Just in: Sir John Eliot Gardiner, withdrawing, issues a public apology
NewsHis agents have circulated the following message:
Sir John Eliot Gardiner has asked to make the following personal statement:
I deeply regret the incident which occurred at the Festival Berlioz at La Côte-Saint-André on Tuesday evening and apologise unreservedly for losing my temper immediately after the performance. I make no excuses for my behaviour and have apologised personally to Will Thomas, for whom I have the greatest respect. I do so again, and to the other artists, for the distress that this has caused. I realise how much this has affected all the participants involved in this major project and which has been so dear to my heart.
I have returned to the UK and have decided to withdraw from conducting all the remaining performances of Les Troyens. I wish Dinis Sousa and all the musicians great success for the remaining concerts on the tour.
I know that physical violence is never acceptable and that musicians should always feel safe. I ask for your patience and understanding as I take time to reflect on my actions.
This is all very well. He’s apologised and now what?
He says all artists should feel safe at work from physical abuse, but what about all the historical psychological abuse and bullying that he’s inflicted over the years? Let’s not forget ALL of that.
It is all borne of a deep well of insecurity, otherwise it wouldn’t happen.
How could one possibly know that?
Sue sonata- hit the nail on the head there. I watched his behaviour closely for many years and whilst it felt terrible to be on the receiving end of his wrath the few times it was directed my way I could see that he’s actually hypersensitive. He perceives slights that aren’t even real or are hugely exaggerated at best and feels them deeply. I think he spends a fair amount of time masking deep insecurity. This explains why he always hits back with extreme force whether physical or verbal. Whilst I know all that to be true I still feel strongly that enough is enough and he’s gone way too far now. Paul Brownsey- I know it because I saw it. My explanation may be too simplistic for some but it makes sense to me. I don’t excuse him for one minute but I see what might have caused his behaviour.
Predictable PR boilerplate. We read that language all too often. Surely lawyers have been enlisted to prepare their defense.
I’d disagree. It’s considered and he’s obviously getting solid advice, but it does feel like it’s been written by Gardiner himself.
“I ask for your patience and understanding as I take time to reflect on my actions.”
This is hardly “authentic” writing from anyone. It’s PR-speak of the highest order.
Oh come on.
What more do you want him to say in an apology at this point that wouldn’t be blatantly insincere, like he’s going to make a donation to an anti-bullying nonprofit and dedicate himself to “doing the work”?
As for all of the drama over the legal ramifications, while I’m not familiar with French law, I imagine that it’s not much different than the US — if the government were to pursue criminal chargers, at most Gardiner would be looking at is a fine and community service. People don’t do jail time for slapping someone, even in a country like the US that loves to lock people up for minor crimes. And if Will Thomas wants to sue in whatever is the UK equivalent of civil court, then he likely has to demonstrate that he’s suffered some kind of physical, mental, financial, or reputational harm to be entitled to monetary damages. I don’t think anyone would be surprised if he actually receives more bookings as a result of this incident, and I also suspect that he just wants to put the whole thing behind him rather than let it define his career.
Thanks for writing. Agree fully. The vindictiveness of some of these writers is almost perverse. Slaps – be they at the Oscars or elsewhere – deserve comments, apologies, not court.
It was a punch in the face, not a slap, Absolutely, unequivocally unacceptable.
Unprovocked assult at workplace should never go unpunished. In a regular workplace the person would likely be fired following explicit physical assult.
I didn’t say it shouldn’t go unpunished. But putting him in jail, which some people seem to want, doesn’t fit the crime. Making him pay restitution through community service is far more productive.
For some baiters here and on other platforms, it seems they just waited for going after him now. Maybe for them he should throw in some woke rubbish (white male bla bla bla) to calm them down. He has made a mistake, he apologised, job done.
Still spouting nonsense, despite being publicly corrected on other forums regarding his long history if appalling behaviour. It’s a long way from the first time, and it hasn’t always taken the form of hitting people. “Hitting on” would be putting it mildly. But people are still too scared to go public, even with witnesses.
A proper apology, but about the bare minimum that should be expected at this stage. He’s done it before and has had many opportunities to ‘reflect on his actions’, all of which seem to have been unsuccessful, so there is zero sympathy to be had.
