La Scala taps South Korean maestro as music director

The Teatro alla Scala in Milan, one of the world's most revered opera houses, announced on Monday that its next music director would be South Korean conductor Myung-whun Chung.

- JAVIER C. HERNÁNDEZ

Chung, 72, a veteran who has led renowned ensembles in Europe and Asia, will succeed Italian maestro Riccardo Chailly, who started in 2015. Chung will be the first Asian — and one of the first conductors born outside Italy — to serve as music director in La Scala’s 247-year history. He will take the podium in late 2026 for an initial term of about three years. The selection of Chung is one of the most important decisions so far under Fortunato Ortombina, the Italian arts executive who took over as superintendent and artistic director of La Scala in February. Ortombina nominated Chung for music director, and La Scala’s board unanimously approved the choice on Monday, the opera house said in a statement.