Conductor Myung-Whun Chung Appointed Music Director of La Scala Opera
Conductor Myung-Whun Chung (72) has been appointed as the next music director of the prestigious La Scala Opera House in Milan, Italy, as announced by the venue on May 12, 2025. Established in 1778, La Scala is renowned for its rich history of over 240 years, having premiered masterpieces by composers such as Verdi, Bellini, Rossini, and Puccini.
The significance of Chung's new role can be seen through the illustrious operas that have debuted at La Scala, including Bellini's 'Norma' (1831), Verdi's 'Nabucco' (1842) and 'Otello' (1887), as well as Puccini's 'Madama Butterfly' (1904) and 'Turandot' (1926). Starting at the end of next year, Chung will lead what is often referred to as the 'home of Italian opera.' La Scala praised him as one of the most beloved musicians among Milan's opera audiences and noted his substantial contributions to the theater's global reputation, aside from the role of music director.
The music director holds a crucial position, overseeing everything from the selection of works to the recruitment of musicians. La Scala has seen some of the greatest conductors of the time, including Arturo Toscanini, Claudio Abbado, Riccardo Muti, and Daniel Barenboim, take on this role. Chung is set to succeed the current music director, Riccardo Chailly, at the end of his term next year, marking him as the first Asian conductor to hold this prestigious position.
Since his debut at La Scala in 1989, Chung has conducted nine operas a total of 84 times at the venue, in addition to leading 141 concerts, establishing a deep connection with the institution. La Scala noted that he has the highest number of performances among all past music directors. In 2023, he was appointed as the honorary conductor of the La Scala Orchestra, a title that has never been awarded to anyone else in the orchestra's history.
Chung first gained recognition as a pianist by winning second place at the Tchaikovsky International Competition in the former Soviet Union in 1974. However, he transitioned to conducting under the mentorship of the renowned Italian conductor Carlo Maria Giulini, who also served as La Scala's music director from 1953 to 1956, thus creating a legacy of 'master and disciple' in the role. At the age of 36, Chung was appointed music director of the Bastille Opera in France, gaining international attention. He has since led various prestigious orchestras, including the Santa Cecilia Orchestra in Rome, the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, the Tokyo Philharmonic, and the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra. British music columnist Norman Lebrecht remarked that Chung had a strong presence among the members of the La Scala Orchestra, noting that the only obstacle he faced was not being Italian, but ultimately, there was no opposition to his appointment.
