Conductor John Eliot Gardiner Exits Monteverdi Choir Following Assault Allegation

The Monteverdi Choir and Orchestras (MCO) has announced that Sir John Eliot Gardiner, the renowned British conductor known for his pioneering work in baroque music, has stepped down from his role as leader and artistic director. “Following a reported assault in August 2023, John Eliot Gardiner stepped back from public music-making. He accepted full responsibility for the incident, and he has not worked with the organisation for nearly a year,” the MCO said in a statement issued on July 24. Mr. Gardiner’s departure follows an incident in August 2023 in which he allegedly hit bass singer William Thomas after a performance of Berlioz’s opera “Les Troyens” at the Festival Berlioz in La Côte-Saint-André, southeastern France....