Tendinitis Sidelines a Royal Opera Conductor The occupational health problems of instrumental musicians are known -- nervous system problems that lead to unresponsive fingers, tendinitis, blown-out lip muscles. But an announcement by the Royal Opera House on Sunday made it clear that conductors can also suffer from their physical exertions. It said the music director, Antonio Pappano, was withdrawing from a production next month because of tendinitis in his right elbow. Doctors told Mr. Pappano that "he needs a complete break from the extreme physical demands that conducting puts on his elbow," according to the Royal Opera. A heavy workload over the past six months, including performances of the grueling "Ring" cycle, brought on the problem, the news release said. The Royal Opera "fully supports" the decision, it said. Mr. Pappano was to have conducted a run of Harrison Birtwistle's "Minotaur" and will be replaced by Ryan Wigglesworth. The company did not say when Mr. Pappano, 52, would return to the pit.