Renowned cellist beats cancer ahead of Cork show

World renowned cellist, conductor, and broadcaster Julian Lloyd Webber has announced his successful treatment for prostate cancer ahead of his highly anticipated Cork concert next month.

The British virtuoso was diagnosed earlier this year, just before he was due to celebrate his 75th birthday with a return to live concerts after an absence of twelve years due to injury.

Determined not to let his fans down, he kept his diagnosis secret until after his birthday concert in April.

Following months of intensive treatment, Julian shared his gratitude to those who helped him along the way.

He said: “I am so thankful for all the expert care I received but I was shocked to learn that my request for an NHS blood test might now be refused. I would never have discovered that I had prostate cancer without that blood test. I feel very grateful and now, after my successful treatment, I can’t wait to start my Irish tour next week.”

Julian, along with his wife Jiaxin will be at Live at St Luke’s in Cork city on 5 September for 'Bach, Bows and Arrows’, an evening of music, stories, and celebration featuring live performance, reflections, and video clips from Julian’s own personal archive.

The Leeside show is part of a 12 night tour around Ireland and follows the publication of his candid and widely acclaimed autobiography, ‘Bows and Arrows’.

Together, Julian and Jiaxin explore the extraordinary story behind Bach’s sublime Cello Suites, how Bach influenced their careers as musicians, and how these masterpieces lay undiscovered for nearly two hundred years.

Audience members will be treated to a richly illustrated musical journey through Julian’s own remarkable career which features over 60 recorded albums including ‘Variations’, ‘Lloyd Webber plays Lloyd Webber’, and his Brit Award winning recording of Elgar’s ‘Cello Concerto’.

The show will also give audience members a once in a lifetime chance to question both Lloyd Webbers as they recall working with musical greats including Elton John, Philip Glass, Yehudi Menuhin, Stéphane Grappelli, Joaquín Rodrigo, and Julian's brother Lord Andrew Lloyd-Webber and other notable alumni.

Julian, a London native, is an ambassador of the King’s Trust and a patron for Young Lives versus Cancer, both positions he is proud to have held over thirty years and counting. Julian was the London Underground’s First Official Busker and the only classical musician chosen to perform at the Closing Ceremony of the 2012 Olympic Games.