So Riccardo Chailly will be La Scala's new musical director starting 1 January 2015.
The Mayor of Milan, Giuliano Pisapia, who is consequently also the chairman of the theatre's board of directors, said,
The Board of Directors is in agreement with the proposal advanced by Alexander Pereira, the new theatre director, in nominating Chailly as music director from January 2015, after which Maestro Barenboim will no longer be with us at La Scala.
According to a trade union leader, this was,
…wonderful news' for Milan as Chailly is Milanese, and because internationally he is someone who has helped enhance La Scala's reputation. We are happy and proud.
Chailly's contract will initially be until 31 December 2016, as Principal Conductor, and then as Musical Director until 31 December 2022. During the first two-year period he will conduct three operas and two concert programmes.
Graham Spicer is a writer, director and photographer in Milan, blogging (under the name ‘Gramilano') about dance, opera, music and photography for people “who are a bit like me and like some of the things I like”. He was a regular columnist for Opera Now magazine and wrote for the BBC until transferring to Italy.
His scribblings have appeared in various publications from Woman's Weekly to Gay Times, and he wrote the ‘Danza in Italia' column for Dancing Times magazine.
