A renowned octogenarian conductor and friend of King Charles has come under fire for allegedly assaulting a singer who left the stage from the wrong side — after telling the blunderer he wanted to dump his beer over his head.
Classical conductor Sir John Eliot Gardiner, 80, reportedly smacked around 29-year-old William Thomas, an English bass singer, following a show in La Cote-Saint-Andre in France.
Gardiner was conducting a performance of “The Trojans” with his Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique in the southeastern town, classical music website Slipped Disc reported.
The conductor reportedly confronted Thomas about his faux pas while the musicians were celebrating in the wings, out of sight of audience members.
Gardiner allegedly approached the group with a half pint of beer in hand and told Thomas, “I feel like throwing this over your head.”
The 80-year-old conductor then allegedly slapped and punched Thomas in the face.
A representative for Gardiner told the outlet he was suffering from extreme heat and recently changed medication, which may have caused the conduct “that he now regrets.”
Following the altercation, Gardiner announced he would be leaving for London to see his doctor, with Thursday’s show being his final performance.
He also said he will withdraw from all engagements until next year to focus on his mental health and receive treatment from a counselor, the Guardian reported.
“He deeply regrets his behavior and recognizes that it has had a significant impact on colleagues for whom he has the most profound admiration and respect. Eliot has striven to encourage and support generations of talented artists, and he passionately believes that all performers should feel comfortable and secure in their working environment,” a statement from his management read.
The conductor issued a public apology to colleagues “who have felt badly treated and anyone who may feel let down by my decision to take time out to address my issues.”
“I am heartbroken to have caused so much distress and I am determined to learn from my mistakes,” he said.
Gardiner, the founder and artistic director of the Monteverdi Choir and Orchestra, has won two Grammy awards and received more Gramophone Classical Music Awards than any other living artist.
He was chosen by his friend, King Charles, to lead the first 20 minutes of music at his coronation in May.
