La Scala Opera Taps an Italian to Be Its Next Leader

Meyer, who earlier than operating La Scala and the Vienna State Opera was the inventive director of the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées in Paris and the final director of the Lausanne Opera in Switzerland, will flip 70 subsequent yr. But Sala mentioned at a information convention Tuesday that in response to authorized consultants consulted by the board, the age cap didn’t apply to La Scala, which is ruled by a unique statute than different opera theaters.

The legislation capping the age restrict at 70 initially prompted a ruckus on the San Carlo theater in Naples, which moved to dismiss Lissner, additionally French, who had turned 70 halfway via his time period as the final director. A labor courtroom reinstated Lissner after his legal professionals challenged the grounds for his dismissal.

After taking workplace in September, Ortombina will seek the advice of with the board and the theater’s orchestra to pick a music director. Sala mentioned the present director, Riccardo Chailly, would stay till 2026, conducting La Scala’s Dec. 7 season premieres — an annual cultural spotlight in Italy — in 2024 and 2025. The board expressed a desire for Daniele Gatti, presently the musical director of the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, to succeed him.

Ortombina will take over La Scala in September.

Sala mentioned that Meyer, whose time period formally ends on Feb. 28, 2025, had been requested to remain on till Aug. 1 of that yr. Meyer has not mentioned whether or not he would settle for the extension.

Ortombina, 63, isn’t any stranger to La Scala. He served as coordinator of the theater’s inventive course from 2003 to 2007, then left to turn into the inventive director at La Fenice. He grew to become La Fenice’s common director in 2017.

With his background in musical research, as a creative director after which common director, Ortombina was “a step in the precise course,” mentioned Mattioli, the critic.

Sala on Tuesday acknowledged the tense negotiations that had led to the appointment, saying that the board had “accomplished every part for the great of La Scala, for its dignity and in equity.”