Friday, Jan. 8, 2010
Maestro Ozawa has cancer, cancels schedule through June
Kyodo News
Prominent conductor Seiji Ozawa has been diagnosed with esophageal cancer and will cancel all concert engagements from January through June while he undergoes medical treatment, his office said Thursday.
Ozawa, 74, was diagnosed during a regular medical checkup late last year and will have an operation to remove the early-stage cancer, the office said.
Ozawa studied at Toho Gakuen School of Music in Tokyo and has won various awards and conducted orchestras around the world. He served as music director of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra from 1965 to 1970 and the San Francisco Symphony from 1969 to 1976. He was appointed music director of the Boston Symphony Orchestra in 1973 and became the first Japanese to serve as music director of the Vienna State Opera, in 2002.
He studied under conductors Herbert von Karajan (1908-1989) and Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990).
Back in Japan, Ozawa launched the Seiji Ozawa Ongaku-juku orchestra in 2000 as part of efforts to develop young Japanese musicians through opera concerts.
He has also served as the music director of the annual Saito Kinen Festival Matsumoto in Matsumoto, Nagano Prefecture, since 1992, which commemorates cellist and conductor Hideo Saito (1902-1974), Ozawa's music teacher in Japan.
Ozawa's term at the Vienna State Opera is due to expire later this year.
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20100108a2.html
Cannot find out from the web if he is a smoker or not....
He was a protégé of Karajan ...
Quote from: Coopmv on January 10, 2010, 05:20:45 AM
He was a protégé of Karajan ...
Karajan is a known carcinogen?
I thought the same thing. ;D
Who else might Karajan have infected? Ought they to be warned?
Mike
Quote from: knight on January 10, 2010, 02:07:07 PM
Who else might Karajan have infected? Ought they to be warned?
Mike
I believe the public health service has it covered. They have a department dedicated to Karajanitis.
Quote from: Bunny on January 10, 2010, 08:48:40 PM
I believe the public health service has it covered. They have a department dedicated to Karajanitis.
I believe Karajanitis has now been determined to be a mental disorder. The sufferers are known to walk the streets randomly, becoming outraged at every object they encounter, complaining that the edges have been smoothed off.
It's not nice to be so flippant about such an unfortunate development
in the life of such a distinguished conductor.Please show some respect and sympathy. Let's hope Ozawa will recover soon.
:( :( >:( >:(
Quote from: Superhorn on January 11, 2010, 07:07:29 AM
It's not nice to be so flippant about such an unfortunate development
in the life of such a distinguished conductor.Please show some respect and sympathy. Let's hope Ozawa will recover soon.
:( :( >:( >:(
I assume you grieve sincerely for every human being on earth who becomes seriously ill each day? You must have time for nothing else.
I don't see any flippant remarks about Ozawa himself, so you must believe that since he is ill, all humor must be abolished.
Maybe the Japanese like to drink their green tea piping hot - which is very bad? That's how it happened?
Of course I wish him to live to be 100 years old. I also wish cancer would become a thing of the past. And alzheimers too.
The announcement reads like an obituary: "studied, won, became, conducted, launched, served..." . The Japan times article will no doubt recycle it with very little change when he actually dies. IMO that is in poorer taste than not displaying public grief over his illness.
Quote from: Barak on January 12, 2010, 03:32:01 PM
The announcement reads like an obituary: "studied, won, became, conducted, launched, served..." .
All artist bios use the past tense. How else should they be written? In future tense?
Quote from: Barak on January 12, 2010, 03:32:01 PM
The Japan times article will no doubt recycle it with very little change when he actually dies. IMO that is in poorer taste than not displaying public grief over his illness.
There was actually an article in the NYT a while ago about how all obituaries are written years in advance in order to have something ready when a famous person keels over. The task is assigned to reporters who are having a slow news day and the obituaries on file for future use are being kept continuously updated as the individuals' various lifetime achievements etc. accumulate. I think the article appeared in the context of Michael Jackson's death which left people scrambling because it was so unexpected and premature.
Quote from: Superhorn on January 11, 2010, 07:07:29 AM
It's not nice to be so flippant about such an unfortunate development
in the life of such a distinguished conductor.Please show some respect and sympathy. Let's hope Ozawa will recover soon.
I wasn't being flip about Ozawa's health, but about other posts which came across very absurdly.
I wouldn't wish esophageal cancer on anyone.
