Myung-Whun Chung Named Music Director at La Scala Amid Price Controversy

Myung-Whun Chung has been named the music director of Teatro alla Scala in Milan, effective from the 2026/2027 season. As the theater approaches its 2028 bicentennial, it has achieved record box office earnings, surpassing state funding by €500,000. The upcoming season will feature 95 performances and 13 opera titles, including three that have never been staged in Milan. At 73, Chung, who has served as the principal guest conductor of the Staatskapelle Dresden and honorary music director of the Tokyo Philharmonic, is set to lead Verdi's Otello on December 7 and Macbeth in May 2027. While a new pricing strategy has faced backlash from devoted fans, the theater argues it improves accessibility. Chung's contract extends to 2030, aligning with superintendent Fortunato Ortombina's tenure.