EDIT, 12:18 p.m. EDT: PLEASE NOTE:

There seems to be some discrepancy as to what aspect of the Monteverdi Choir’s directorship John Eliot Gardiner may have resigned. It could merely be from some facet of its management, but NOT its artistic directorship — in which case, presumably, from a performance standpoint, everything will continue as before. The first rule of the internet is: Don’t believe everything you read on the internet. I will certainly be following-up on this as confirmation becomes available.

I am stunned to learn that Sir John Eliot Gardiner has resigned as director of the Monteverdi Choir. Gardiner has led the ensemble since its founding in 1964 – 56 years!

In 2000, for the 250th anniversary of the death of Johann Sebastian Bach, Gardiner and his choir undertook an extensive Bach Cantata Pilgrimage, performing and recording most of the cantatas in 60 historic churches.

The two programs they presented at Princeton University’s Richardson Auditorum, of Bach’s cantata “Christ lag in Todesbanden” and motet “Singet dem Herrn ein neues Lied,” and Handel’s “Dixit Dominus” (in 2014), and Monteverdi’s “Orfeo” (in 2015), were among the most memorable of my concertgoing career.

Gardiner has a reputation for being a little prickly, but when I had the privilege to interview him in 2014, he was nothing if not patient and gentlemanly.

Gardiner will turn 77 on Monday. As of 2014, he was also running an organic farm inherited from his great-uncle, the conductor and composer Balfour Gardiner.

It’s the end of an era.

About Gardiner’s connection with Princeton philanthropist William H. Scheide:

https://www.nj.com/times-entertainment/2014/06/sir_john_eliot_gardiner_to_con.html

Gardiner leading his choir in a performance of “Dixit Dominus”: