Maestro Riccardo Muti has hernia surgery in Milan

CHICAGO, Jan. 21 (UPI) -- The Chicago Symphony Orchestra says music director Riccardo Muti was "resting comfortably" after hernia surgery Monday in his hometown of Milan, Italy.

"Maestro Muti's surgery went smoothly and he is already resting comfortably, scheduled to go home tomorrow," orchestra spokeswoman Maggie Berndt told the Chicago Tribune Monday.

Muti, 71, had scrapped his Chicago appearances with the orchestra this month to fly to Milan to be treated for the flu; however, he was soon diagnosed with an inguinal hernia and underwent emergency surgery, the Tribune said.

The Italian conductor's poor health also forced him to drop out of the orchestra's 10-day tour of Asia scheduled to begin Friday, the newspaper reported.