Edward Gardner is apologizing for comments made regarding the Teatro Carlo’s chorus.

The English conductor said, “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.”

He added, “Shortly before my arrival in Naples I was informed that two members of the chorus had a public fight just outside the theatre resulting in one person being hospitalised. I was very surprised by this. However I did not intend to suggest that the choir were members of the mafia, and I am more than happy to retract that allegation.”

The apology comes after Gardner suggested that the chorus was made up of mafia members in an interview with the Times. He said, “The chorus is made up of two rival mafia families — who after one performance put each other in A&E.”

The comments created a backlash and had Gaetano Manfredi, Mayor of Naples and chairman of the San Carlo Foundation’s board hit back. He said, “These are very serious allegations that are completely unfounded. We will act to protect the reputation of the San Carlo Theatre and its employees. 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.”

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