Mariss Jansons cancellations

After Mariss Jansons' heart attack in 1997 and intallation of a defibrillator (in Pittsburgh) shortly after, it's easy to see why news organizations are jumpy when it comes to the former Pittsburgh Symphony maestro's health.

He has recently undergone an "unspecified" operation that will cause him to withdraw from some orchestra concerts and a gala performance of "Carmen" at Vienna State Opera. That surgery must be something serious since it's hard to imagine Jansons making the decision lightly to cancel his debut for that esteemed house in the city he studied in years ago.

But on the other hand, Jansons has extended his contract with one of his two orchestras, the Bavarian Radio Symphony (based in Munich), and various European news services say that that orchestra is certain Jansons will return to conducting this season. So here's hoping it's not as grave as might be suggested. And let's wish him well.