Following earlier hospitalization in February, Russian news media reported world famous cellist, conductor was being treated for cancer

World famous Russian cellist and conductor, Mstislav Rostropovich, who appeared frail at his 80th birthday celebration last month, has been hospitalized in Moscow for the second time this year.

A spokesman for the cellist said Thursday he is undergoing routine treatment. Following his earlier hospitalization in February, Russian news media reported that he was being treated for cancer.

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At the time, Russian President Vladimir Putin visited the hospital to confer a medal honoring Rostropovich for his extraordinary achievements in music.

Rostropovich and his wife, soprano Galina Vishnevskaya, left the Soviet Union in 1974 in response to political persecution.

They returned to Russia after the fall of the Soviet Union and are running a charitable organization aiding orphaned children.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP and AP.