Watson recovering from brain surgery

CHEADLE, England, Oct. 26 (UPI) -- British opera singer Russell Watson is "recovering well" after emergency surgery to remove a brain tumor, the BBC said.

Watson, 40, was listed in stable condition.

"He is talking for brief periods and has been eating small amounts of food," said Michael Stroud, spokesman for the private Alexandra Hospital in Cheadle, England.

However, medical staff had warned the tenor and father of two that the recovery process "may be a long haul," Stroud told the BBC.

Watson was rushed to the hospital after complaining of severe headaches and a "dramatic deterioration of vision." Examinations revealed a re-growth of a benign tumor that had been removed a year ago, accompanied by bleeding.

Watson's manager, Richard Thompson, said a visit by Watson's children had been "the highlight of his day."

"We never thought we would be back here (after) a year in similar circumstances," Thompson told the BBC. "This is a very different procedure and the nature of what's happened here is very different to what happened a year ago. It is impossible to say how long it will be before he's back on his feet and back performing."