Gardiner to lead new orchestra and choir

A renowned conductor who withdrew from professional engagements midway through 2023 after attacking a soloist has formed a new orchestra and choir.

Sir John Eliot Gardiner, the founder and former leader and Artistic Director of Monteverdi Choir & Orchestras (MCO), stepped away from performances after an incident which saw him punch a singer during a concert in southern France.

He returned to conducting in July, the same month the Monteverdi board said it had decided Gardiner would not be returning to the organisation following 60 years of cooperation.

READ MORE:

• Gardiner to step down from Monteverdi after assault
• Gardiner withdraws from all future performances this year

Gardiner announced the formation of Constellation Choir and Constellation Orchestra, under the umbrella Springhead Constellation, yesterday (9 September). According to an online filing, Springhead Constellation Ltd was incorporated as an active company on August 21, with Gardiner registered as the lone shareholder.

The constellation's performances will be led by the 81-year old. A series of five concerts in Germany, France, Austria and Luxembourg are scheduled for this December, ahead of a tour throughout 2025 and into 2026.

“Since my return to conducting in Montpellier in July, I have been deeply moved and inspired by the extremely warm and enthusiastic messages of support I have received from musicians, presenters and promoters alike,” Gardiner said.

“More than anything else, I am so excited and grateful to be working with such exceptional musicians once again, not forgetting the important lessons I have learnt and needed to learn from the past year.”

First concert

The Springhead Constellation’s first performance will take place at Hamburg’s Elbphilharmonie on December 7.

The ensemble will perform the same Christmas baroque music by Marc-Antoine Charpentier and Johann Sebastian Bach that MCO is set to perform at the same venue exactly a week later.

The Elbphilharmonie’s press release says Gardiner was originally scheduled to lead the December 14 performance before parting ways with MCO.

MCO’s performance, now to be led by French baroque specialist Christophe Rousset, will feature English baroque soloists and the Monteverdi Choir.

The venue says it is offering ticket holders the opportunity to change the date of their tickets if they wish.