Following the François-Xavier Roth's sexual harassment scandal

Following the revelation of François-Xavier Roth's sexual harassment scandal, a statement from music director Roth to the Gürzenich Orchestra was read out by Gürzenich Orchestra managing director Stefan Englert on 24 May. In the statement, Roth said: ‘As a result of media articles revealing that I have sent inappropriate messages to musicians in the past, the orchestra, which I lead, will conduct a full investigation into the behaviour described and gather information about the allegations. As a result, he has decided ‘not to conduct the Gürzenich Orchestra for the time being in order to allow the investigation to proceed in peace. I apologise to anyone I may have offended’.

The SWR Symphony Orchestra hides new information about its appointed chief conductor under old reports about François-Xavier Roth and the current allegations against the conductor, while at the same time the SWR Symphony Orchestra receives the first unofficial information, which the SWR Symphony Orchestra says it will take very seriously and will study carefully. This will take some time. SWR will not provide any further information until the investigation is complete.

The SWR Symphony Orchestra also reported the allegations of harassment against its designated principal conductor some time after the allegations were published in the French newspaper Le Canard enchaîné, in the magazine VAN, and on the BackstageClassical website. At BackstageClassical's request, the press office explained on 23 May that the story had been edited for coverage, but it wasn't until 25 May that the SWR Symphony Orchestra published its first article. Friday's updated statement is now hidden beneath it as well.

When BackstageClassical asked if the Symphony Orchestra had previously been informed of abuses of power by the Designated General Conductor (e.g., during his previous tenure), the response was negative. Once again, the orchestra's artistic director, Sabrina Haane, remained silent. A public statement protecting the orchestra's musicians is especially important in this situation.

According to Report K, a number of opposition politicians on the Cologne City Council have now made it clear that they are against Roth and believe that he should resign or that the city should terminate his contract. These politicians are basing this on the fact that Roth has confirmed the fact of sending harassing messages and has apologised.

Maria Helmis-Arend, spokesperson for cultural policy in the parliamentary group of the Social Democrats (SPD), said, ‘François-Xavier Roth is no longer acceptable and must resign immediately. If he does not realise this, the city of Cologne must take immediate action to remove him. The Roth affair must now be used as an opportunity to start a long overdue debate on sexual violence and abuse of power in the cultural sector in Cologne. In such positions of power, intimate relationships should always be avoided. In the future, binding institutions are needed to protect those affected in such cases and to consistently bring the perpetrators of violence to justice.’

Lorenz Deutsch, spokesperson for cultural policy in the parliamentary group of the Federal Democratic Party (FDP), said, ‘The accusations against Roth are serious. I don't think there is any room for François-Xavier Roth to return to the orchestra podium. If he were to have the opportunity to return to the conductor's podium, it would send an unacceptable signal to those involved and would be incomprehensible to the public.

The board of the French Federation of Professional Vocal and Instrumental Ensembles (FEVIS) has expelled Roth after he was found to have sent indecent images to female musicians. Roth has been suspended from conducting duties while the investigation is underway.

The board, chaired by former French culture minister Roselyne Bachelot, voted unanimously to cancel the membership of Les Siècles, a group formed by Roth as part of an ‘exemplary practice and a firm concern for the protection of musicians against sexism, sexual violence and sexual harassment ‘. Roselyn Bachelot, 77, who was Emanuel Macron's minister of culture from 2020 to 2022, won't officially become president until next month, replacing another former culture minister, senior musician Jacques Toubon. But in any case, an expulsion of this magnitude would require her confirmation.