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Friday 1, September

Famous conductor drops out of Berlin show after slapping soloist

After assaulting a vocalist backstage, renowned English conductor John Eliot Gardiner has pulled out of his Berliner Philharmoniker performance tonight.

Photo: IMAGO / localpic

Friday 1, September

Famous conductor drops out of Berlin show after slapping soloist

Tonight’s show at the Berliner Philharmoniker has had to be be rearranged at the last minute as the renowned English conductor John Eliot Gardiner dropped out after slapping and punching a singer.

Like something straight out of Tár, the assault went down dramatically backstage at the Berlioz festival in France. Apparently, Gardiner (80) slapped and punched English bass singer William Thomas (29) after the vocalist entered the stage incorrectly at a performance last week.

Gardiner allegedly confronted Thomas after the show while the cast was celebrating in the wings. Apparently the conductor approached the group while carrying a half pint of beer and reportedly said to Thomas: “I feel like throwing this over your head.” When Thomas warned him not to, witnesses said Gardiner slapped the singer in the face and then punched him in the mouth. There was a “brief shouting battle” before Thomas left with colleagues.

Since announcing he’d be pulling out of his Berlin show and the rest of his performances for the year, Gardiner issued a statement saying: “I am heartbroken to have caused so much distress and I am determined to learn from my mistakes”. A representative for Gardiner said that the conductor was suffering from “extreme heat” in France and suggested a recent change in his medication may have contributed to his violent behaviour.