Singer David Lewis leaves Opera Australia after child sexual abuse charges

AUSTRALIA
Australian Associated Press in The Guardian

November 20, 2017

Allegations against 58-year-old tenor and longstanding member of nation’s top opera company date back to the 1990s

Distinguished tenor David Lewis has left Opera Australia after being charged with child sex offences involving a 14-year-old girl dating back to the 1990s.

The 58-year-old was charged in July with four counts of aggravated indecent assault of a victim under the age of 16 and two counts of sexual intercourse with a person aged between 14 and 16, a NSW Police spokeswoman said on Tuesday.

The alleged victim was a member of the children’s chorus in a performance, according to Sydney media reports.

Lewis, a longstanding Opera Australia member, is due to face Downing Centre local court on 5 December.

Opera Australia chief executive Rory Jeffes said the tenor was stood down in July after the company was made aware of the allegations. He took long service leave owing and then resigned in October.

“He has not participated in any company activity since July and he is no longer an employee of Opera Australia,” Jeffes said in a statement.

Lewis played the emperor in Opera Australia’s 2016 Sydney Harbour production of Turandot and earlier this year performed as Pedro in Two Weddings, One Bride.

Jeffes said the company had cooperated fully with police “and will continue to do so”.

The alleged incident was “deeply upsetting to everyone involved with Opera Australia”.

Jeffes said there was no record of assault allegations against Lewis being reported to the company.

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