Health news: Franz Welser-Möst cancels rest of 2023 with cancer

Health news: Franz Welser-Möst cancels rest of 2023 with cancer

News

norman lebrecht

September 08, 2023

Message from the Cleveland Orchestra:

Cleveland Orchestra Music Director Franz Welser-Möst recently had a cancerous tumor removed and will need to undergo treatment between his conducting engagements for the next 12 to 16 months.

His first period of treatment will begin at the end of October.

Regrettably, Welser-Möst must withdraw from all engagements from late October until the end of the year. He plans to resume his conducting engagements in January 2024.

His doctors are confident of a full recovery.

Slippedisc.com sends its best wishes for a full recovery.

 

UPDATE: Cleveland clarify: He will still be conduct the Cleveland Orchestra during previously-scheduled performances at Severance Music Center in September and October. He will also conduct the Orchestra during tour stops in Vienna and Linz.

Comments

  • Graham says:

    Very sorry to hear that news, and I wish Maestro Welser-Möst a full and speedy recovery.

    He is due to tour Japan with the Vienna Philharmonic in November. There is no news on that yet, but I assume the Vienna Philh will find another conductor. I’m interested to see who that will be.

  • Zarathusa says:

    Franz, my friend, our hopes and prayers are for your successful therapy and for your complete recovery. In the meantime, be patient, don’t give up hope, trust in the Lord (and your healthcare professionals)!

  • Dr T says:

    A speedy recovery, Franz. Look after yourself.

  • Jeffrey Biegel says:

    Wishing Franz a complete and healthy treatment process and recovery.

  • Henry williams says:

    Very sad. He seems a very nice person.

  • Sly says:

    A Lovely Man. Best wishes to him for a full recovery.

  • guest says:

    In the opera world, cancellation of concerts due to “illness” always arouses not so much disbelief as outright mockery of the artist who cancels. So maybe the frank confessions of their conditions, first from Stephen Gould and now Welser-Möst may finally cause that artists will be taken seriously. String of cancellation always mean illness of whatever type. They are people just like us.

  • Guest Conductor says:

    Get well soon Maestro!

  • Uzi Shalev says:

    Best of Health, Maestro, and full Recovery. ❤️

  • orchestra musician says:

    This comes as a shock.He always seemed to be a picture of health.Get well soon!!!!!

  • Singeril says:

    Speedy recovery, Maestro!!!

  • Nick Kalogeresis says:

    Best wishes to this wonderful conductor for a speedy recovery.

  • Dixie says:

    Re message about similar comment: Do NOT give me a song and dance about being redundant. This is a complete different story, but my sentiments are the same and should be respected just as those of the “thumb-downers”!

  • Dixie says:

    To all those who gave a thumbs-down: I counteracted all of you with a thumbs-up … not just because I wanted to cancel your “culture”. Personally I am not a fan of FWM, but he is a human being suffering one of the most horrible of diseases and therefore deserves the support of EVERYONE, whether a fan or not! May the “thumb-downers” put themselves in his place … and repent!!!!

  • mhte says:

    So very sorry. My very best wishes for a complete recovery. Looking forward to your concert at the Konzerthaus.

  • Alex Winters says:

    I hope FWM will make a full recovery.

    As for the thumbs-downers, I imagine most of them feel the same. I have never sent a thumbs-down to a message of condolence. However, I have done so for messages that (a) are riddled with so many typos that I consider the author to lack respect for his/her readers, or (b) lack clarity in a way that could have been remedied had the author taken the trouble to read before posting, or (c) are posted by one of those familiar readers who seem to feel a need to post comments regardless of whether they are interesting or contribute anything to the discussion.

    And now I’ll get my coat.

  • Samuel Harris says:

    Wishing Mr. Most a full, speedy, recovery. He makes Cleveland special.

  • Mr. Ron says:

    Please recover swiftly and best of health to you. You have many supporters, musical and otherwise.

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