Musicians quit orchestra in protest over departure of Proms conductor who ‘punched’ singer

Musicians have quit an orchestra in protest over the departure of a world-renowned British conductor after he allegedly punched a singer.

Sir John Eliot Gardiner, 80, will not return to lead the Monteverdi Choir, which he created 60 years ago, amid the fallout from a backstage altercation at a festival in south-east France.

In May last year, after performing the opera Les Troyens (The Trojans), at the Berlioz Festival, Sir John slapped and reportedly punched a bass singer called William Thomas, 29. He has since admitted to the slap but denied the punch.

The conductor, who performed at the King’s Coronation, underwent anger management training following the concert, but it would be his last performance with the choir.

Last month, the board of the Monteverdi Choir and Orchestras (MCO) said it “has made the decision that Sir John Eliot Gardiner… will not be returning to the organisation”.

A source told The Telegraph that the board felt there was not enough evidence that he had changed his behaviour.

But any hopes the MCO had of a harmonious exit have been dashed, as several musicians are reported to have resigned from the orchestra, and from the English Baroque Soloists, and Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique, which Sir John also formed.

Six musicians have resigned, including renowned violinist Kati Debretzeni, who has tendered her resignation from the MCO’s English Baroque Soloists orchestra after 28 years in anger at Sir John’s treatment.

Paying tribute to him, she told The Times: “At times he was a difficult person to work for. He is one of those rare musicians who are visionaries.

“There have been… incidents of him losing his temper which could be traumatising for the people involved. There is no place for this in the workplace.

“But I believe after a year out and the interventions, he understands what it is he has done.”

‘Extensive therapy’

It has been suggested the intense 37C heat at the Berlioz Festival, which was compounded by performing in the theatre, Le Théâtre-Lyrique, under full lights, while tackling a difficult piece that runs over five hours, contributed to the incident.

The British mezzo-soprano Alice Coote, who was on stage at the time, said Sir John had struggled with the heat and “got whiter and whiter as the concert went on”.

She told The Times: “When we started the concert, John Eliot was wearing a proper concert dress, and he was already completely drenched [with sweat].

“I couldn’t see his eyes through his glasses, because it was literally pouring down his glasses, like they needed windscreen wipers.”

She said he was also angered when the heat-exhausted audience failed to give a standing ovation after the performance.

Ms Coote is another musician who has been angered at Sir John’s departure.

“He has had extensive therapy and it is his orchestra, and all of these projects in the future are his,” she said. “Everything that orchestra is, every single person in the choir, is his. I deeply disagree with the fact that a year [out] isn’t enough.”

The Telegraph has contacted Sir John’s representatives and the MCO for comment.