Conductor Daniele Gatti
The Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra announced today that it is terminating its relationship with Daniele Gatti, who was appointed chief conductor in 2016, “with immediate effect,” following an article in the Washington Post in which he was accused of sexual misconduct on two separate occasions.
After the Post story was published, Gatti issued a blanket apology to all the women in his life through a U.S. public relations firm, saying, “To all the women I have met in my entire life, especially those who believe I did not treat them with the utmost respect and dignity they certainly deserve, I sincerely apologise.”
He continued, “Today and moving forward, I plan to focus much more on my behaviors and actions with all women. This includes women both young and old, to be sure no woman ever feels uncomfortable ever again, especially women that I work with in my profession in classical music. I am truly sorry.”
This statement came too late for Amsterdam’s leading orchestra.
A statement released August 2 said, “Since the publication of the article in the Washington Post, a number of female colleagues of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra reported experiences with Gatti, which are inappropriate considering his position as chief conductor. This has irreparably damaged the relationship of trust between the orchestra and its chief conductor.”
All of Gatti’s future scheduled appearances with the orchestra have been cancelled.
Gatti is the third musician to face professional repercussions following the Washington Post article. Concertmaster William Preucil was suspended from the Cleveland Orchestra pending an investigation by the institution, and resigned from his teaching post at the Cleveland Institute of Music. Opera director and artists’ manager Bernard Uzan announced on Wednesday, August 1, that he is leaving the field.
