Canadian musician opens up about her allegations against Charles Dutoit
TORONTO — A Canadian musician who is among several women accusing world-renowned Swiss conductor Charles Dutoit of sexual assault says she is “concerned and nervous” about the legal implications of her allegations, but felt going public was the right thing to do.
Mary Lou Basaraba alleges Dutoit, who was the artistic director of the Montreal Symphony Orchestra between 1977 and 2002, forced himself on her when she was a journalist interviewing him in the city sometime in late 1977 or early 1978.
“I’ve been managing a lot of anxiety, I haven’t been able to sleep very well,” Basaraba said Friday, getting choked up in a telephone interview with The Canadian Press.
While The Canadian Press does not typically identify people who say they are victims of sexual assault, Basaraba agreed to have her name published.