Rumours run riot in La Scala regime change

Rumours run riot in La Scala regime change

Opera

norman lebrecht

March 13, 2024

Contrary to Italian media reports, nothing is yet a done deal.

At Monday’s board meeting, the Mayor of Milan put forward the name of Fortunato Ortombina and an informal discussion followed. The board will meet again on April 29.

Subject to that decision, the next sovrintendente will nominate the artistic and music director. The incumbent Riccardo Chailly has internal support from the orchestra and staff. But external political forces are pushing for a change. Their candidate is Daniele Gatti, former head of the Teatro Communale in Bologna and the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam. Chailly is 71, Gatti 62.

It’s all to play for.

Watch this space (you are, already).

Comments

  • Tristan says:

    they should all go including Chailly who was poor so far (overrated like Gatti) and how far have we come in nowadays Italy that they do not find younger talents with some taste…Lissner and Pereira were awful choices and totally failed in the jewel of Italy
    Just remember the brilliance of Abbado and Muti not to speak of the times when Votto, de Sabata, Giulini etc crowned la Scala

  • Luca Gava says:

    «Riccardo Chailly has internal support from the orchestra and staff».
    Are you joking???
    They can’t stand him anymore!!!

  • Deirdre says:

    NL can you be so nice to do a spelling check

  • Concertgebouw79 says:

    For an italian conductor there’s a Holy Grail it’s to be musical director of La Scala. Riccardo Chailly runs a real golden age during the last years. I ‘am not sure that he will insist like some others to stay at this fonction. Because of of his health and above all his intelligence. Don’t forget that he desided to leave at the good moment when he was in Amsterdam and at the Gewandhaus. I’am not sure also that he has excellent relationship with Meloni like its the case with the president Mattarella who can’t do nothing in this case. I’am surpised that they don’t talk more about Luisi. Concerning Gatti going on the foot stepes of Chailly didn’t give him luck in the past… Any way for the one after it’s will be very very difficult. Because Chailly is the GOAT for me and because is now at the top.

  • Singeril says:

    Is it one cat or more than that?

  • John Kelly says:

    “Rumours run riot” in Italy. Hardly news.

  • Player says:

    Bring back Muti!

  • waw says:

    The Italians, including hyphenated Italians, have such a deep bench of talented conductors that they could close their eyes and pick anyone of them and it would be a good choice.

  • Sam's Hot Car Lot says:

    Perhaps if Gatti gets the job, he’ll be able to afford a jacket that fits.

  • Music lover says:

    Gatti has been the best opera conductor on the planet for the last 25 years … let’s hope this decision will be made by musicians,not pen pushers.

  • Save the MET says:

    They clean house at La Scala every decade or sooner as the politicians want to put their personal stamp on the prize pig. So this is yet another Milanese spin cycle.

  • Pedro says:

    Gatti is a superb opera conductor. I have heard Parsifal in Bayreuth, Paris and Zurich; Meistersinger in Salzburg; Tristan in Paris; Salome in Amsterdam; Elektra in Salzburg; Verdi operas in Salzburg, Rome, Vienna and Paris. At his worst very good and at his best splendid. Common productions between Milan and Dresden would make sense.

  • IMHO says:

    Why Noseda is not on the list is a mystery

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