Chung to Succeed Chailly at La Scala

Milan: South Korean conductor Myung-Whun Chung will succeed Riccardo Chailly when the Italian conductor’s contract with La Scala ends in 2026, the board of the iconic Milanese opera house announced Monday. The decision to appoint Chung was made unanimously, following a proposal from superintendent Fortunato Ortombina.

According to Ansa News Agency, Chung, who is the same age as Chailly at 72, will assume the leadership of La Scala until 2030. His extensive musical career includes being named the Direttore Emeritus at Filarmonica della Scala in Milan since 2023, a historical first for the institution. Additionally, he serves as the Principal Guest Conductor of the Dresden Staatskapelle, another first in their history. He is also the Honorary Music Director at the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra and the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France in Paris, and recently took on the role of Artistic Director at the new Busan Opera and Concert Hall in South Korea.

Chung’s impressive resume extends further with his roles as Music Director at the Saarbrcken Radio Symphony Orchestra, Principal Guest Conductor of the Teatro Comunale of Florence, Principal Conductor of the Orchestra of the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia in Rome, and Music Director of the Op©ra de Paris-Bastille. Throughout his career, Maestro Chung has conducted some of the world’s leading orchestras across Europe, Asia, and the USA.