Around the Music Festival

On October 4, Daniel Barenboim announced via his social networking site that he will be taking a break from performing for the time being.

According to him, his health has deteriorated over the past few months, he has been diagnosed with a serious neurological disorder, and now he needs to take care of himself as much as possible. The break will last several months.

Barenboim, who will be 80 years old this November 15, has been both returning to the field and canceling performances since his spinal surgery in February.

The Berlin State Opera, of which he is the longtime music director, produced a new production of “The Ring of the Nibelung” to commemorate his 80th birthday. But Barenboim also gave up conducting the production, which opened on October 2, leaving Christian Thielemann and others to fill in for him.

In a post on social networking sites, Barenboim said this. “Music has always been and continues to be an essential and lasting part of my life. I have lived all my life in and through music, and I will continue to do so as long as my health allows me to. Looking back and ahead, I am not only content but deeply fulfilled.

Photo：Staatskapelle Berlin