Latest news with #RiccardoChailly
South China Morning Post
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
Conductor Chung Myung-whun likens La Scala appointment to marrying his ‘closest friend'
When Milan's Teatro alla Scala, known as the pinnacle of Italian opera, announced conductor Chung Myung-whun, 72, as its next music director, global attention quickly turned to the fact that he would become the first Asian to hold the position. But for the South Korean, the title of La Scala music director carried little personal weight. 'I don't think it's significant just because I'm the first Asian,' Chung said. 'But it's certainly a meaningful opportunity to honour my country, and something I felt I had to do.' Chung's ties to La Scala date back to 1989. Since then, he has conducted 84 operas and 141 concerts at the theatre and, in 2023, became the first conductor in La Scala Philharmonic's history to be named honorary conductor. His upcoming tenure as music director runs from 2027 to 2030, following Riccardo Chailly Chung Myung-whun is no stranger to La Scala, having conducted 84 opera performances and 141 orchestral concerts there. Photo: Shutterstock Images 'La Scala has been my closest friend for 36 years. Now, it feels like we've gone beyond friendship – it's like we've got married,' Chung said with a smile. 'There's a deeper sense of responsibility now.'
New York Times
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
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 the South Korean conductor Myung-whun Chung. Chung, 72, a veteran who has led renowned ensembles in Europe and Asia, will succeed the 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 impresario 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. The statement called Chung, who has been a regular at La Scala since 1989, 'one of the most beloved artists among the Milanese public.' Chung has conducted 84 performances of nine operas at La Scala, in addition to 141 concerts. Chung holds the record for the most appearances at the opera house, aside from music directors, according to La Scala. In 2023, he was named honorary conductor of the Filarmonica della Scala in Milano, an ensemble of La Scala musicians, the first maestro to receive that designation. The statement called Chung, who has appeared with La Scala singers and musicians on global tours, 'the conductor who has most contributed to the international prestige of the Teatro alla Scala, excluding its music directors.' Representatives for La Scala and Chung did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Chung, who lives in France and South Korea, was born in Seoul and moved at age 8 to the United States, where he studied music. He has led many prestigious ensembles, including the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France and the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra. He has visited North Korea to push for closer cultural ties between the North and South. At La Scala, Chung will serve under Ortombina, whose tenure is still taking shape. Ortombina was chosen to lead La Scala during a nationalistic time for the arts in Italy, with government leaders making clear they favor homegrown talent over foreigners for major cultural posts. But the cultural and political establishment did not stand in the way of La Scala's selection of Chung. 'La Scala has the total right and autonomy of choice; I do not intervene on this,' Alessandro Giuli, the Italian minister of culture, told reporters, according to a report in La Repubblica, one of the country's major newspapers.
Washington Post
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Washington Post
South Korean conductor Myung-Whun Chung named La Scala's first-ever Asian musical conductor
MILAN — South Korean conductor Myung-whun Chung was named on Monday the new musical director of the famed Milan opera house, Teatro alla Scala , the first Asian to hold the position. Chung, 72, will replace Riccardo Chailly at the end of next year, and will remain in the role until general manager and artistic director Fortunato Ortombina's term ends in February 2030, La Scala said in a statement.
Korea Herald
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
La Scala names Chung Myung-whun as first Asian music director
Korean maestro to lead the prestigious 247-year-old opera house from 2027 to 2030. In a historic move, Teatro alla Scala in Milan announced Monday that South Korean conductor Chung Myung-Whun will become its next music director — the first Asian musician to hold the post in the opera house's 247-year history since its founding in 1778. Chung, 72, will take up the position following the conclusion of Riccardo Chailly's tenure at the end of 2026 and will serve through February 2030. Chung's appointment was unanimously approved by La Scala's board of directors during Monday's meeting on Monday. 'Over the years, Maestro Chung has developed a particularly close relationship with the Orchestra and Chorus of Teatro alla Scala, as well as with the Filarmonica della Scala, which has appointed him Honorary Conductor,' the Italian opera theater wrote on Instagram. 'He is among the most cherished artists by the Milanese audience, and he is also the conductor who has most contributed to the international reputation of the Teatro – aside from those who held the position of Music Director – like his mentor, Carlo Maria Giulini, who led the Filarmonica's first tours," the statement added. Chung follows a distinguished line of predecessors. Riccardo Chailly has served as Music Director from 2017 and will step down in 2026. Before him, Daniel Barenboim held the position from 2011 to 2014, Riccardo Muti served from 1986 to 2005, and Claudio Abbado held the role from 1968 to 1986. Since 1989,Chung has conducted nine operas across 84 performances and led 141 concerts, making him the most frequently engaged conductor outside of La Scala's official music directors, according to the theater. Beyond his long-standing relationship with La Scala, he has held major posts with leading orchestras including the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, and the Korean Broadcasting System Symphony Orchestra. In 2023, he was named the first-ever Conductor Emeritus of the Filarmonica della Scala.
The Independent
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
South Korean conductor Myung-Whun Chung named La Scala's first-ever Asian musical conductor
South Korean conductor Myung-whun Chung was named on Monday the new musical director of the famed Milan opera house, Teatro alla Scala, the first Asian to hold the position. Chung, 72, will replace Riccardo Chailly at the end of next year, and will remain in the role until general manager and artistic director Fortunato Ortombina's term ends in February 2030, La Scala said in a statement. Chung, who is also a renowned pianist, has conducted many of the world's most famous orchestras, and is a towering cultural figure in South Korea. La Scala noted his 'close and productive' relationship with La Scala's orchestra, choir and philharmonic, and credited him with doing more than any other any non-musical director to raise La Scala's international profile. Since 1989, Chung has conducted nine operas in 84 performances, and 141 concerts at La Scala — the most of any conductor who was not a musical director. He also has conducted La Scala's Philharmonic on tours throughout Italy and abroad, including in Germany, China, Japan and South Korea. Among his numerous posts, Chung has previously been music director of the Tokyo Philharmonic, the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France in Paris and the Korean Broadcasting System, as well as artistic director of the Busan Opera and Concert Hall in South Korea.