As for Dinis, there shouldn’t be any debate about his suitability. He is chief at Royal Northern Sinfonia, and has assisted JEG for many years on different projects as a junior and then professional. Many will agree with me when I say that he is one of the nicest people you will ever meet, in stark contrast to JEG himself, and a sensitive and intelligent conductor.
I had a look at Gardiner’s Intermusica page. Let’s just say this featured pull quote, from a Guardian review (2019), reads a bit different now:
“Gardiner conducted with almost ferocious energy. Rhythms were exactingly precise, textures beautifully illuminated, shifts in mood immaculately judged… It was impossible not to be swept away by it all… ”
“swept away” by “shifts in mood” and “ferocious energy”, you say…
National Bullying Helpline: https://www.nationalbullyinghelpline.co.uk/employees.html
So JEG knows that physical violence is never acceptable. I wonder what he thinks about non-physical violence. Is that unacceptable too?
One would imagine he’s referring to the physical violence he is admitting to having inflicted… let’s not read stuff in this isn’t 4chan!
No reading in. It was just mindless wondering. 🙂
If he knows physical violence is never acceptable, why does he keep doing it…? How many times is acceptable before something is done about it. If my boss (and one came very close) or a work colleague struck me, I would certainly take action .
so it has happened before ??
That’s called bullying.
That’s no doubt why he made the differentiation – wouldn’t want to be inviting retribution for his verbal aggressions over the years. The guy sounds like a pompous ass and a bully.
“…as I take time to reflect on my actions.” So Gardiner thinks that reflecting on his actions is the appropriate pathway at this point? Good for him – and should he be so lucky. If the justice system works properly, he should be dealing with a police inquiry/criminal investigation and a civil lawsuit. A public apology is only the start of the matter, not the end of it.
The lofty pursuit of art is a poor excuse for assault and battery or any other criminal behavior.
Onset of dementia? But no excuse really.
Given his history it sounds like this ‘dementia’ had a very early onset!
An exceptionally early onset!
Keep reflecting and don’t come back.
Well, he should come back because he’s hugely talented.
At any rate, now the Daily Mail has it as its second story, quoting Slipped Disc. Poor JEG!
poor ? hmmm…. I blame his mother .
With comments like this one, we wouldn’t have had any of the art, music or recordings/performances that we can enjoy now (from Bach to Furtwängler and 1000 others). Welcome to the mediocrity of the 21st century where the most relevant thing a sick 80 year old genius of interpretation has achieved is slapping the face of a 29 year old singer.
If it was you, or your son or daughter, that he had punched in the face, I wonder if you might make fewer excuses for him.
A genius? Let’s not get carried away.
Good for Sir John- the right & honourable thing to do. I would say, slightly in his defence- that conductors have to be quite tough also- they often get as much s..t as they dish out. But no excuse for physical aggression to his own players or singers. The vast majority of professional musicians are highly trained, dedicated & love what they do (despite the stresses & mostly poor financial reward in this country at least) & conductors are absolutely nothing without them- & he knows this.
A fulsome apology. We should maybe let the matter drop now
What? Even if it constitutes physical assault?! Unless Gardner is claiming self-defence – highly improbable – assault is assault and deserves to be reported to the authorities and appropriate action taken to ‘suspend’ him from any future musical activities involving collaboration.
He fled the jurisdiction before the French police could begin any investigation. It’ll be very interesting to see if he returns if one commences.
French Law regarding assault and injury in English:
Assault and injury
Verified 27 April 2021 – Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister), Ministry of Justice
Perpetrators of acts of violence can be punished both criminally and civilly. The criminal penalty is a fine or imprisonment, whereas the civil penalty is to compensate the victim for the harm caused. The extent of the penalties depends on whether the acts were intentional or involuntary, the severity of the injuries and the age and personality of the victim. Psychological violence is punished as much as physical violence.
https://www.service-public.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F1524?lang=en
So, he just says Sorry and everyone should forget about his physical assault and move on? What a handy get-out-of-jail card. I’m not convinced his long-winded apology is even genuine. But no one can ever know for sure. How convenient.
