Conductor François-Xavier Roth, head of the Cologne Orchestra and Opera in Germany, has stepped down from his duties after an article implicated him for sending SMS messages of a sexual nature, the orchestra announced Friday.
The one who is also the founder of the group Les Siècles, in residence at the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées, will also be “replaced next season” during the concerts of this ensemble in the Parisian establishment, the theater told AFP.
In an article published on Wednesday, the “Canard Enchaîné” reports testimonies from musicians, only one of whom gives his identity, having received urgent messages from the maestro in which he allegedly showed his genitals.
The newspaper does not mention any possible complaint. Contacted by AFP, François-Xavier’s lawyer. Roth could not immediately be reached for comment.
François-Xavier Roth “has decided to suspend his work with immediate effect in order to give the Gürzenich Orchestra and the Opera the opportunity to clarify and address the situation,” announced the executive director of the orchestra, Stefan Englert, in a press release sent to AFP.
The Gürzenich Orchestra takes the information concerning François-Xavier Roth and the topic of sexual harassment “very seriously,” added Mr. Englert.
After the publication of the article, François-Xavier Roth, who was to conduct a Les Siècles concert in Paris on Wednesday evening, was replaced at short notice by Adrien Perruchon, as indicated by France Musique radio on X on Thursday.
Contacted by AFP, the Les Siècles group assured 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.”
François-Xavier Roth founded Les Siècles in 2003, the only orchestra in the world that plays multiple repertoires, from Jean-Philippe Rameau to Luciano Berio, with instruments from the period of the work.
He is also a long-standing guest conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra.
