EDEN CONFIDENTIAL: Maestro, 76, finds pal in harpists half his age

EDEN CONFIDENTIAL: Maestro, 76, finds a plucky pal in harpists half his age

He is renowned as one of the most innovative and dynamic figures in classical music, but Sir John Eliot Gardiner’s immense vitality and passion are not confined to his performances from the conductor’s podium.

Indeed, I can disclose that, at the age of 76, the thrice-married Gardiner has separated from his 59-year-old wife of 18 years, blonde Italian soprano Isabella de Sabata, after striking up a rapport with prize-winning Dutch harpist Gwyneth Wentink.

Barely half Gardiner’s age at 37, Ms Wentink is solo harpist of the English Baroque Soloists — the chamber orchestra founded by Gardiner, who remains its artistic director.

Sir John Eliot Gardiner with wife of 18 years, blonde Italian soprano Isabella de Sabata

The development has become the subject of excitable exchanges on a WhatsApp group involving mutual friends, as well as in the Dorset village of Fontmell Magna, close to Gardiner’s 500-acre organic farm.

A forceful, uninhibited figure knighted in 1998, Gardiner declines to comment on this latest aria in his sometimes tempestuous personal life. Gwyneth, too, chooses to remain silent. But friends of Isabella — whose late grandfather, Victor de Sabata, was a conductor of arguably even greater acclaim than her estranged husband — are distraught.

prize-winning Dutch harpist Gwyneth Wentink, 37

‘She’s vivacious, fun and friendly,’ says one. ‘She and John have a shared passion for Bach, but it’s obvious that they’ve been having problems.’

Gardiner’s first marriage, to Cherryl ffoulkes, lasted eight years. His second, to violinist Elizabeth Wilcock, whom he married in 1981, a year after his divorce from Cherryl, endured for twice as long and produced three daughters. But it seemed that, in Isabella, he had met his match.

Only two years ago, he extolled her ‘impeccable musical pedigree’, adding she is ‘very bright and astute’ and ‘can be fiery’.

Gardiner, who has observed that the relationship between guest conductor and orchestra can be unpredictable — ‘a bit like a one-night stand’ — emphasised that he saw Isabella’s fieriness as a quality, explaining: ‘It wouldn’t work if she didn’t stand up to me.’

It appears that, henceforth, Gardiner will be waving his baton in another direction.

Martin’s the ironing man of the house . . .

Martin Kemp with wife Shirlie Holliman

What is the secret to a long-lasting relationship? Silver fox Martin Kemp, who has been married for 31 years to pop singer Shirlie Holliman — a former backing singer for Wham! — claims their union has endured because they don’t indulge in kitchen-sink dramas.

‘We divvy up the household chores — you have to,’ the Spandau Ballet bassist, 57, tells me. ‘There are things I do that Shirlie won’t, and vice versa. It’s not like I only do half of the ironing, but if she does it, I’ll help in another way.’

The former EastEnders star, who has two children with Shirlie, adds: ‘And whoever cooks, the other should always do the washing up.’ 

 FOUR Weddings star Hugh Grant isn’t content with just the one marriage ceremony with Anna Eberstein. I hear the 58-year-old, who tied the knot with the Swedish TV producer, 40, at a register office in May last year, is planning a ‘lavish’ wedding party in London next month for friends and family. ‘The invitations have been sent and it’s set to be a night to remember,’ says a friend. The couple originally exchanged vows at Chelsea Old Town Hall, near their £10 million home in West London.

Ben Apsley, Lord Apsley

The smart set’s talking about…

The engagement of rower Lord Apsley 

Although not yet 30, Earl Bathurst’s only son and heir, Ben, Lord Apsley, can boast an impressive list of achievements, including serving as an officer in the Royal Marines before heading to Oxford, where he secured a place in Isis — Oxford’s second Boat Race crew.

His latest triumph is winning the heart of acclaimed sportswoman Sara Kushma (right), a fellow rower and Oxford student, to whom he has announced his engagement this week. ‘We are, obviously, very happy,’ Ben (inset) tells me. ‘We met at Said Business School last year while studying and rowing together.’

