British conductor Edward Gardner is in hot water after Teatro San Carlo and the Mayor of Naples have accused him of defamation.
Speaking to The Times in January, Gardner commented on his recent debut at the Naples opera house, in a seemingly offhand manner. “The chorus is made up of two rival mafia families — who after one performance put each other in A&E.”
Gaetano Manfredi, Mayor of Naples and chairman of the San Carlo Foundation’s board has since hit back publicly. “These are very serious allegations that are completely unfounded. We will act to protect the reputation of the San Carlo Theatre and its employees,” he said.
“The defamatory statements attributed to Gardner undermine the prestige of a cultural institution of worldwide importance,” said lawyers Angelo and Sergio Pisani, who spoke on behalf of the theatre. “Unfounded attacks such as these risk undermining the credibility of an institution that has made an important contribution to the dissemination of art and music for centuries.”
Gardner has since released a statement, released by Teatro San Carlo. “I wish to offer my most sincere apologies to the Artists of the Chorus of the Teatro di San Carlo in Naples for my recent statements. I have deep respect and sincere esteem for the Chorus and for each of its members,” Gardner said.
Gardner made the claim after speaking about Mark-Anthony Turnage’s new opera Festen, which depicts a feuding family at a birthday party.