Those lines from “Gone With the Wind” spring to mind: “You remind me of the thief; he’s not sorry he stole the money but he’s terribly sorry he’s going to jail”!! (Sidney Howard)
Look up “fulsome”. Actually I think you’re right despite yourself!
What I don’t get is why? If I were 80 years old, I’d be very disinclined to hit Will Thomas – I seem to recall he’s in his late 20s and built like a tree!
Perhaps JEG is not terribly bright.
Yes, that’s a live possibility.
1. If you’ve done it before and got away with it, you will surely do it again.
2. Your perceived status and network protects you.
3. A 20 something knocking out an 80 something will face assault charges for sure.
Perhaps you are not ill as JEG obviously is and on medication that we are not privvy too.
You think he’s been ill for more than half a century? Nonsense. He’s a privileged, pampered bully who’s used to people being too scared to call him out. How he survived “me too” is a mystery. He’s finally been caught out because he picked on the wrong person, and that’s his only regret.
if only this were out of character for him
Good statement, accept and move on !
“Musicians should always feel safe.”
Under Sir JEG no musician feels safe.
The math is simple.
Absolute codswallop. I have performed under JEG on literally dozens of occasions and have never felt in the least bit unsafe with him. He was always exacting and didn’t mince his words, but he never gave me any cause for concern, and from the conversations I’ve had privately over the past 24-hours, many many artists feel the same.
I am not excusing his behaviour in the slightest but I vehemently disagree with people (who have probably never even been in his rehearsal room) making generalised statements like this.
Why not tell us your name then?
Because she doesn’t want to be a target of the crazed lunatics baying for blood?
Absolutely no need for her to give her name, but the “crazed lunatics” would just like conductors not to physically attack people at work.
Yes, I auditioned and worked for him, and am British not American. He didn’t mince his words but then you say anything that is straightforward these days, and you’re considered aggressive and the recipients are bathed in cotton wool. I never felt him to be unsafe in my presence, and many others didn’t too.
If even one person feels safe, that’s unacceptable.
Oh for God’s sake “Person has never abused me, so he is not an abuser”. You’re on the wrong side of history here ‘soprano’, there are a dozen examples of the years. Pull your finger out. Harold Shipman had good character references too.
As I said, I am not condoning his actions and know of several incidents (definitely not dozens) over the past 60 years. My point was specifically addressing that made by ‘Clem’ who said that no musician feels safe with JEG, which is demonstrably untrue.
As for my own opinion, I’ve spoken with people who were actually there that night who told me he looked ill by the end of Act 2. He has come out to say he has no excuses for his actions, which is right and commendable, but I have been convinced there was more at play here than just losing his temper, and I’m not going to sit back and let these cancel-culture vultures pile on without challenging what they assert as fact.
I said a dozen, not dozens. “I’m not condoning his behaviour but….” We hear that all the time when people try and justify someone’s actions in domestic, sexual and racial abuse examples. It’s wrong and you’re wrong. Clem’s comment was clearly hyperbole. Your sticking up for a known abuser is horribly wrong. “He has come out to say he has no excuses for his actions” a day after giving excuses for his actions. You’re naive. People can ‘always’ come up with reasons to justify their behaviour whether it’s abuse or even murder. You are scrambling to justify it and frankly there is no way to justify it. Exhaustion, hallucination, delusions? Give us a break.
There is a big difference between trying to *justify* an action and trying to *excuse* it. The former is a matter of attempting to show it was the right thing to do; the latter accepts that it was wrong but offers supposedly mitigating factors. These two shouldn’t be confused.
Paul, I understand the difference, in this case both are wrong. When it comes to abuse in the work place it should be zero tolerance. When one continues to play a part of it by letting it happen, at some point you become complicit in it, especially when you come out and say “well *I’ve* always felt safe”. From what we now know and have known for some time, Soprano’s comment are a distasteful and deaf statement at best.
I should have known you would not be reasonable when you compared JEG to Harold Shipman. That’s my only mistake here.
I honestly hope one day you will find a sense of perspective and let go of the hyperbole because it really undermines your arguments, which otherwise would have some merit.
