I was sorry to hear this. Tanglewood has sent a press release that the great Spanish conductor Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos has retired for good.

It says:

Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos has resigned his position as Chief Conductor of the Danish National Symphony Orchestra and has signaled an immediate end to his conducting career. The 80-year-old Spaniard, who has been beset with health problems in recent months wrote “After meeting with my doctors I have come to the following conclusion: I have to recognize publicly that I have cancer and that in this state of health and with deep sorrow I am not able to conduct at my standards and the moment to quit professional matters has come.”

More here.