Italian conductor Chailly to replace Barenboim at La Scala

(ANSA) – Milan, December 10 – Italian Riccardo Chailly will replace star conductor Daniel Barenboim as the musical director of La Scala Theatre in January 2015, Milan Mayor Giuliano Pisapia announced Tuesday.

“It’s splendid news” said Pisapia after a meeting of the board of one of the world’s top opera and ballet theatres.

In October it was revealed that Barenboim will cease to be musical director of La Scala as of January 1, 2015 instead of January 1, 2017, as previously foreseen.

The last La Scala performance under Barenboim’s direction is scheduled to be Ludwig van Beethoven’s Fidelio, which will inaugurate the performance season on December 7, 2014.