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Tag: Monteverdi Choir

Gardiner’s Troubles Impact Princeton Performance

Unfortunately, Sir John Eliot Gardiner clocked somebody again, so he’s taking off the rest of 2023 to seek professional help and reflect. When he backed out of a touring production of Berlioz’s “The Trojans” last week, I was afraid it would come to this. Gardiner was scheduled to appear in Princeton this October to conduct Bach’s Mass in B minor with the Monteverdi Choir and the English Baroque Soloists. If the show goes on as scheduled, I’m guessing it will be taken over by his assistant conductor, Dinis Sousa. With all respect to Maestro Sousa, who may well do a fantastic job, this is a great disappointment.

I had the privilege to see Gardiner live in Princeton twice, in 2014 and 2015, thanks to the munificence of late philanthropist and humanitarian William H. Scheide, who kindly picked up the tab. I was hoping to have a chance to see him again, as both those concerts were stunners.

I also interviewed Gardiner in connection with his book, “Bach: Music in the Castle of Heaven.” I confess I was a little nervous, as he is a large man, and already there had been stories spread through social media about his temper. At the time, he had recently been alleged to have punched out a trumpet player in the London Symphony Orchestra! But I must say, I saw no evidence of any such prickliness. On the contrary, I found him to be quite the gentleman.

Gardiner established the Monteverdi Choir in 1964. He is especially renowned for his interpretations of the music of Johann Sebastian Bach. In 2000, he undertook a Bach Cantata Pilgrimage, performing and recording all the sacred cantatas in liturgical order, in churches in Europe and New York City.

More recently, he conducted at the coronation of King Charles III in May.

I hope he gets the help he needs and that he is able to return to Princeton soon. Gardiner is 80 years-old.

PHOTO: Note the ponytail. If I were Gardiner, I would definitely have punched me!

August 31, 2023
Sir John Eliot Gardiner at 80 A Musical Legacy

Sir John Eliot Gardiner has a reputation for being a bit prickly, but when I had the privilege to interview him in 2014, he was nothing of the sort. On the contrary, he was nothing if not patient and gentlemanly. I found this Gardiner’s plot to be wholly devoid of cacti.

And he’s a man who knows a thing or two about agriculture. As of the time we spoke, he was still running an organic farm inherited from his great-uncle, the conductor and composer Balfour Gardiner.

Today, Sir John turns 80. For 59 years, his cultivation has been of a different sort, as director of the Monteverdi Choir, the ensemble he found in 1964.

Surely a high point of their collaboration was in 2000, when, for the 250th anniversary of the death of Johann Sebastian Bach, Gardiner and his choristers undertook an extensive Bach Cantata Pilgrimage, performing and recording most of the cantatas in 60 historic churches.

In 2017, he and his musicians toured widely with its Monteverdi 450 project. They performed all three of Monteverdi’s surviving operas, to mark the 450th anniversary of the composer’s birth.

In between, Gardiner and his Monteverdians came to Princeton for two concerts at Richardson Auditorum: of Bach’s cantata “Christ lag in Todesbanden” and his motet “Singet dem Herrn ein neues Lied” and Handel’s “Dixit Dominus,” in 2014; and Monteverdi’s “Orfeo,” in 2015. Both were among the most memorable of my concertgoing career.

The Princeton concerts were made possible through the munificence of the late philanthropist William H. Scheide. I wrote more about Gardiner’s connection to Princeton and Mr. Scheide, through a certain Bach portrait, in an article that appeared in the Trenton Times.

https://www.nj.com/times-entertainment/2014/06/sir_john_eliot_gardiner_to_con.html?fbclid=IwAR3MB7f2qZ7M7Bco7f1H2FmUFxk5cvCUXwrUXTd5sblYJVEMcw1q4kpLHVM

Just last week, it was announced that Gardiner will conduct the Monteverdi Choir and English Baroque Soloists at King Charles’ coronation on May 6.

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-dorset-64940228

Gardiner in action, directing the Monteverdi Choir in a performance of Handel’s “Dixit Dominus”:

Happy birthday, Sir John Eliot Gardiner, and thank you for the countless bouquets of memorable music. There’s not been a thorn among them!

April 20, 2023
Gardiner Resigns from Monteverdi Choir?

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”:

April 17, 2020

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