Santa Fe Opera Conductor and Pianist Linked to Jeffrey Epstein

Recent revelations from the release of Jeffrey Epstein’s flight logs and email correspondence have implicated several figures in the classical music world, including Frédéric Chaslin, a former conductor of the Santa Fe Opera, and pianist Simon Ghraichy. The disclosures have sparked controversy and prompted responses from both musicians.

Frédéric Chaslin’s Connections to Epstein

Frédéric Chaslin, who served as chief conductor of the Santa Fe Opera from 2010 to 2012, exchanged numerous emails with Jeffrey Epstein, with his name appearing nearly 400 times in the released documents . Emails from 2013 reveal Chaslin offering to provide Epstein with a young woman during a visit to Paris, describing her as a 21-year-old philosophy student who resembled Roman Polanski’s wife , .

Chaslin has defended his actions, stating the woman was intended to be Epstein’s translator and that his description was misinterpreted . He also claimed to have been unaware of Epstein’s sex crimes when they first met in 2010, two years after Epstein’s conviction on child prostitution charges in Florida .

soprano Amelia Feuer has filed a complaint against Chaslin for sexual harassment, alleging he used professional opportunities to seek inappropriate relationships. Feuer claims Chaslin sent her suggestive messages, including one offering to “put his hands and mouth everywhere you are cold” and another referencing drugs . Chaslin has dismissed the complaint as unfounded and denied the allegations .

Simon Ghraichy’s Involvement

Pianist Simon Ghraichy is also implicated in the Epstein files, with his name appearing over 1,100 times, documenting four years of email exchanges between 2014 and 2018 . Like Chaslin, Ghraichy was asked by Epstein to find a female assistant . He responded by suggesting a woman who was “not in the required age range, she is thirty-something, a grandmother” .

Ghraichy maintains that his relationship with Epstein was solely that of a patron and artist and denies any wrongdoing . He has expressed solidarity with the true victims of Epstein’s crimes. Following the revelations, Ghraichy was replaced for scheduled performances in Strasbourg and Metz, and his website was temporarily taken offline for maintenance .