Riccardo Chailly confirmed as La Scala music director

10 December 2013, 11:40 | Updated: 18 September 2014, 15:21

After months of speculation, Italian conductor Riccardo Chailly is confirmed to be taking up the post of music director at Milan's world-famous La Scala opera house in January 2015.

The Mayor of Milan, Giuliano Pisapia, has announced Chailly will take over the role, describing the appointment as 'wonderful news for Milan'.

"The Board of Directors has agreed with Alexander Pereira's proposal to appoint Chailly musical director from January 1 2015, when the maestro Barenboim will no longer be present at La Scala," he said."We are happy and proud."

The news originally surfaced after an Italian newspaper published apparently leaked information from the incoming manager of La Scala, Alexander Pereira.

The post is currently held by Argentine pianist and conductor Daniel Barenboim, who is contracted to the post until the middle of 2016. Chailly's current home is at the Gewandhaus in Leipzig, where he has made several revered recordings of Beethoven and Brahms symphonies.

The 60-year-old Italian has a history with La Scala, having previously been an assistant to Claudio Abbado during his time with the company.