Quote from: Chaszz on January 08, 2010, 10:58:44 AM
Cannot find out from the web if he is a smoker or not....
I doubt the disease is related to smoking. The tumors form low on the esophagus close to the stomach, and are usually associated with a history of gastro-esophageal reflux disease.
Quote from: Mensch on January 12, 2010, 07:47:07 PM
All artist bios use the past tense. How else should they be written? In future tense?
For that kind of situation, it's question of taste and manners, not grammar. ::).
Superhorn, are you "anglo-american"? I ask because... see below...
Quote from: Scarpia on January 11, 2010, 07:57:58 AMI assume you grieve sincerely for every human being on earth who becomes seriously ill each day? You must have time for nothing else.
I don't see any flippant remarks about Ozawa himself, so you must believe that since he is ill, all humor must be abolished.
Interesting. In a very interesting blog (http://usaerklaert.wordpress.com) someone explains the US for us Germans (supposed to be full of prejudices). One point goes like: The Angloamerican citizen has a much stronger tendency to (black) humor. Absolutely no problems in this. Very direct. Here in this thread, the Karajan story appeared soon. On the other side, the European first has to explain his pity, has to tell about the achievement of (here) Ozawa, then, much later, he may think about some kind of humour.
Quote from: Wurstwasser on January 14, 2010, 08:35:28 PM
Superhorn, are you "anglo-american"? I ask because... see below...
Interesting. In a very interesting blog (http://usaerklaert.wordpress.com) someone explains the US for us Germans (supposed to be full of prejudices). One point goes like: The Angloamerican citizen has a much stronger tendency to (black) humor. Absolutely no problems in this. Very direct. Here in this thread, the Karajan story appeared soon. On the other side, the European first has to explain his pity, has to tell about the achievement of (here) Ozawa, then, much later, he may think about some kind of humour.
Please, save the condescending attitude. No one here knows Mr. Ozawa personally and Mr. Ozawa is not going to see any comments posted here. The man is a total stranger to anyone here and phony grief would be disingenuous.
There was no overt disrespect shown Mr. Ozawa here, just a lack of interest in his condition. The only person who could hypothetically be offended would be a fan of Mr. Ozawa frequenting this site. I don't recall anyone here ever admitting that they hold Mr. Ozawa in high regard. Mostly people express puzzlement that he is appointed to conduct prestigious orchestras.
By the way, your characterization of Americans produced for Germans is obviously written with the goal of flattering German readers.
Quote from: Bunny on January 13, 2010, 08:30:09 PM
I doubt the disease is related to smoking. The tumors form low on the esophagus close to the stomach, and are usually associated with a history of gastro-esophageal reflux disease.
Actually, there are two types of esophageal cancer -
Squamous cell carcinoma and
Adenocarcinoma; 30 yrs ago, squamous cell carcinoma was by far the most common (about 90% of patients), and in the USA is indeed found most often in males w/ a smoking/drinking history, although other factors may be contributory.
In more recent decades, adenocarcinoma has become an almost epidemic malignancy of the esophagus w/ at least 50% or more of patients w/ esophageal cancer now having this type. Adenocarcinoma indeed arises from a complication of GE relfux disease called
Barrett esophagus, which is replacement of the normal squamous epithelium of the esophagus w/ a columnar type that can progress to dysplasia and malignancy.
The prognosis for these tumors relate to the clinical staging of the disease, esp. depth of invasion into the esophageal wall and the presence or absence of adjacent lymph nodes; e.g. if squamous cell carcinoma is discovered w/ only involvement of the inner two layers of the esophagus (epithelium or submucosa), 5 year survival rates are 90% or more, but if more advanced, then the outlook is dismal.
I'm not sure 'which' carcinoma was diagnosed in Ozawa, but his chances of survival will relate to the staging of the disease and the therapy (or therapies) used to treat him. :)
Quote from: SonicMan on January 15, 2010, 07:17:01 AM
Actually, there are two types of esophageal cancer - Squamous cell carcinoma and Adenocarcinoma; 30 yrs ago, squamous cell carcinoma was by far the most common (about 90% of patients), and in the USA is indeed found most often in males w/ a smoking/drinking history, although other factors may be contributory.
In more recent decades, adenocarcinoma has become an almost epidemic malignancy of the esophagus w/ at least 50% or more of patients w/ esophageal cancer now having this type. Adenocarcinoma indeed arises from a complication of GE relfux disease called Barrett esophagus, which is replacement of the normal squamous epithelium of the esophagus w/ a columnar type that can progress to dysplasia and malignancy.
