Ozawa makes comeback after esophagus cancer operation+

NAGANO, Japan, Aug. 1 Kyodo -
Conductor Seiji Ozawa revealed Sunday he had an operation in late January that
removed all of his gullet, and that he has resumed his work in public in Nagano
Prefecture since July 26.
In the mountain resort area of Shiga Kogen, the 74-year-old maestro conducted a
chamber orchestra of young musicians practicing for their formal performance
Tuesday as part of the annual Saito Kinen Matsumoto festival.
While saying he lost 15 kilograms of weight after the operation, Ozawa said in
a press conference, ''I consider today, the first day I conducted before an
audience after my convalescence, as the first date of my second life.''
''I hope my music has acquired more depth'' after the experience of a
life-threatening disease, he added.
In January, Ozawa announced he was suffering from esophagus cancer.
He has been training musicians in their teens and 20s since July 26 and will
conduct them at the Mori no Ongakudo music hall in Shiga Kogen on Tuesday.
On Sunday, he conducted a divertimento by Mozart and Tchaikovsky's serenade for
strings with use of his whole body, although he said, ''My back aches so I
can't help sitting down after walking just six steps.''
Ozawa canceled numerous engagements while fighting his cancer.
''I plan to work at my own pace and apologize for putting myself first,'' he said.
Ozawa said, however, he will perform at the annual music festival -- an event
held in tribute to Hideo Saito, a teacher of Ozawa and other musicians -- and
another music festival, called ''Japan NYC'' scheduled for December and March
and April next year in New York.
''I feel responsible for these events,'' he said.
==Kyodo