The conductor Sir John Eliot Gardiner has launched a new musical ensemble, the Springhead Constellation, following his departure from the Monteverdi Choir and Orchestras (MCO) after a high-profile incident in 2023 in which he punched a singer.

Gardiner's new venture, the Constellation Choir and Constellation Orchestra, marks a fresh chapter for the 81-year-old maestro. The ensemble's debut performance will take place on 7 December 2024 at Hamburg’s Elbphilharmonie (one week before MCO presents the same programme in the venue), followed by additional concerts in Germany, France, Austria, and Luxembourg through 2025.

Springhead Constellation was created in response to personal invitations from several European venues to ‘bring his unique style and quality of performance to their audiences’, according to a press release.

The ensemble’s repertoire for its December concerts will focus on Baroque music, featuring works by Marc-Antoine Charpentier and Johann Sebastian Bach, a nod to Gardiner's expertise in historical performance.

Gardiner's return to the podium comes after a temporary withdrawal from conducting following his altercation with a soloist. In recent statements, Gardiner has emphasised his gratitude for the support he has received and his eagerness to apply the lessons learned from his past experience​.

Photo: Sir John Eliot Gardiner, credit Sim Canetty-Clarke

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