Franco Zeffirelli, film director (hospitalised - heart trouble)
Ed Varner
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Franco Zeffirelli in good condition in hospital after being admitted
for heart problem
January 23, 2007
Associated Press
ROME: Italian director Franco Zeffirelli was in good condition at a
Rome hospital after being admitted with an irregular heartbeat, his son
said Tuesday.
"He's doing well," Luciano Zeffirelli said.
Zeffirelli, 83, was undergoing medical tests at San Giovanni hospital
after being admitted late Monday with heart fibrillation, a type of
irregular heartbeat, his son said.
It was not clear when he would be released, but it would likely be over
the next few days, he said.
"I decided a while ago that I would undergo a three-day revision of my
old machine ... which still works well but has gone through various
misfortunes, including the application of a defibrillator," Franco
Zeffirelli was quoted as saying by the ANSA news agency.
The director said he asked for an ambulance while he was taking part in
the recording of a TV show, according to ANSA. "After a long chat and
some stress, I said "guys, call an ambulance and take me to the San
Giovanni (hospital). I would have had to go there the next day in any
case."
Zeffirelli received an Oscar nomination for 1968's "Romeo and Juliet."
He won acclaim for the 1977 TV miniseries "Jesus of Nazareth," which is
still shown on Easter weekend in many countries.
He recently directed a production of Verdi's "Aida" which opened the
2006-07 season at La Scala opera house in Milan.
Zeffirelli said he is working on the sets for the opera "La Traviata,"
which is being staged in Rome on April 20, ANSA reported.