Barenboim Follows Muti as La Scala’s New Musical Director

Superintendent Lissner says “He’s one of the great conductors of our time”. Appointment until 2016

MILAN – From 1 December 2011, Daniel Barenboim will be the musical director of La Scala, a post that had remained empty since Riccardo Muti took his leave in 2005. Israeli-Argentinian Barenboim, who has been at La Scala since 2006, is currently “maestro scaligero”, a position specially created for him. Among his other distinctions, Barenboim is also principal conductor for life of the Berlin Staatskapelle.

LA SCALA – Barenboim is taking on a commitment that will tie him to La Scala until 31 December 2016 for 15 weeks of operas, concerts and tours every year. The Milan opera house issued a bulletin to say: “It is with satisfaction and pride that the superintendent, Stephane Lissner, has seen the consolidation of the close relationship with one of the greatest conductors of our time, who in the past five years of collaboration has given a strong impetus to La Scala’s activities and who with this decision has taken a significant step for its international artistic activities”. For the opera house, the appointment brings momentum to a European project on a vast scale, reinforcing La Scala’s in-house resources and at the same time opening it to new perspectives on the world stage”.

THE MAYOR – Milan’s mayor, Giuliano Pisapia, who also chairs the Fondazione Scala, expressed his satisfaction. Mr Pisapia said: “This choice again confirms La Scala as an international benchmark for music and the arts. The stature of [Barenboim’s] work, which I have had the opportunity to admire on several occasions, will enrich the story of the temple of opera, and the image of Milan and Italy around the world”.

English translation by Giles Watson

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