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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Lifestyle
Peony Hirwani

Conductor Sir John Eliot Gardiner withdraws from proms after allegedly hitting singer who left stage on wrong side

DDP/AFP via Getty Images

British proms conductor Sir John Eliot Gardiner has withdrawn from the BBC Proms after being accused of “slapping and punching” a member of his choir who exited the stage on the wrong side.

During the incident, which is said to have taken place at the Berlioz Festival on Tuesday (22 August), Gardiner, 80 allegedly attacked William Thomas, 29, during a performance of the Hector Berlioz opera Les Troyens.

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