kossenko, flautist, is accused of offering foot massages to barely legal students
Often featured at the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées, Alexis Kossenko is known for his talents on the baroque flute. But also for his methods… even more baroque: offering his female students foot massages that sometimes extend all the way to their private parts.
Two former students of Kossenko at the Conservatoire national supérieur de musique et de danse de Paris, where he worked as a replacement in the early 2010s, describe the same modus operandi: the flautist brings his students – young adults – for work sessions at his home….
Kossenko, 47, born in Nice, is music director of Les Ambassadeurs ~ La Grande Écurie.
UPDATE: Kossenko has issued a staement through his lawyer denying the allegations. He has withdrawn temporarily from Les Ambassadeurs.
The usual stupid recruitment based on how famous one as opposed to how good a pedagogue one is.
Why are the authorities allowing him to continue doing this? What kind of support is being given to his victims.
Victims? What’s so bad about a massage?
That’s what Jeffrey Epstein said.
Do you hear yourself?
Note this is a quote from “Le Canard Enchainée” with “canard” meaning both a duck, and an unsubstantiated rumour.
No, Le canard enchaîné does real, serious investigations. They’re the ones who broke the François-Xavier Roth story too.
They’re closest UK equivalent may be Private Eye: satire + outstanding investigations.
A duck, an unsubstantiated rumour or a newspaper. A sort of French Private Eye in this case. Still it virtually ended the career of FX Roth.
When will this finally come to an end? It’s deeply troubling that individuals unfit for their roles are entrusted with teaching, often due to a lack of proper oversight at the time of their appointment. This is an incredible disservice to students and an insult to those who are genuinely qualified and dedicated to fostering a safe and supportive educational environment.
He should stick to massaging their egos.
He was to conduct a programme of Vivaldi concertos in the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées tomorrow, but he’s out. The concert will take place under the concertmaster.
I’m amazed that after years of Metoo, some people think that they can go on with unsollicited massages, sending dick pics or whatever, and never ever get called out.
“We need to work on your posture. I’ll start with your feet…”