Cellist Julian Lloyd Webber diagnosed with prostate cancer

Cellist Julian Lloyd Webber has announced he will receive treatment for prostate cancer.

The musician, who celebrated his 75th birthday on Tuesday, returned to the concert platform on the same day after an absence of 12 years due to injury.

He said in a statement: “I did not want to let anyone down so I kept my diagnosis secret until after my birthday concert, but now I need to begin treatment as soon as possible.

“I am encouraged by the expectations of the medical team and look forward to making a full recovery.

“I am not intending to cancel engagements and I won’t comment any further on this matter until after the treatment.”

Lloyd Webber, the brother of composer and theatre impresario Baron Andrew Lloyd Webber, performed a birthday charity gala concert at the Wigmore Hall on Tuesday.

It followed a long hiatus as a performer, resulting from a herniated disc caused by the repeated bowing action of his right arm.

The injury was so severe he sold his Stradivarius, thinking he would never be able to play it on stage again.

However, he confirmed last year he was learning to play again, and speaking ahead of his return to the stage, he told the Observer: “I began just playing scales a few weeks ago.

“I tried a whole piece, but quickly realised it was not going to work. I had to build up to it. So I did 15 minutes, then half an hour. Then I managed an hour.

“Now I can’t wait for the concert. I just hope I can do it.”

Lloyd Webber, who performed at the closing ceremony of the 2012 London Olympics, won a Brit for his recording of Edward Elgar’s Cello Concerto.

He was made an OBE in 2021 for services to music.