The beloved Russian baritone, Dmitri Hvorostovsky, has revealed that he has had to cancel all engagements through the end of August to undergo treatment for a brain tumor. The announcement was posted Wednesday on his website.
As per a statement issued on the singer's page:
"It is with great regret that Dmitri must cancel all performances from now until the end of August. He has recently been suffering from serious health issues, and a brain tumor has just been diagnosed. Although his voice and vocal condition are normal, his sense of balance has been severely affected. Dmitri will begin treatment this week and remains very optimistic for the future."
Although most of his performances have been cancelled in light of the diagnosis, it appears that Mr. Hvorostovsky is still scheduled to appear in September for the Metropolitan Opera's interpretation of Verdi's Il Trovatore with Anna Netrebko as Leonora.
While the news is certainly troubling, according to Pravda.ru, a professor at the Russian Scientific Center of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Olga Zheludkova, stated that simply diagnosing a brain tumor is frequently very difficult. Most often, the initial symptoms regarding a brain tumor are also symptomatic of other diseases such as meningitis. The professor goes on to say that modern medicine makes it possible to cure about 70% of all brain tumor cases.
In 2013, the singer held a recital at Carnegie Hall with the pianist Ivari Ilja. With a star-studded program, Mr. Hvorostovsky's performance was heralded to have "dramatic conviction" as well as demonstrating his "admirable breath control" as he delivered certain lines during the concert.
It is with a heavy-heart that this diagnosis befalls such a massive talent in the world of opera.
Our best wishes for a full-recovery, Mr. Hvorostovsky.
