Soprano Brueggergosman recovering after emergency heart surgery

International opera star Measha Brueggergosman underwent emergency surgery in Toronto last week, her family said.

The Fredericton-born soprano suffered a life-threatening tear in her aorta. Brueggergosman was taken to a hospital emergency room from her home last Tuesday when she wasn't feeling well.

The 31-year-old soprano was diagnosed with very high blood pressure and released. The following day she reported back to the hospital with pains in her chest.

Scans showed she had a tear in her aorta and doctors performed open-heart surgery to repair it. Her family said Brueggergosman is recovering at home under doctor's orders to rest for at least a month.

They say she plans to visit Fredericton in early July.

Brueggergosman has cancelled three appearances with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra as well as a performance in Austria.

The Shaw Festival says she has postponed her performance of An Enchanted Evening scheduled for July 12 but should be well enough to perform on Aug. 9.

The internationally-renowned opera star has won a Juno award and performed for the Queen and Nelson Mandela.

She recently achieved a dramatic weight loss of about 150 pounds, which she said was a result of Bikram yoga.