Legendary film composer Ennio Morricone has postponed two upcoming concerts in the U.S. after undergoing back surgery.

The revered Italian musician, 85, recently suffered an injury which required him to go under the knife to repair a slipped disc, and his doctors have advised him not to travel abroad as he recovers.

As a result of the operation, Morricone has been forced to rejig plans to perform his first-ever show in Los Angeles next week (20Mar14), delaying the gig until 15 June (14), while his concert in Brooklyn, New York on 23 March (14) has been pushed back to 13 June (14).

The ailment has also prompted the cancellation of a planned stage interview with director Quentin Tarantino, who Morricone worked with on Inglourious Basterds and Django Unchained, at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (Lacma). The In Conversation event, which had been booked for next Tuesday (18Mar14), is expected to be rescheduled for a later date.

A statement released by Morricone reads: "It saddens me deeply to have to postpone. I am very much looking forward to my first Los Angeles performance. Hollywood has been instrumental in bringing my work to American audiences, and my 2007 performance in New York was one of the high points of my career to date.

"I'm grateful and sorry to my fans for having to delay this show (sic). I look forward to seeing you in June."

The 2007 show in the Big Apple, which the maestro mentioned, marked Morricone's long-awaited U.S. debut.