"I felt it was the right time for me to return and I want to get back to making great music with our superb NAC Orchestra," Zukerman said in a letter to subscribers.

In announcing the sabbatical in December, the NACO said that it was intended to allow Zukerman to "re-energize." But weeks later, he caused a stir when he told a reporter that there were "rotten apples" in the orchestra and suggested that he wouldn't return until they were "eradicated."

He later apologized to musicians and agreed to meet with a "facilitator" to help resolve tensions with his colleagues.

In his letter, Zukerman added that he is looking forward "with great anticipation" to the 2006-07 season, during which he is scheduled to appear in 12 programs.