In London, Vilar name is pulled

London’s Royal Opera House said it has removed the name of troubled philanthropist Alberto Vilar from the building’s spectacular atrium after he failed to honor a multimillion-dollar pledge.

The decision follows a breakdown in the relationship between Britain’s premier opera company and the Cuban-born financier, who was arrested in New York in May on charges of business fraud. Vilar, 64, has pleaded not guilty to those charges.

In July, the Royal Opera House gave Vilar 60 days to resume payments after declaring him in “material breach” of his 1999 pledge of $18 million to the company’s development fund. In return for the promised donation, the company renamed its Floral Hall -- an iron and glass-roofed atrium overlooking London’s Covent Garden market -- the Vilar Floral Hall.

“The 60 days has lapsed and we have received no communication from Mr. Vilar,” Royal Opera House Chief Executive Tony Hall said. “Therefore the Vilar Floral Hall will revert to being known as the Floral Hall. We will cease to use Mr. Vilar’s name on printed material and programs.”

From Associated Press