John Eliot Gardiner
Sir John Eliot Gardiner CBE HonFBA (born 20 April 1943)[1] is an English conductor, particularly known for his performances of the works of Johann Sebastian Bach, especially the Bach Cantata Pilgrimage of 2000, performing Bach's church cantatas in liturgical order in churches all over Europe, and New York City, with the Monteverdi Choir, and recording them at the locations.
SirJohn Eliot Gardiner
20 April 1943
Conductor of classical music
1964–Present
Three
- Rolf Gardiner (father)
Alan Gardiner (grandfather)
Margaret Gardiner (aunt)
Martin Bernal (cousin)
Howard Hodgkin (cousin)
Personal life[edit]
Gardiner is the son of the British rural revivalist Rolf Gardiner (1902–1971), and the grandson of the Egyptologist Alan Gardiner (1879–1963). His mother, Marabel Hodgkin, was a member of the Hodgkin family, a notable Quaker family; the artist Sir Howard Hodgkin (1932–2017) was Gardiner's first cousin.[45]
Gardiner was married to violinist Elizabeth Wilcock from 1981 to 1997; they have three daughters. From 2001 to 2019 he was married to Isabella de Sabata,[46] granddaughter of conductor Victor de Sabata.[47]
In his spare time, Gardiner runs a farm at Springhead near Fontmell Magna[48] in North Dorset, which was established by his great-uncle, composer Henry Balfour Gardiner. His continued involvement in this project has earned him the nickname 'Uphill Gardiner' as a consequence of his unorthodox farming methods.
In August 2014, Gardiner was one of 200 public figures who were signatories to a letter to The Guardian opposing Scottish independence in the run-up to September's referendum on that subject.[49]