In his rupture from the orchestras he founded, John Eliot Gardiner made it clear he is not ready to retire. He said:
For the avoidance of doubt, I am not in any sense ready to retire. I will be focusing on a rich variety of other activities including guest conducting, recording, writing, creative and education projects … as part of a lighter, lower pressure schedule.
How that will pan out remains to be seen. Gardiner still has the support of a body of players and singers within the Monteverdi Choir and Orchestras. It is not impossible that some will follow him to other pastures, should he raise funding for new ventures.
He has also looked to develop a freelance career, initially in France and East Asia but not necessarily excluding London orchestras with which he has been closely associated – the LSO and the Philharmonia. Whatever the case, he will not take long to get up again and running.
As for the Monteverdi ensembles, they are flourishing to all appearances under much younger conductors – Dinis Sousa, Jonathan Sells and Peter Whelan. Further partners will be made known at the end of the present summer.
It’s not over. Not for anyone in this long running drama.
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