Doctors at Northwestern Memorial Hospital determined that Riccardo Muti’s fainting spell last week was caused by “a common heart rhythm disturbance” and have implanted a pacemaker.
According to a statement released late Friday afternoon, Northwestern cardiologists Drs. Donald Lloyd-Jones and Bradley P. Knight said Muti’s “medical evaluation has revealed that he has superb heart function. In order to prevent possible future episodes of slow heart rate, we have implanted a standard pacemaker.” A Northwestern Hospital representative did not respond to calls seeking more information, and CSO officials were unable to comment further on his medical condition.
CSO music director Muti, 69, fainted and pitched forward from the podium at a rehearsal Feb. 3. He underwent surgery to repair face and jaw fractures suffered in the fall and has had to cancel his appearances all this month.
The finals of his first CSO Sir Georg Solti Conducting Competition and Apprenticeship, which were postponed until Saturday because of the music director’s injury and subsequent surgery, have now been postponed indefinitely, according to Raechel Alexander, a spokeswoman for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
CSO Association President Deborah Rutter told the Tribune earlier Friday, “I have seen maestro Muti daily, and he is recuperating still at the hospital. He remains in good spirits and is talking about the CSO, the future, etc. We are still taking things one day at a time and therefore can’t really predict exactly what he will be able to do.”
Regarding the conductors competition, Rutter added, “We are working to determine availability for all concerned, so this will take some time.”