The prognosis for these tumors relate to the clinical staging of the disease, esp. depth of invasion into the esophageal wall and the presence or absence of adjacent lymph nodes; e.g. if squamous cell carcinoma is discovered w/ only involvement of the inner two layers of the esophagus (epithelium or submucosa), 5 year survival rates are 90% or more, but if more advanced, then the outlook is dismal.
I'm not sure 'which' carcinoma was diagnosed in Ozawa, but his chances of survival will relate to the staging of the disease and the therapy (or therapies) used to treat him. :)
I didn't note any weeping as you typed that. Shameful American! :'(
Quote from: SonicMan on January 15, 2010, 07:17:01 AM
Actually, there are two types of esophageal cancer - Squamous cell carcinoma and Adenocarcinoma; 30 yrs ago, squamous cell carcinoma was by far the most common (about 90% of patients), and in the USA is indeed found most often in males w/ a smoking/drinking history, although other factors may be contributory.
In more recent decades, adenocarcinoma has become an almost epidemic malignancy of the esophagus w/ at least 50% or more of patients w/ esophageal cancer now having this type. Adenocarcinoma indeed arises from a complication of GE relfux disease called Barrett esophagus, which is replacement of the normal squamous epithelium of the esophagus w/ a columnar type that can progress to dysplasia and malignancy.
The prognosis for these tumors relate to the clinical staging of the disease, esp. depth of invasion into the esophageal wall and the presence or absence of adjacent lymph nodes; e.g. if squamous cell carcinoma is discovered w/ only involvement of the inner two layers of the esophagus (epithelium or submucosa), 5 year survival rates are 90% or more, but if more advanced, then the outlook is dismal.
I'm not sure 'which' carcinoma was diagnosed in Ozawa, but his chances of survival will relate to the staging of the disease and the therapy (or therapies) used to treat him. :)
Would you say that chronic fast food (greasy) eating may cause Barret's oesophagus?
Quote from: Barak on January 15, 2010, 04:42:08 PM
Would you say that chronic fast food (greasy) eating may cause Barret's oesophagus?
Hi
Barak - well
Barrett esophagus, the precursor to adenocarcinoma in that location is caused by chronic
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease, often referred to as
GERD - the cause of this disease is multifactorial and in part relates to dysfunction of the
lower esophageal sphincter (LES), which is the barrier protecting the esophagus from reflux of gastric contents which can damage the esophageal musosa and lead to a variety of more severe complications.
The relationship of diet (or various food substances) to GERD has been evaluated and debated for years - certainly a number of foods (including fatty ones) can affect LES function and promote reflux; but whether one develops GERD and its complications depends more on the frequency & volume of the reflux, the ability of the esophagus to clear the material quickly, and the resistance of the esophageal mucosa - so just not a simple question. Most clinicians will tell their patients to avoid foods that cause their 'heartburn' (e.g. Susan & I rarely eat 'fried' foods anymore because of devloping this symptom).
Thus, there is no direct relationship of 'fatty foods' with Barrett esophagus; the major problem w/ eating at a lot of 'fast food' chains, not only involves the amount (and the types of fats use) of fat use in the cooking, but also the volume of food that is often served; in addition, there is often way too much salt added to these meals, so calories, sodium, and 'bad' fats are more the issue, potentially contributing to variety of health issues. Dave :)
Thanks for the enlightening exposé, Dave! Some foods will give me heartburn, for example a good steak with trimmings, or a generously peppered salmon steak. With a good dollop of béarnaise sauce of course :o.
I never eat fast foods, but I took the clue from your mention of that cancer having developed so rapidly in the past 50 years. I figured it coincided with the explosion of fast food outlets and the general weight gain in the population. A combination of hard to digest stuff in large portions may be to blame for heartburn and eosphagal reflux.
Conductor Seiji Ozawa passed away peacefully at his home in Tokyo on February 6th, 2024, at the age of 88. The cause of death was heart failure. From 1964 to 1968, he served as the first music director of the Ravinia Festival, the summer home of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, then an additional year as its principal conductor.Elsewhere in North America, Ozawa was music director of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra from 1965 to 1969 and of the San Francisco Symphony from 1970 to 1977.However, his best-known music director stint was his time spent heading up the Boston Symphony Orchestra, from 1973 to 2002. RIP .
