According to the BSO, the 70-year-old Ozawa was hospitalized in Japan last month after suffering a bronchial infection and an outbreak of shingles that affected one of his eyes. He has since left the hospital and is recovering at home.

Among the engagements Ozawa will miss, according to the Associated Press, are a production of Verdi's Otello at the new Tokyo Opera Nomori starting March 29, the Vienna State Opera's Jenufa starting April 29, and a concert in Vienna on May 18 featuring Mahler's R‹ckert Lieder and the Faur_ Requiem. Replacement conductors have not yet been named.

However, BSO managing director Mark Volpe said in a statement, "Mr. Ozawa... looks forward to returning to his conducting activities this spring in Japan, his appearance at Tanglewood this summer, and his work with the Saito Kinen Festival this September."

The BSO apparently released the statement to counter the suggestion in the AP's story that Ozawa would miss all of his engagements for the rest of the year.