"Conductor John Eliot Gardiner Faces Accusations and Abrupt Festival Departure"
Renowned conductor John Eliot Gardiner has been accused of hitting a singer backstage during a performance of Berlioz's opera "Les Troyens" at the Festival Berlioz in France. The incident occurred when the singer, William Thomas, headed the wrong way off the podium. Gardiner, known for his contributions to the period-instrument movement, has withdrawn from the festival and returned to London to see his doctor. The incident has sparked criticism in the classical music industry, with calls for consequences and an investigation by the Proms, where Gardiner is scheduled to conduct.