Conductor Rafael Fruhbeck de Burgos announces immediate retirement after cancer diagnosis

Spanish conductor and composer Rafael Fruhbeck De Burgos is retiring following a cancer diagnosis. The 80-year-old maestro announced his intention to step down as chief conductor of the Danish National Symphony Orchestra on Wednesday (04Jun14), as he went public with his health crisis.
He has also withdrawn from a string of upcoming summer (14) concerts, including engagements as a guest conductor with the Boston Symphony Orchestra at the Tanglewood Festival in Massachusetts.
A statement released by Fruhbeck de Burgos reads: “After meeting with my doctors I have come to the following conclusion: I have to recognise publicly that I have cancer and that in this state of health and with deep sorrow I am not able to conduct at my standards and the moment to quit professional matters has come.”
Fruhbeck de Burgos is known for his work with city orchestras across the globe, including Germany’s Deutsche Oper Berlin, Montreal Symphony Orchestra in Canada, Bilbao Orchestra in Spain, the Vienna Symphony in Austria and the Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra of Tokyo, Japan.
He is widely acclaimed for performances of Mozart’s Requiem and Georges Bizet’s Carmen, among others.