Soprano, maybe ‘you’ should learn the difference between comparison and illustration. My point illustrated that even the most horrid people in history had their supporters. Clearly JEG isn’t as bad as HS, but he is an abuser and your attempt at “I’m not condoning his behaviour but….” is, in this person’s opinion, wrong and part of the ongoing problem. There is nothing wrong with hyperbole, it’s a natural part of speech. You clearly understand it but instead you’re trying to use it against us who, as you’ve stated, have points of some merit. Maybe online fora are not for you?
You say you are not condoning his behaviour, while dismissing those who criticise it and finding excuses for this physical assault. It’s trendy in politics to bemoan so-called “cancel culture” but behind these complaints often lies a worrying lack of empathy and tolerance for bullying
Lucky you. I wonder how you’d feel if it was you he’d punched.
Actually, decades ago while I was walking down the high street with my partner, an old lady whacked me once round the head with her bag and moved on as if nothing had happened. I was very upset, but didn’t report her to the police because I assumed she wasn’t well. If I had been punched by JEG, after the shock and hurt, I would want to find out why this intelligent and cultured man behaved in such a bizarre way. People in this divisive age of social media tend to see others as saints or demons, heroes or villains, whereas all humans are flawed but also deserving of empathy, or a least the chance to have the reasons for their behaviour understood. Soprano, above, has worked with JEG and explained how colleagues said he looked ill by the end of Act 2. For my part, I am wondering if he became very dehydrated through extreme heat, medication and extreme exertion. Dehydration can have a dramatic effect on people in their 80s, some behave like aggressive drunks. I’ve seen it for myself. It’s often mistaken for dementia, but their behaviour returns to normal once they’ve had enough fluids. So, like Soprano, I do not condone his aggressive behaviour but I do take exception to people condemning him without trying to understand the context at the time and comparing him to Britain’s worst serial killer.
This is one incident in a list of incidents. The man is an abuser. There may well be a ‘reason’ for it, but there always will be a reason for abuse if you search for it. I can perfectly well understand what Soprano is saying, and I like many others here thinks she is wrong and part of the problem. My use of Shipman’s name was not as a comparison as you well know. You also astonishingly haven’t worked out that many of the people here have or do work under him and maybe have more insight than you have from reading about a single incident.
So search for it.
a) it has already been made clear it was an illustration, not a direct comparison. It’s not a difficult difference to grasp.
b) of course people said he looked ill in hindsight. It’s for the same reason they’ve been silent publicly – they’re all terrified to do otherwise, and many verge on Stockholm Syndrome. I am ever-thankful I got out when I did.
I worked for him for over 10 years and this isn’t a generalised statement. I rarely felt safe around him because his temper tantrums often came out of nowhere and I always knew that all of us could be sacked on a whim. People would rightly feel even more unsafe’ now given that he might lash out physically with so little provocation as in this latest case.
‘Soprano’ should take a leaf out of the Women’s Spanish Football team’s playbook. They know how to stand up for themselves, their teammates and their industry. So many lessons could be learned.
If you’re 80 and reflecting on violence you have had a serious problem for a long long time, specifically for those around you throughout your life.
Continued terrible behaviour in a position of power which the whole industry has been aware of. To end up actually physically abusing a soloist, suddenly waking up and reflecting on it at age 80 seems a little late to me.
What a load of rubbish. No remorse. Managements take note. Musicians don’t want to work with this disgusting bully.
The thing is that many of us do work for him, and we don’t have a problem.
Maybe you would feel differently if it was you he punched.
And the converse is that many of us do or have worked for him and do have a problem. Perhaps you were one of the lucky ones.
And you’re complicit in his abuse, Maria.
To summon up a quote from the 1983 film “Yentl”, which I’m sure JEG has seen but obviously hasn’t assimilated:
“He who controls his passions is the strongest”
Yes, a rough transcription from the scriptures, but very fitting his situation.
Which is pretty much the same message as the end of Orfeo, a work which JEG has studied intimately and performed many times…
Excellent point. Shakespeare makes the same assertion in Sonnet 94, doing so perhaps more effectively than the scriptures.
The Toscaninis, Celibidaches and Karajans could shout at people. But I’m not aware of any incidence of physical violence, followed by a written apology 48 hrs later.
