Justus Frantz is retiring to devote himself to his health. He talks about his diagnoses.
The Hamburg conductor Justus Frantz is ending his career. From November 3rd, the 80-year-old will embark on his final tour with the Philharmonic of Nations. “I have decided to say goodbye to my family, my friends and fans with the tour,” says the 80-year-old to the “Bild” newspaper. The Philharmonic of Nations will continue to exist and will work with other conductors in the coming years.
The reason for the farewell was his poor health. “Unfortunately, the doctors recently discovered a brain tumor in my case, which requires further examinations. I also need urgent surgery on the aorta, which will be a major procedure,” said Frantz. A life-threatening aneurysm – an arterial bulge – has formed in the main artery.
Despite the devastating diagnosis, the conductor is confident about the future. “The unexpected circumstances surrounding my health make my future uncertain and it is questionable whether I will survive the next year. But music gives me hope and strength to deal with these challenges.”
Frantz reported health problems in the spring of this year. Accordingly, he was in the intensive care unit for two weeks due to severe sepsis. “For two weeks I hovered between life and death. It felt to me like the phase between being awake and dreaming. I was monitored around the clock,” he said at the time. In 2018 he also contracted sepsis, caused by the pathogen Staphylococcus aureus.
