John Eliot Gardiner makes Bologna debut
OrchestrasThe Teatro Communale has invited the controversy-ridden Englishman to conduct its orchestra and chorus in Mendelssohn’s Midsummer Night’s Dream on December 7.
That’s the night La Scala opens its season and all Italian opera-lovers are glued to a screen.
The sales pitch:
He has won two Grammys and received more Gramophone Awards for his recordings than any other living artist; he has performed with major international orchestras, from the Berlin Philharmonic to the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra; he has founded world-renowned ensembles, standing out as a central figure in the revival of early music and a pioneer of historically informed performance. The great English conductor Sir John Eliot Gardiner is the protagonist of the extraordinary concert offered by the Teatro Comunale di Bologna on Sunday, December 7th at 5:30 pm in the Auditorium Manzoni. For his debut at the head of the Orchestra and the Women’s Chorus—conducted by Gea Garatti Ansini—of the Bologna Lyric-Symphonic Foundation, Gardiner has chosen to perform some musical numbers from A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Op. 61 (MWV M13) by Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy—with soloists Chiara Salentino, soprano, and Matilde Lazzaroni, mezzo-soprano, from the TCBO Choir—alongside Antonín Dvořák’s Symphony No. 6 in D major, Op. 60, B. 112.
If I were in charge of advertising for that concert I’d be inclined to take an internet-age and sensationalist approach to promoting this concert, along the lines of: “Not to be missed, will a British Peer of The Realm punch anyone”.
He is not a peer, you misunderstand the honours system….
Dear Ulysses: it’s not meant to be factual, you misunderstand advertising and satire.
Sir John Eliot Gardiner was knighted in 1998 !
What they didn’t say is that Jake Paul is lining him up for 8 rounds with 10 oz gloves after he dispenses of Anthony Joshua next month… Check his schedule and he is free any time Jake wants to go into the ring with him. I would sign up on pay to view.
Good for him to make a debut in his 9th decade! Hoping we get a chance to hear him back in the UK soon.
I’ll be there
Great to see him back working. His new group Constellation seems to have loads of concerts!
Why the negative tone ? Sir JEG has made major and lasting contributions to music over 5/6 decades. He has explored interpretation, made hundred of recordings, formed one of the great choruses, employed and thousands of artists and written
about music and musicians. His work has inspired many to listen to music with an open mind to new ideas. Please give credit where credit is due !!
Another great man, along with Muti!
Bravi tutti!
Where’s the controversy? Stop the cancel culture and beating a dead horse. The guy had already gone to therapy and mended his ways.
John Eliot Gardiner is an ideal conductor for Mendelssohn.
I’m a fan, even if he has a temper-control issue.
Never saw manifestation if this
Well you should try having him punch you in the face. Then come back and tell us if you are still a fan.
Perhaps the progressive music lovers will take a break from Palestine for a night of protest against the “controversy-ridden Englishman”. A good occasion to learn where the Teatro Comunale (spelt with a single m) is situated.
Another great man!
We all love John Eliot Gardiner.
It will be a hard-hitting performance.
Ok, as a human being he is an arsehole, as a musical artist and enabler he is up with the greatest. Difficult!
I feel your pain.
Beethoven, Wagner and Bach to name but three were all difficult personalities. I am not putting JEG in that league, but he is an extraordinary recreator of all sorts of repertoire (his Bach pilgrimage concerts were outstanding in their gentle beauty).
I know he can be a total nightmare to work for, and no, hitting people out of frustration is not acceptable, but it is the age old issue of separating an artist’s work from a difficult personality or unacceptable political stance. If we restrict ourselves to art made by saints and nice people, culture would be considerably poorer.
I think using the terms saints and nice people is disingenuous. Punching someone who is performing for you is far beyond any normal reasonable behaviour under any circumstances. In that respect I think it is right that he is called out for it.