The first Sacre I bought.
Saw this news via Haruki Murakami on social media, who of course was close friends with Ozawa.
The maestro leaves a very interesting legacy, often a very exciting conductor whose fleetness, grace, and willingness to let an orchestra play full-bore made him great for French music. His Faure, Berlioz, Poulenc, and Ravel are extraordinary but there's also a distinctive Mahler 1 in Boston and much else besides.
I know his years in Boston ended poorly (apparently lazily), but to me that just proves nobody should lead the same orchestra for 30 years in a row. Cities and ensembles need fresh ideas every so often.
Quote from: Brian on February 09, 2024, 05:18:08 AMI know his years in Boston ended poorly (apparently lazily), but to me that just proves nobody should lead the same orchestra for 30 years in a row.
This is fair. When at the top of his game, he ranked with the best.
A fine conductor, RIP.
R.I.P. Seiji Ozawa. :'(
I saw him live only once, with "his" Boston Symphony on tour at Carnegie Hall, in 1983. They performed Mozart's overture to Idomeneo, the Schoenberg Piano Concerto (with Maurizio Pollini no less) and Strauss' Symphonia Domestica. I vividly remember the first two pieces, but must admit I had to look up online what completed the programme (so the Domestica didn't leave much of an impression, quite obviously :-*).
Quote from: ritter on February 09, 2024, 12:21:06 PMthe Domestica didn't leave much of an impression ....
Similarly, I know I've listened to it ... that's it.
R.I.P. Maestro OzawaKennedy Center Honors
Hurwitz' assessment
Mayles' 1985 film on Ozawa
Quote from: Brian on February 09, 2024, 05:18:08 AMI know his years in Boston ended poorly (apparently lazily), but to me that just proves nobody should lead the same orchestra for 30 years in a row. Cities and ensembles need fresh ideas every so often.
Yeah. I think his early years in Boston are still quite highly regarded. I've certainly heard some good stuff from him from the 70s-80s (Mahler 8, Berg VC with Perlman, a few others). I didn't know he was the Ravinia boss back in the 60s (something I should have known).
His generation of conductors followed a certain trajectory of early excitement followed by a backlash followed (maybe) by reassessment (I'm thinking of Maazel, Mehta, Muti, possibly Abbado). For instance, Mehta's super-exciting LA tenure followed by his lackluster NY tenure (followed by Maazel's lackluster NY tenure, etc). I don't know if it means anything; that's just my perception of things.
IMHO he recorded best Holst's "Planetes"
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Emt0EoYWEAA97oW?format=jpg&name=medium)
Quote from: relm1 on February 09, 2024, 06:43:43 AMA fine conductor, RIP.
The obituary below isn't especially sympathetic:
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/obituaries/2024/02/09/seiji-ozawa-explosive-charismatic-conductor-died-obituary/
I don't have that many of his recordings (I must look out for his 'The Planets'). I have his Prokofiev symphonies boxed set and an LP of Berlioz's 'Symphonie Fantastique'.
He must be one of the few people I have heard of who was treated successfully for oeosphageal cancer.
Sad news. May God rest him in peace.
Quote from: vandermolen on February 09, 2024, 10:05:04 PMHe must be one of the few people I have heard of who was treated successfully for oeosphageal cancer.
Oddly, I have a friend who was given very little hope when similarly diagnosed, who is now more than 10 years in remission. Hurray for some positive examples 🙂
Quote from: foxandpeng on February 10, 2024, 03:35:56 AMOddly, I have a friend who was given very little hope when similarly diagnosed, who is now more than 10 years in remission. Hurray for some positive examples 🙂
Good to hear Danny :)
Little overlap between the "typical" Ozawa repertoire and my favorites, so I don't have many recordings of his although I knew about him since quite early on. Ravel, Respighi, Berlioz's Faust. I also like his Midsummer Night's Dream (but this also because of the luxury singers and Dame Judy as narrator). He was very versatile and conducted a surprisingly good New Years Day concert 2002.
He also seems to have been of the few famous conductors that could count as Karajan protegés (Kamu and Thielemann are the only other ones the come to mind).
Very sad, I would loved to have him as conductor of the BSO while I was old enough to travel to see live music.
Posted to another forum: One of the greatest performances of Mahler's Symphony 9 I've ever heard, Ozawa takes us to the abyss. Incredible symphony 2 as well. And his DG Ravel 3 disc set is my desert island set for all of it in one place.