But would it surprise you if they did?
The bad behavior of the pre-war conductors was seldom discussed, and when it was, it was viewed as a virtue — they were so dedicated to the music that they had to be a bully.
And these conductors would fire musicians over the most minor infraction and destroy people’s careers.
For sure: he can reflect at great length, whilst Mr Thomas – hopefully – considers legal action.
Shame on all those people saying that it’s time to move on. Would you have the same perspective, if the punch had landed on your mouth?
That’s the American way!
I have no direct experience of Mr Gardiner – ie have never worked with him – but I’ve seen his interaction with his musicians on stage after performances, which led me to believe that he is someone, whom one should be vary about.
This kind of behaviour is predicated on the notion that the offender is never wrong and the victim is never right.
Diplomatically this is the wrong move.
Cancelling major appearances in Europe will draw even more attention to his misbehaviour.
Once the international press learn about the background of JEG’s absence, there will be no mercy, and he will soon find himself as personam non grata, at the level of Netrebko, Domingo and Gergiev.
He should have stood up right infront of his colleague musicians and apologised. Then he should have asked them politely whether the tour could be continued to make up for what should never have happened.
Then a spontaneous public hug…JEG embracing Will Thomas on stage.
It can be easy to forgive if there is an opportunity to do so.
The international press had learned about the background of JEG’s absence before either of us wrote these comments.
Sure, but they seemed to be holding a protective hand over him before we wrote above comments.
Yes, repent and forgive are far better qualities, and can very quickly heal.
What would you think if he had punched a soprano, Maria? It’s not a serious crime because it was a bass?
It’s obvious from his anecdotal history that Sir John has serious psychological issues that for years have been either ignored or even justified and “excused” because of his numerous successes. His egotistic narcissism has finally reached its limit! Hopefully, now he’ll get the medical help he so desperately needs during what should be a long hiatus!
Not sure we should be in the habit of diagnosing mental health conditions based on news reports and comment threads… perhaps best left to the qualified?
Yes, best left to the qualified and far more sympathetic.
It’s Sir John Eliot, if uk please.
Here’s the title of the post had the conductor been black:
“Just In: violent, far left, diversity baton with ‘rocky’ complex gives apology. Too little too late – lock him up!”
These imaginary hypothetical “if the conductor had been Black” posts you keep making are really unhelpful and your point is quite unclear. please stop.
Oh but they are a PERFECT example of the MO of this blog: the not-so-subtle use of euphemisms to cover up for UK/european artists regardless of any abhorrent action, and at the same time the vitriolic, surgical use of adjectives to always put into question other types of artists who HAPPEN (by oh, an astrological coincidence) to not be from the UK or have anything to do with diversity.
Pretty sure if a black conductor had done this, many here would’ve personally called the police….
I guess you must have missed the dozens of comments condemning JEG’s behaviour and demanding he resign or be prosecuted.
Now let’s retire him from the Carnegie Hall concerts next season as well.
I wonder if this incident happened because the conductor might be jealous of the young singer’s good looks?
That is a pointless remark
That thought did pass my mind, very briefly.
How stupid. More about you than JEG or the soloist.
If this were a sudden aberration from his usual behavior, it would indeed be very concerning and may spark some sympathy in terms of speculating about some sort of dementia onset. However, JEG has been like this his entire life – and now he thinks he has the right to go around slapping people for exiting the stage incorrectly. What a nut. The time has long since come to put him out to pasture.
He should never take to the podium again and he should pay a handsome sum for striking a colleague.
What if he has genuinely got dementia or Alzheimer’s?
Then perhaps it is time to retire. If you are, for whatever reason, at risk of violently assaulting your colleagues, then it’s time to stop.
What a bummer that would be for the haters.
Then what has his excuse been for 50 years? The conditions you lightly use as excuses cause behaviour that is out of character, which this patently is not.
The question no-one has hitherto posed is whether Jiggy’s violence is meted out as run of the mill 21st century intimidation, or is it served up in a historically authentic manner?
This was the right and proper thing to do maestro, and we will respect you for that.
Retire is what you should do Elliot Gardiner!!!
