Pianist Watts hospitalized, has surgery

Pianist Andre Watts was reported in fair condition Friday after paramedics rushed him to a hospital Thursday night, half an hour before he was scheduled to perform with the Pacific Symphony at the Orange County Performing Arts Center in Costa Mesa.

Watts, 56, underwent emergency surgery for a subdural hematoma -- or spontaneous bleeding -- in the brain, at Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian in Newport Beach, according to a hospital spokesperson.

“Things are looking very encouraging,” said Hoag Hospital neurosurgeon Dr. William Dobkin, who performed surgery on Watts Thursday night. “But for his specific skills, it will take time to know the impact of this event. He’ll probably be in the hospital for four or five days. It will probably be a month or two before he is back to feeling normal.”

Watts, who lives in New York, had played Brahms’ First Piano Concerto with the orchestra on Wednesday and was scheduled to repeat the work Thursday night and this afternoon at the center.

The Thursday program was revamped; pianist Markus Groh will substitute for him today. Patrons who attended Thursday’s concert can also use their tickets for the Saturday concert or exchange them for a voucher for another Pacific Symphony concert.