Riccardo Muti will return to La Scala in 2017, the first time he has conducted at the world famous opera house since his acrimonious exist as music director in 2005. Muti led the Milanese opera company for 19 years.
The 74-year-old will conduct the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, where he is music director, on 20 and 21 January. The performance will be accompanied by an exhibition to celebrate the autocratic conductor’s 75th birthday.
‘Now we are talking about new projects and we hope that in the future he will come here to conduct an opera,’ said La Scala in a statement. It appears that La Scala’s principle conductor Riccardo Chailly and artistic director Alexander Pereira reached out to Muti in an attempt undo past damage.
The Italian maestro originally left after falling out with general manager Carlo Fontana, which led to Fontana being sacked. Staff at La Scala then went on strike in protest and Muti severed ties with the company.