- Nobel-winning physicist 'unnerved' by AI technology he helped create
- Mexico president rules out new 'war on drugs'
- Israeli defense minister postpones trip to Washington: Pentagon
- Europe skipper Donald in talks with Garcia over Ryder return
- Kenya MPs vote to impeach deputy president in historic move
- Former US coach Berhalter named Chicago Fire head coach
- New York Jets fire head coach Saleh: team
- Australia crush New Zealand in Women's T20 World Cup
- US states accuse TikTok of harming young users
- 'Evacuate now, now, now': Florida braces for next hurricane
- US Supreme Court skeptical of challenge to 'ghost guns' regulation
- Sparks fly as Orban berates EU 'elites' in parliament trip
- US finalizes rule to remove lead pipes within a decade
- Solanke hungry for second England cap after seven-year wait
- Gilded canopy restored at Vatican basilica
- Zverev scrapes through, Djokovic cruises to Shanghai Masters last 16
- Trump secretly sent Covid tests to Putin: Bob Woodward book
- Gauff answers critics: 'It's hard to win all the time'
- Neural networks, machine learning? Nobel-winning AI science explained
- China says raised 'serious concerns' with US over trade curbs
- Boeing delivers 27 MAX jets in September despite strike
- German 'Maddie' suspect could be free in 2025 after cleared of other sex crimes
- Italy seek Nations League consistency as Germany continue rebuild
- From boom to budgeting as reality bites for Saudi football
- Stock markets diverge as Hong Kong sinks, oil prices fall
- US trade gap narrowest in five months as imports slip
- Stay and 'you are going to die': Florida braces for next hurricane
- England 96-1 after Salman's century lifts Pakistan to 556
- Hollywood star Idris Elba champions African cinema in Ghana
- Djokovic rolls Cobolli to make Shanghai Masters last 16
- Milan's Hernandez receives two-game suspension after referee rant
- Geoffrey Hinton, soft-spoken godfather of AI
- Ex-Barcelona and Spain great Iniesta retires aged 40
- Duo wins Physics Nobel for 'foundational' AI breakthroughs
- German 'Maddie' suspect could be free in 2025 after cleared of separate sex crimes
- China slaps provisional tariffs on EU brandy imports
- Ex-skipper Skelton eyes Wallabies November return
- Spanish great Iniesta leaves indelible legacy after retirement
- Indian Kashmir elects first regional government in a decade
- Hong Kong stocks crash, oil prices retreat on fading China boost
- Man City accuse Premier League of 'misleading' claims after legal case
- Duo wins Physics Nobel for key breakthroughs in AI
- Agha defies England as Pakistan post 515-8 in first Test
- September second-warmest on record: EU climate monitor
- Pastor wanted by US for sex trafficking to run for Philippine senate
- Mozambican writer Mia Couto dreams future leaders set an 'example'
- German 'Maddie' suspect could be free soon after cleared of separate sex crimes
- China says to take anti-dumping measures against EU brandy imports
- German suspect in 'Maddie' case cleared in separate sex crimes trial
- Israel expands offensive against Hezbollah in south Lebanon
RBGPF | -0.46% | 60.52 | $ | |
RYCEF | 1.29% | 6.97 | $ | |
CMSC | 0.29% | 24.641 | $ | |
RIO | -4.42% | 66.675 | $ | |
SCS | -1.33% | 12.78 | $ | |
GSK | -1.59% | 38.026 | $ | |
NGG | 0.61% | 65.88 | $ | |
BTI | 0.04% | 35.215 | $ | |
CMSD | 0.25% | 24.851 | $ | |
AZN | 0% | 76.87 | $ | |
RELX | 1.27% | 46.63 | $ | |
JRI | -0.15% | 13.16 | $ | |
BCC | 0.56% | 142.06 | $ | |
VOD | -0.31% | 9.66 | $ | |
BCE | -0.03% | 33.52 | $ | |
BP | -3.5% | 32.02 | $ |
Top French conductor suspends work in sexting controversy
Leading French conductor Francois-Xavier Roth is suspending his performances after a media report accused him of sending sexually explicit messages and pictures to musicians, an orchestra and concert venue said Friday.
Roth, one of the best-known conductors worldwide, founded and heads the French orchestra Les Siecles and also holds a prestigious position of as director of the Guerzenich Orchestra and Opera in the German city of Cologne.
In an article published Wednesday, French satirical weekly Canard Enchaine cited testimonies from musicians -- only one of whom gave their identity -- who said they had received insistent messages from the maestro in which he allegedly showed his genitals.
The Paris Theatre des Champs-Elysees (TCE), where Les Siecles holds a residency, told AFP that Roth would be "replaced next season" during the concerts by the ensemble at the venue.
Stefan Englert, chief executive of the Guerzenich Orchestra, said in a statement that it took the report "very seriously" and was investigating.
"Francois-Xavier Roth has decided to suspend his work with immediate effect in order to give the Guerzenich Orchestra and the Cologne Opera the opportunity to clarify and deal with the situation," he said.
"Since our primary goal is to ensure transparent and thorough clarification, we ask you to be patient," Englert added.
There is so far no mention of any legal complaint against Roth, who is also a longstanding guest conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra.
Les Siecles had been due to give a concert at the TCE in Paris conducted by Roth on Wednesday night. The concert went ahead but he was replaced by another conductor at the last minute.
Contacted by AFP, Les Siecles said Wednesday that "the orchestra has never received any alert, nor any report from musicians concerning Mr Roth, nor has it condoned the slightest abuse of power".
It added that "no musician was ever excluded for speaking out regarding his behaviour", it added.
Founded by Roth in 2003, Les Siecles is unique in it performs all music on original instruments of the time, whether baroque music, the classical repetoire or modern 20th-century works.
The closely knit classical music industry has generally been seen as being slow to feel the effects of the #MeToo movement calling out sexual harassment that has shaken the film sector.
P.Martin--AMWN