“An internal investigation opened at the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal regarding two complaints of sexual harassment against Charles Dutoit has ended inconclusively,” reads an unsigned Tuesday (11/6) article in the Montreal Gazette (Canada). “The OSM’s executive committee ordered an independent investigation last December after receiving a complaint against Dutoit, who was the orchestra’s artistic director from 1977 to 2002…. The independent expert looked into two complaints. But after communicating or meeting with the complainants ‘on several occasions,’ the expert’s investigation ‘did not yield sufficient information in relation to allegations of sexual harassment,’ the OSM said in a statement. The two complainants didn’t want to follow up on their complaints, the OSM said, and didn’t think it was necessary to ‘provide formal declarations with respect to these allegations.’ The internal investigation ended in mid-October. ‘We sincerely empathize with the two plaintiffs who decided, for reasons entirely their own, not to follow up on their complaints in the context of this investigation,’ said Madeleine Careau, chief executive officer of the OSM…. The expert who conducted the investigation also recommended the OSM tighten and expand its policy on workplace harassment. The OSM said it accepts the recommendation.”
Posted November 8, 2018
