The Bach Archive Leipzig has confirmed that an incident involving conductor Sir John Eliot Gardiner and a member of the festival staff is under review following a concert at this year’s Bachfest Leipzig.
In a statement issued on 21 June, the Bach Archive said that an incident occurred on 16 June at the end of a Bachfest concert in St Thomas’s Church, during which “a conductor behaved inappropriately towards a member of our events team.”
According to the statement, discussions were held with the staff member after the incident and psychological support was offered. The Bach Archive added that the conductor had apologised and acknowledged misconduct.
“The Board will assess the incident with due care once the Bach Festival has concluded and will put in place further measures to ensure a safe working environment,” the organisation said.
Further details were reported by German public broadcaster MDR , which said it had obtained video footage of the incident. According to MDR, the episode occurred during the final applause after a concert in Leipzig’s St Thomas’s Church. The broadcaster reported that a festival employee approached Gardiner carrying several commemorative scrolls that were being presented to performers. MDR reported that Gardiner took one of the scrolls and attempted to place it inside the employee’s shirt, an action the woman later described as an assault. The woman has reportedly filed a criminal complaint.
MDR also reported that a meeting took place the following day in the presence of Gardiner, during which the conductor apologised. According to the broadcaster, the employee was represented by two trusted individuals rather than attending in person.
Several hours after MDR’s report was published, Norman Lebrecht’s Slipped Disc website published a statement communicated on Gardiner’s behalf. In that statement, the conductor denied that any assault had taken place and described the episode as “an unfortunate misunderstanding.”
Gardiner said he had been surprised by a tap on the shoulder during the ovation and had not been informed in advance that a presentation would take place. He stated that he had been confused about what was being handed to him and had attempted to return the scroll. According to the statement, he later apologised after learning that the employee had been upset by the incident.
“I am shocked and bewildered by the suggestion of a sexual assault, or indeed an assault of any kind, and categorically deny any took place,” the statement said.
Gardiner, one of the most prominent conductors in the field of historically informed performance, has had a long association with Leipzig and the Bach Archive. He previously served as president of the institution and has been a frequent guest at the Bachfest.
The incident comes nearly three years after Gardiner withdrew from engagements following an altercation with bass William Thomas during the 2023 Berlioz Festival in France, an episode for which the conductor later apologised and said he would seek professional help.
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