I saw you conducting one time in Paris from the back of the orchestra facing you directly and the way you moved your hands didn’t exactly look to me like there was much musical knowledge or wisdome involved in it. I could have scratched my belly and chest, the way you did it, for a fraction of what you’ve been collecting. As a matter fact for your trantrum and abuse you should be in prison not issuing apologies!
His Royal Highnes should free Sir JEG from the burden of his Knighthood.
Did JEG not slap a musician on a previous occasion some years ago? Maybe he needs to retire and get some rest in an environment which soothes his temper(ament)….?
Deeply regrets committing the act, or deeply regrets the embarrassment it’s caused him? If there had been no public kickback, would he feel any remorse? Would he even think about it at all?
I think he would have thought about it, end of.
A violent, aggressive and clearly dangerous man who should be prosecuted in a Court of Law for assault. He’s just showcasing the arrogance of the upper echelons of the UK classical music establishment
Obviously written by his agents and not the least bit heartfelt. If it were he would confess to his many previous incidents. This hideous lowlife should immediately retire.
Sometimes, elderly men lose control of their anger. The talent and genius remains, and should not be overlooked. The dynamic of music director/conductor tends to favor authoritarian behavior. In the elderly, struggling with fatigue, combined with a generational gap problem, anger can replace proper judgement. Although the language of the apology has been shaped by an advisor of some kind, Sir John, no doubt, is feeling genuinely sorry for his loss of control. Let’s move on and discuss more peaceful topics.
Ah yes, I was waiting to hear excuses for a troubled and tormented ageing genius whose intermittent indiscretions can gently but surely be swept under the carpet, because it’s all in the name of Great Art, don’t you know? Exacting standards, not suffering fools gladly, you know the drill, it’s all in the apologist’s handbook. Nothing to see here, move on!
Since when does being a conductor favour “authoritarian behavior”? As if the orchestra and artists are young ebullient charges at a long established Public School that need a firm hand from time to time to keep them in line. Dear oh dear, what century are we in?
Well… his decision to flee the jurisdiction was rational, and militates against your tolerance of his initial violence. I think you’re also underestimating the impact on the other musicians present: I gather some of the orchestra were shattered by the scene and its aftermath.
Hi Simon, as you seem to be privy to information that isn’t in the public domain: Has a police report been made? Did Sir John not leave for an emergency doctor’s appointment? And were the orchestra upset about the scene or the fact that they had lost their conductor? Thanks!
It would always be shocking when a musician, supposedly amongst the most civilised of beings, behaves like a wild animal towards his fellow artists. One might have hoped that throughout his career he may have learned that the culture of fear is not productive and moderated his behaviour. Although not the most talented, we can only imagine the heights his legacy may have achieved without it. Sadly I feel there is not a hint of regret in his statement, and he must be content to be remembered as a mediocre, aggressive tyrant.
In my view blaming ones arrogant and violent behaviour on the weather is not very credible. Medication, perhaps. But unfortunately in this case the medication is very late.
It is entirely credible. The research shows a well established link between high temperatures and aggression, because when the body is stressed by heat, it is flooded with the fight or flight hormone. In addition, when the brain’s temperature increases, that can lead to irritability and aggression (as in fever). It’s worse for older people because they have more difficulty maintaining normal body temperature in very hot conditions – many die. They also commonly take some medications that reduce sweating as a side effect and make overheating more likely at high temperatures. Many of the comments above are ill informed and ignorant.
Opera Fan- then how do you explain his previous misdemeanors which took place in temperate climates and spanned a 60 year old career? I suggest that it’s you who is misinformed and ignorant. You think this is s one off incident? Go do your homework.
He’s hardly the right person to “reflect on his actions”. He needs professional help for his repetitive psychopathic (and other) tendencies and should not be back on any podium until given the OK by that professional.
This appalling incident is common assault and should have been reported to the Police. The victim has a case he could win damages.
The great Charles Mingus once punched his trombone player Jimmie Knepper in the mouth, breaking teeth, nearly ruining his embouchure and shrinking his range. And yet they eventually reconciled and worked together again, giving us many more illustrious recordings. Tempers flare and people make bad decisions. An apology was made and no excuses were floated. Let’s move on.