For all his prowess on the water, the heir to 15,000 Gloucestershire acres and Cirencester Park, where William and Harry play polo, admits his fiancee is a few lengths ahead of him.

‘She was in the women’s Blue Boat last year,’ he explains, adding that he and New Yorker Sara intend to marry next year. 

Sportswoman Sara Kushma, who Lord Apsley announced his engagement to earlier this week

ONCE described as home to the ‘famous, infamous and the notorious’, the legendary Dolphin Square in Pimlico, Central London, has a colourful history, including the moment Winston Churchill’s daughter, Sarah, was evicted from the square for hurling gin bottles out of her window. Its newest resident, I can disclose, is Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage, who has moved into a two-bedroom flat, once the London home of the ex-Tory leader William Hague. Farage may appreciate that among the many residents of the Thirties block was Charles de Gaulle, who stayed during the war as leader of the Free French. 

Musician Paul Weller of The Jam and his daughter Leah Weller

Don’t panic, Leah, just give it some Welly 

Despite being the daughter of ‘The Modfather’ Paul Weller and The Style Council’s Dee C. Lee, model and singer Leah admits she doesn’t take easily to life in the spotlight.

‘I get very bad anxiety and I suffer from panic attacks day to day,’ the 27-year-old (pictured with her dad) tells me at the launch of her six-month residency at Pizza Express in Langham Place, near Oxford Circus.

‘It’s funny that I’ve chosen a line of work where I have to get up in front of people — it’s nerve- racking, but I like performing so much that it makes all the anxiety worth it.’

 

 Annabelle’s lined up for stage debut

Hollywood star Annabelle Wallis

Who says you need theatre experience to star in the West End?

Hollywood star Annabelle Wallis (right) reveals she’s being lined up for her London stage debut in the New Year — precisely because of her lack of training.

‘I’m not classically trained but I think they like that,’ 34-year-old Annabelle tells me. ‘Maybe the way I do it is not right for some, but it’ll be right for others. It’s all about enthusiasm.’

The Peaky Blinders actress, who dated Coldplay’s Chris Martin after his divorce from Gwyneth Paltrow, says of her forthcoming role only that she will play ‘an alpha female’.

She adds: ‘But I’m terrified. I’m more intimidated by the stage than I am by Tom Cruise [her co-star in The Mummy].’

Ex-Newsnight host Jeremy Paxman, 69, could never be accused of going soft in his old age. ‘The only consolation I have discovered in getting older is not giving a toss,’ he says. ‘You don’t like what I think? Well, to be quite frank, I don’t care.’ Charming.

Boho designer Alice’s new hot romance with oven man

44-year-old Alice Temperley has fallen for handsome furniture-maker Mark Creswell, who specialises in ‘mirror ball pizza ovens’

Heartbroken after her split from society photographer Greg Williams last year, the Duchess of Cambridge’s favourite boho designer, Alice Temperley, is now enjoying a hot new romance.

I can reveal that the 44-year-old has fallen for handsome furniture-maker Mark Creswell, who specialises in ‘mirror ball pizza ovens’.

The craftsman, whom Alice proudly calls ‘my man’, won over her friends and family at her recent birthday bash in Somerset, where guests sampled dishes from his wacky disco-themed cooker.

Perhaps he can convince Alice — who separated from her husband of ten years, German financier Lars Von Bennigsen, in 2012 — to tie the knot a second time. ‘I might get married again,’ she has said. ‘I’m a hopeless romantic.’

Georgia Toffolo, 24, at the Goodwood Festival in Chichester on Thursday

(Very) modern manners

Looking good doesn’t have to cost a fortune. Former I’m A Celebrity..! winner Georgia Toffolo, who prides herself on her style, admits she scours the internet for pre-loved togs rather than forking out at expensive shops.

‘I’m very into my second-hand clothes. I don’t mind if someone else has worn them,’ the ebullient 24-year-old tells me. ‘I like a bit of eBay and [social shopping app] Depop.

‘If I see something I really like but it’s expensive, I’ll go on to eBay and have a look for it there.

‘A lot of the clothes I own are second-hand. I don’t mind clothes from a charity shop either — there are some good ones, as in Holland Park.’

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