Vienna - Japanese conductor Seiji Ozawa had to cancel his performances at the Vienna State Opera in June due to a slipped disk, the opera house announced Monday. Ozawa, the Vienna State Opera's principal conductor, must rest for five weeks and will be unable to conduct a series of performances this month of Tchaikovsky's Pique Dame, the statement said.
A performance with the Mito Chamber Orchestra that was scheduled for this week in Vienna's prestigious Musikverein concert hall was also cancelled.
In early 2006, health problems forced Japan's most famous maestro to put down his baton for about six months. Ozawa had to recover from a number of illnesses, including shingles.
The former music director of the Boston Symphony Orchestra is scheduled to perform at the Vienna State Opera again starting in late September.
Ozawa's opera engagement in Vienna will last until 2010, when Austrian Franz Welser-Moest will take over as chief conductor.
