Riccardo Muti quits La Scala

[Bright Moments]

This was inevitable:

Riccardo Muti quits La Scala April 4 2005

The musical director of Milan's La Scala, Riccardo Muti, tendered his resignation on Saturday after months of internal disagreement at the opera house. In his resignation letter he wrote: ‘The vulgar show of hostility from people I have worked with for nearly 20 years has made it really impossible to continue a working relationship which should be based on harmony and trust.’

(photo: Tamonila/ Teatro alla Scala)

Tensions at the newly redeveloped opera house came to a head in February with the sacking of La Scala’s sovrintendente Carlo Fontana and his replacement with Mauro Meli, an ally of Muti. Muti and Fontana had long been at loggerheads over the artistic direction of the theatre.

Strikes and protests continued, however, and La Scala’s heavily unionised staff last month voted unanimously to oust both Muti and Meli. The opera house sought to restore order, though it was difficult to see how Muti could carry on in the circumstances.

Muti, 64, had been musical director of La Scala since 1986. While known for his high standards, he also has a reputation as an uncompromising taskmaster and had been criticised for a reluctance to programme more accessible repertoire.

No successor has been announced but the spotlight has fallen on two Italians. One is Daniele Gatti, musical director of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and of the Teatro Comunale in Bologna, the other is Riccardo Chailly, who is renowned worldwide as an opera conductor and is musical director of the Milan ‘Giuseppe Verdi’ Symphony Orchestra.

La Scala’s governing body is due to meet again today (Monday) and on Wednesday the prefetto appointed to arbitrate in the dispute, Bruno Ferrante, will meet union leaders to work out a plan for the theatre following Muti’s departure, though with Meli still in charge as sovrintendente.

Charles Searson, online Italy correspondent