Just in: Boulez pulls out of Chicago

After cancelling three concerts in Cleveland, Pierre Boulez has informed the Chicago Symphony Orchestra that his opthalmologist will not permit him to conduct next week. Here’s what subscribers were told:

Helen Regenstein Conductor Emeritus Pierre Boulez has withdrawn from 
his upcoming CSO appearances on the advice of his ophthalmologist. 
Performances that are affected include the Beyond the Score series 
presentations on February 24 and 26 and the CSO subscription concerts 
on February 25, 28 and March 1, 2 and 3. There are no changes to the 
performance programs, cast, or theatrical staging. 
Replacing Maestro Boulez and each making their CSO conducting debut 
are U.S.-based Romanian conductor Cristian Macelaru (February 24, 25, 
26 and 28) and British conductor Jonathan Nott (March 1-3).

I’ve been told that Boulez, 87 next month, is receiving further treatment in Cleveland before flying home to France. We wish him well.