NEW YORK (AFP) — The Boston Symphony and Metropolitan Opera music director James Levine, 65, is recovering favorably from successful kidney tumor surgery, his spokesman said Tuesday.
Levine was hospitalized from July 15 until last weekend to have the tumor removed, spokesman Mark Volpe said without naming the hospital.
Levine's doctors "found the growth to be malignant, but it was very small and confined to the central area of his right kidney, which was then removed," Volpe said, quoting Levine's brother, Tom Levine.
"Fortunately, as the growth was discovered early enough, it had not spread to the surrounding tissues, blood vessels, or lymph nodes. Doctors reported the surgery was completely curative and no further treatment is necessary," he added.
The music director "is in very good spirits recuperating at home, and looks forward to conducting the opening events of the 2008/2009 seasons," the spokesman said.
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