Karajan’s life was in danger

The wife of late conductor Herbert von Karajan is over the worst after a serious illness, doctors in Salzburg said today (Fri).

Officials at the city’s Barmherzige Brüder Clinic announced Eliette von Karajan is out of danger of life after three weeks in intensive care. The 72-year-old suffered from blood poisoning and organ failure.

Medics explained they agreed with her two daughters about giving this information to counteract “wild and obscure speculations” about Karajan’s condition. Newspapers previously claimed she may suffer from a stroke or cancer.

Karajan’s husband passed away in 1989. He is considered as one of the best and most influential conductors of the 20th century.