He’s done the right thing and I’m sure he’s sincere, but this incident is very serious indeed and will have repercussions, not least for the ORR and Monteverdi Choir. For Gardiner it might be the beginning of the end: Salzburg and Vienna will turn a blind eye, Berlin certainly will not, France cannot. London will be tough now, too.
What is the basis for your assuming that Salzburg and Vienna would turn a blind eye?
Netrebko…
that is their modus operandi
They turned a blind eye to Hitler to say the very least.
It’s good thing he didn’t notice the dirty spoon.
Marc Daniel van Biemen, violist in the Concertgebouw orchestra, published a book (‘Violist’) in which he is very honest about his experiences with conductors. About Gardiner he writes: ‘he’s 80 years old and very lightly inflammable. In no time he can get verbally agressive. Sad these conductors exist. Out of chaos they create their world. But at the expense of the people around them’
Is his behaviour the reason why years ago a very, very famous European orchestra – one of the very few able to hand-pick who they work with – abruptly stopped working with JEG without ever giving an explanation for that?
why not say which orch ?
This is an admission of wrongdoing. A civil action and/or criminal one (assault and battery) is coming.
Retire gracefully now, with dignity.
I’m very pleased, indeed proud, to say that I don’t have a single recording by JEG. I think he’s a con-man! This is shocking behaviour and, although he has issued an apology, I think he should now retire. I wouldn’t miss him.
Utterly shameful, indefensible thuggery from someone who should know better! Musical history can cite plenty of examples of conductors having a reputation for being tartars or even bullies (eg. Toscanini, Klemperer, Boulez, Solti etc.), but without exception, they always managed to maintain sufficient composure to confine their most temperamental outbursts to the verbal domain. John Elliot Gardiner has struck a new, unacceptable low in physically assaulting a musical colleague, which should not, and indeed, MUST NOT, go unpunished. A clear message needs to be sent out that there is NO place in the musical world for those such as Gardiner, who exhibit such loathsome, disreputable conduct.
Hot weather? So when it turns all cold and icy, he goes all sweet and cuddly?
Wait a minute…… Jeggy has been inflicting violence on music for years. Of course, it’s authentic violence, tho.
Has he apologised for all the other aggressions and physical assaults that have littered his career?
What a luck the guy involved in the incident wasn’t black…..we would have pulled out the guillotine already….JEG lost his temper….who never does?
The last time I hit someone was when I was 4 years old. Quite a few years ago. Losing your temper is not a punishable legal offense, hitting someone in the face, on the contrary, is. It is called assault, and the perpretator should face the consequences.
Yet again a career ended by 48 hours of Mccarthyist media frenzy.
Mary, I wonder if you’d feel the same if it was you, or your son or daughter, who had been punched in the face after coming off stage?
I’ve been to dozens of JEG’s performances and have never seen orchestra members or singers looking “wary” or like they “don’t want to work with him”. Instead, they’ve seemed enthusiastic, pleased to be there – especially young chorus members with solos – and thrilled at the exciting performances they’ve produced under his baton. I bet they appreciate the wonderful reviews, too. As for suggestions that he “(is) mediocre”, “might not be terribly bright” or that there isn’t “much musical knowledge or wisdom involved in his conducting”, nothing could be further from the truth. He does need to make reparation and learn from this experience, but if he failed to return to the podium it would be a huge loss to classical music.
What you see as an audience member, with all due respect, in no way reflects what may happen in rehearsal or behind the scenes. You haven’t seen the tantrums, the shouting and screaming, the bullying, the humiliation, the picking on individuals, the psychological breaking of people. Yes, there is undoubtedly a fantastic energy in performances – but at what cost?
I have never seen someone reply to SO many comments on here. This is a real crusade for you, and I bet you’ve never even met the guy…
JEG did wrong, he’s deffo been a prick and he’s allegedly hit a couple of people in a 60 year career.
Is he a nice guy? No. Is he a brilliant musician? Yes. Does he deserve to be called out? Yes. Does he deserve this level of self-righteous tearing down? No.
A lot of the people piling on publicly have never worked with him (because he’s never booked them) or in one higher profile example, because their career is in a ditch.
