74-year-old Chicago Symphony Orchestra music director, Riccardo Muti, could not have been more confident going into last week's concerts in South Korea -- predicting that the attendees at the Seoul Arts Center would not soon forget the CSO's performance there. It seems that that hubris might have led to his having to cancel his upcoming February residency back in the Windy City. While the shows went off without a hitch, a minor accident between the final January 29 concert and Muti's return home led to his needing an emergency hip operation and some time off.
Going into the final two concerts of his recent tour of South Korea, famed Italian composer Riccardo Muti told the Korean Times that attendees at the Seoul Arts Center should be prepared to be blown away:
"I know that Korea is a country dedicated to music.
"There are so many artists who come from Korea, and there are many orchestras, not only in Seoul, but in other parts of the country.
"But the Chicago Symphony, I think, will make an impression that will not be forgotten too easily even by the Korean people."
According to the Chicago Sun Times, however, it seems that it was Muti that might have ultimately lost his footing -- causing him to have to cancel all his concerts with the CSO this month:
"A mishap described as a "minor accident" has broken Chicago Symphony Orchestra music director Riccardo Muti's recent streak of good health and forced him to withdraw from his February concerts in Chicago.
"The maestro, 74, is recovering from a hip operation that followed the accident...No further details were furnished."
With any luck Mr. Muti will have a very healthy and happy convalesce leading to a quick and confident return to form in March.
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