Inside NPR Music’s Reporting On Plácido Domingo And The Metropolitan Opera

Plus, Josh Ritter, Jason Isbell and Amanda Shires at the Tiny Desk.

By Marissa Lorusso and Lyndsey McKenna Christophe Simon/AFP/Getty Images About six weeks ago, the Associated Press first reported sexual misconduct allegations against one of opera's biggest and most enduring stars, Plácido Domingo. The number of accusers eventually grew to 20; they told the AP that the incidents took place as early as the 1980s and as recently as 2016-2017. Since those reports emerged, I was curious to know how New York's Metropolitan Opera might respond; after all, the Met is one of the world's leading opera companies, and other prominent American arts institutions immediately canceled scheduled performances with Domingo.The Spanish singer has had a very long and celebrated relationship with the Met — over 51 years, he's sung at the Met more than 700 times, and conducted there as well. He was scheduled to star in Verdi's Macbeth at the Met this week, in a supercharged pairing with another big star, soprano Anna Netrebko. (It's an opera about the quest for power, no matter the cost.) I got my answer when a number of Met performers and employees began contacting me to tell me how angry they were about working with Domingo in the wake of the 20 women's allegations. They also told me that at the Met, there was a "whisper network" about Domingo: women knew to avoid one-on-one situations with him. Several of those employees went on the record — though anonymously, for fear of retribution. We published that first story last Friday. Following that report, general manager of the Met, Peter Gelb, called a meeting for Saturday afternoon with the Met's chorus and orchestra. Gelb's comments seemed to stoke even more anger — and I received even more calls, texts and DMs. According to sources at that meeting, Gelb defended his decision to keep Domingo on the Met stage by saying that the 20 women's allegations were "not corroborated" to his satisfaction.  By late Tuesday afternoon, the tide had turned, and the Met told its workers that Domingo would not be performing in Macbeth — or, according to a statement from the singer — ever again at the Met. Domingo still has many vocal supporters, including fellow artists, but the past week has been an important marker of how the classical music and opera world is very publicly wrestling with these issues. Anastasia Tsioulcas Reporter, NPR Music New Music This week saw the release of a music video for “Moon Dreams,” from Miles Davis’ Birth of the Cool. The video is part of a series in which pre-MTV artists retroactively join the video age and brings Davis' late-life visual art into dialogue with a classic piece of his music. This week’s New Music Friday episode of All Songs Considered rounds up the best new albums out this week, including the youthful melodrama of Tegan and Sara’s latest release, a lost record from John Coltrane, Sturgill Simpson's scuzzy concept album Sound & Fury and more. Each week, members of the NPR Music family meticulously compile playlists of music they think you need to hear right now. This week’s NPR Classical playlist has luminous tracks from Latin America, while Viking’s Choice brings you Japanese prog-rock and heavy shoegaze. For even more recommendations, check out our playlist page. Featuring Earlier this week, Bruce Springsteen turned 70. To mark the occasion, we shared an excerpt from a new anthology honoring the Boss. In the essay, The New York Times’ film critic A.O. Scott explains how a moment of protest during a 2000 concert demonstrated Springsteen’s unique ability to reside within the imaginations of Americans who otherwise disagree. From our American Anthem series: Gloria Gaynor has said she's pretty sure her signature song “I Will Survive” was made just for her. But the singer had to go through a lot before she and the song found each other. Robert Hunter, the  lyricist behind some of the most beloved Grateful Dead lines (including the immortal, “What a long strange trip it’s been”), died earlier this week. His storytelling and protagonists were unmistakably American, but his central tenets were universal. Sister Rosetta Tharpe, the godmother of rock and roll, is the final artist Turning the Tables is celebrating this year. We have an appreciation of the healing power of her music, the story of her 1951 wedding in a baseball stadium, a profile of one of her contemporaries, a playlist of her best songs and music by the artists she influenced and more. Christopher Rouse once called himself a writer of "fast and furious" music. The uncompromising composer died Saturday at the age of 70. Conductor Marin Alsop and composer Nico Muhly recall their friend and colleague. Tiny Desk Emily Bogle/NPR At his second Tiny Desk appearance, this time joined by Amanda Shires and Jason Isbell, Josh Ritter offered a challenge: "America, we love you, but you've gotta change!" It was a moving set of songs focused on today’s political climate, voicing frustrations over the treatment of immigrants and refugees.  Incoming Fifty years ago, The Beatles returned to Abbey Road to make their last album. Bob Boilen recently talked to producer Giles Martin, who has just remixed that album — which his father produced in 1969. “The Abbey Road album was almost a bit like coming back for a home-cooked meal,” Martin says. “They knew they could rely on making an album that was great, and would probably glue the band together for one last time.” Hear his conversation on next week’s episode of All Songs Considered. One More Thing Meet the geniuses.  What do you think of today's email? We'd love to hear your thoughts, questions and feedback: nprmusic@npr.org Enjoying this newsletter? Forward to a friend! They can sign up here. Looking for more great content? Check out all of our newsletter offerings — including Books, Pop Culture, Health and more! Need a new playlist? Follow NPR Music on Spotify and Apple Music! You received this message because you're subscribed to NPR Music emails. This email was sent by National Public Radio, Inc., 1111 North Capitol Street NE, Washington, DC 20002 Unsubscribe  |  Privacy Policy