I hope he gets some help, sorts out whatever issue is making him act like this – because normal people don’t punch people – and gets back on the podium.
I’ve worked for him on and off for over 20 years. I reply because I’m puzzled at so many defending or excusing his behaviour and want to stand up for the musicians who are at the sharp end of this. We can’t win – on the one hand, you’ve got people saying well genius has its price, what’s a bit of physical violence, etc; on the other, you’ve got people saying that musicians still working for him are cowards, complicit in the abuse, or that they only work for MCO because they’re not good enough to have a career elsewhere.
The fact that you don’t think the people commenting here have worked for him is astonishing.
I cannot for the life of me see why this has elicited such a protracted debate. Hitting someone in the face is assault.
If an employee were to hit another employee, this would be, prima facie, an act of gross misconduct that could result in summary dismissal without recourse to the standard disciplinary procedures. The same should apply to one musician hitting another during a musical event. The merits, or otherwise, of JEG as a musician are irrelevant. He should no longer be engaged to work with musicians as they would be at risk. Worse still, JEG’s assault did not take place during a fraught rehearsal but when a player left the stage from the wrong side!
There have been plenty of martinet conductors renowned for fierce displays of malevolence towards errant performers: to mention just a few, Mahler, Solti, Szell, Toscanini and Rozinski, who even toted a gun during a rehearsal. But I don’t know of any who physically assaulted any musicians. (I guess that SDs erudite contributors might furnish some examples though.) Having written this, a ‘man bites dog’ incident comes to mind – JS Bach was supposedly beaten up by a bassoonist whose playing he had criticised!
Apologies do not exculpate the perpetrator. Nevertheless, it has been suggested that JEG may be suffering from some kind of mental disorder. If that is the case, then he should retire immediately and volunteer to pay an appropriate sum to the victim to avoid legal action, unless the victim venerates JEG so highly that he considers it an honour to be hit by such an eminent musician. After all, Hans von Bulow considered it an honour to have his wife stolen by Wagner!
Here’s hoping that Jeggy’s final Aria has no da Capo!
He is a fake..
Pardon my saying this in rather harsh terms, but THIS IS WHERE THE S*** HITS THE FAN! One gets the unpleasant impression that 80-year-olds are ruling the classical headlines – and that FOR ALL THE WRONG REASONS! A tenor is extending his career artificially by pretending to be a baritone. A conductor is as wobbly on his feet as are some of the entrances he gives to the orchestras at his mercy. And now a young bass has been used by another conductor as a PUNCHING BAG! If one expects decency from the younger generation, then the elderly should lead by example – by GOOD example.
JEG behaved badly, but the hyperbolic, condemnatory tone used by some here speaks of their own anger issues and itself resembles bullying. Why would anyone behave as bizarrely as JEG did and risk everything if they were thinking clearly? Extreme heat can make us confused and irate, especially elderly people, who are often taking pills that make matters worse. In very high temperatures, diuretics for blood pressure control can cause severe dehydration, which is well known to trigger behaviour, including aggression, that can be mistaken in old people for dementia. Google it if you don’t believe me. “Soprano” says JEG already looked ill by the end of Act 2 and yet he pushed on for another three. Who here could conduct a vast grand opera with a huge cast, chorus and orchestra and not feel the strain in normal temperatures, let alone at 39 C and at the age of 80? JEG needs to work on temper control and make amends, but he does deserve some understanding. I hope he recovers and returns since there are musicians who DO want to work with him and many music lovers who want to hear his music. PS I’m grateful the haters weren’t around to shut down the careers of Beethoven, Berlioz, Bach, Handel and others when they behaved badly.
No, “soprano” said she was told he looked ill. By revisionist sycophants terrified for their positions. He has behaved that badly for decades, and worse, in all conditions. These are feeble excuses for a man who would have been sacked on the spot in any other walk of life.
Didon- he’s had understanding all his career. Are you really not listening? This behaviour has happened before. This is why there are so many comments. He has got away with it all his life. Enough is enough. Hitting a colleague will never be ok- medication or heat are not excuses for this behaviour. A precendent needs to be set now.
Faute avouée, faute oubliée…………?
Faute avouée, faute oubliée………….? ? ?