The music director of La Scala (Italian: Direttore musicale del Teatro alla Scala) is the principal conductor and artistic leader of the orchestra of the Teatro alla Scala in Milan, Italy. The music director conducts opera and concert performances, leads rehearsals, and oversees the orchestra's musical interpretation and artistic development.
The position has been held by several of the leading conductors in the history of opera, including Arturo Toscanini, Guido Cantelli, Claudio Abbado, Riccardo Muti, Daniel Barenboim and Riccardo Chailly. Chailly's term as music director is scheduled to end in 2026, after which Myung-Whun Chung will assume the position.
The tenure of Guido Cantelli as music director of Teatro alla Scala was the shortest in the theatre's history. Cantelli was appointed Direttore stabile in November 1956, but died in an aircraft accident in Paris only days later. Cantelli also remains the only La Scala director to have died in office. Among the longest-serving music directors was Riccardo Muti, who led the theatre's orchestra from 1986 to 2005. The position has also at times been held under different titles, including Direttore stabile and Direttore musicale, reflecting changes in the organization and artistic structure of La Scala.
Music directors
+ Portrait Name Term Source(s) 1 – The New Grove Dictionary of Opera, entry Milan. 2 – 3 – 4 – 5 – 6 – 7 – 8 9 – 10 – 11 – 12 – 13 – 14 – 15 16 – 17 – 18 – 19 – 20 – 21 –
See also La Scala
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