(https://i.imgur.com/nLeax0A.jpg)
Quote from: Atriod on February 10, 2024, 06:35:27 AMPosted to another forum: One of the greatest performances of Mahler's Symphony 9 I've ever heard, Ozawa takes us to the abyss. Incredible symphony 2 as well. And his DG Ravel 3 disc set is my desert island set for all of it in one place.
(https://i.imgur.com/nLeax0A.jpg)
One of my favorite seconds. Makes me think I should listen to the 9th. I also greatly enjoy his highly underrated Prokofiev:
(https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Ftse1.mm.bing.net%2Fth%3Fid%3DOIP.KAvIaAwZZ5TrYBdmYkvZkAHaHa%26pid%3DApi&f=1&ipt=01bbaeabdc96b2a3df16ece5288f2b2c49e9335e5c30486a22fe517d89ec5de8&ipo=images)
btw I don't know if we need two Ozawa threads though, I think I'll merge them.
Quote from: vandermolen on February 09, 2024, 10:05:04 PMHe must be one of the few people I have heard of who was treated successfully for oeosphageal cancer.
I think we are going to see some major advances in prognosis in the coming years/decade. When I was in my transition between med school and residency I did some research where we used two genetic markers in patients with various stages, it was quite a promising study. Molecular genetics is only going to get far better from here on. In some of the other cancer research I've seen sensitivities doubling when genetic testing is introduced.
Quote from: Atriod on February 10, 2024, 08:46:31 AMI think we are going to see some major advances in prognosis in the coming years/decade. When I was in my transition between med school and residency I did some research where we used two genetic markers in patients with various stages, it was quite a promising study. Molecular genetics is only going to get far better from here on. In some of the other cancer research I've seen sensitivities doubling when genetic testing is introduced.
That's very encouraging news and thank you for sharing it with us. I lost a very good friend to that horrible disease in 2018.
Quote from: Atriod on February 10, 2024, 08:46:31 AMI think we are going to see some major advances in prognosis in the coming years/decade. When I was in my transition between med school and residency I did some research where we used two genetic markers in patients with various stages, it was quite a promising study. Molecular genetics is only going to get far better from here on. In some of the other cancer research I've seen sensitivities doubling when genetic testing is introduced.
Hi
Atriod - back in 2010 I left a number of posts in this thread on the different types of esophageal cancers (retired a year later after 34 years as a faculty radiologist specializing in GI disease) - shortly after those posts I read the 2010 book below (is there an update?) - but your points are well taken, early diagnosis, improved therapies, and molecular biology and gene editing are all in the future - who knows what will happen? Wish that I was younger to see the possibilities! Thanks for your comments - Dave :)
(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/W/MEDIAX_849526-T2/images/I/81GugUnVyAL._SL1500_.jpg)
Quote from: SonicMan46 on February 10, 2024, 04:17:35 PMHi Atriod - back in 2010 I left a number of posts in this thread on the different types of esophageal cancers (retired a year later after 34 years as a faculty radiologist specializing in GI disease) - shortly after those posts I read the 2010 book below (is there an update?) - but your points are well taken, early diagnosis, improved therapies, and molecular biology and gene editing are all in the future - who knows what will happen? Wish that I was younger to see the possibilities! Thanks for your comments - Dave :)
(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/W/MEDIAX_849526-T2/images/I/81GugUnVyAL._SL1500_.jpg)
I still keep in touch with one of my old mentors, an MGP attending. The future is going to be remarkable, I think the therapeutics side is a bit slower to see anything revolutionary but early detection with genetic testing will be a prime component. I have not read that book or heard of it, TBH I usually avoid anything medical related in my personal life (recent exception being Diagnosis on Netflix which my wife and I loved). I will make sure to pick it up.
Quote from: Karl Henning on February 09, 2024, 05:34:29 AMThis is fair. When at the top of his game, he ranked with the best.
Agreed.
I greatly enjoyed his Berlioz, and he ( along with Mehta ) introduced me to Mahler around 1975.
I only saw him conduct once, Walton's
Belshazzar's Feast near the end of his tenure in San Francisco.
But he was a fixture in my house, via WGBH'S broadcast of selected BSO concerts over several years.
RIP Maestro, and thank you.
Quote from: DavidW on February 11, 2024, 03:24:47 PMOzawa on What's My Line:
That was interesting. I'd have thought that Ozawa would have been too young for 'What's My Line?'