John Eliot Gardiner Conducts Again After Assault-Induced Sabbatical

Conductor Sir John Eliot Gardiner returns to the stage after an enforced sabbatical following an incident last year, where he struck a singer.

Gardiner will appear at the head of the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France for a concert featuring Weber's Oberon Overture, Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 1, and Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 2. Taking the solo in the Beethoven concerto is pianist Piotr Anderszewski. The concert is set to take place at the Opéra Berlioz in Montpellier on July 16.

The concert marks the end of Gardiner's months-long withdrawal from public life, instigated when the conductor assaulted bass William Thomas. Conducting a production of Berlioz's Les Troyens at the Berlioz Festival in La Côte Saint André, Gardiner became annoyed when Thomas exited on the wrong side of the stage. Going to the singers backstage-and out of sight of the audience-Gardiner slapped and punched Thomas, and threatened to throw a half-empty glass of beer over his head.

Gardiner later apologized for his behavior, saying: "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, which has been so dear to my heart." He added: "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."

A representative of the conductor said that the octogenarian conductor suffered from the heat in France, and that his behavior may have been provoked by a recent change in medication.

Dinis Sousa took Gardiner's place in a number of engagements, including at last year's BBC Proms. Gardiner has yet to be reunited with his ensembles, the English Baroque Soloists and the Monteverdi Choir. In the meantime, Peter Whelan has been conducting the groups in Israel in Egypt on their European tour.