In Friday’s (2/4) Chicago Tribune, John von Rhein and Mark Caro report, “Chicago Symphony Orchestra music director Riccardo Muti is hospitalized but in no immediate danger, according to a CSO spokeswoman, after he fainted during a rehearsal with the orchestra early Thursday afternoon at Symphony Center. He suffered a gash near his jaw from collapsing on the podium. ‘He is stable and talking,’ said CSO Association President Deborah Rutter late Thursday by phone from Northwestern Memorial Hospital, where the 69-year-old Muti was rushed after suffering a fainting spell while preparing the first subscription program of his winter residency with the CSO. He was eased into a chair while paramedics were being called, said orchestra members. … According to Rutter, doctors indicated the cuts would be easily treated, but of greater concern was discovering an underlying cause for the fainting. She added that the doctors said he was ‘in great shape’ considering the severity of the fall. … Muti was a little more than two hours into the rehearsal when he collapsed, said CSO musicians. He was helped to a chair before paramedics arrived to take him to Northwestern Memorial Hospital for observation. He remained conscious the entire time, said CSO spokeswoman Raechel Alexander.”
Posted February 4, 2011
