A London orchestra erases John Eliot Gardiner
NewsEyebrows rose in April last year when the struggling Philharmonia Orchestra added a new name to its masthead. The venerable Sir John Eliot Gardiner was to be Principal Guest Conductor Emeritus of the Philharmonia Orchestra.
JEG called it ‘a wonderful homecoming’. The Philharmonia said: ‘Following a gap of 23 years, the Orchestra was thrilled to reignite its relationship with Sir John Eliot Gardiner during the Covid lockdowns.’
That reunion has apparently now ended. Visitors to the Philharmonia website have noticed that the much talked-about conductor is no longer among its list of titled artists.
Here’s how it looked until recently.
Sic transit.
JEG resigned the position as he was still taking time out at that point
Good for him, and good for music. He was a great artist who made a significant mark, but his legendary bad-temperedness was well-known, and then escalating to physical violence has earned him a trip out the stage door for good.
What trip? JEG has quite a few upcoming concerts on his schedule, both with his new band and other orchestras
Very sad to read this about JEG. But isn’t it time for retirement anyway, at this stage of life? The changing of the guard, and all that…
JEG has not been listed as a titled associate on any Philharmonia literature I have seen since the start of the season; do keep up slowcoaches.
John Eliot Gardiner erased Philarmonia Orchestra
Odious and badly behaved. Deluded that he was above showing basic manners. Good connections and amazing talent protected him for decades. Singers and musicians feared him and the loss of work if they stood up to his bullying and aggressive behaviour. Thank God there are protocols and systems in place to protect victims of behaviour like his these days. Now let the outage ensue ‘he is a genius, hang the woke, etc etc yawn..
A 70+ as a principal guest conductor? Are they nuts?
Really stupid idea as JE G is still one of the best conductors around and he has apologized many times. Woke gone crazy
Woke is aware of wrong. His repute as a fine musician cannot outmeasure the long litany of bad behaviors so long hidden. U bettuh be afraid cuz Woke will be standard before any of yall Euro derived skulls are asleep underground. Enough Stalins ,Francos and our American versions. Many will see these welcome and unwelcome vistas. This Negro is gonna hang around!
‘Struggling’
In the last few weeks they’ve played a sold out Mahler 5 with Alsop, standing ovation, toured Italy and played at RFH with EPS – also receiving standing ovations, and last night performed a packed out Mahler 9 with Maestro Blomstedt.
Looking a little further ahead shows a January completely on tour with 2/3 titled conductors, a return for the brilliant Honeck and a Verdi Req with Mutti.
I’ve heard rumours of an autumn spent almost entirely on tour in 2025. Let’s quit the unnecessary ridiculing of a great orchestra that is coming (or should I say ‘has come’) back to life.
I don’t know why this description needs to include “venerable.” To me, that’s not an adjective used for someone who punches their colleagues in the face and bullies others for years on end.