News Mon May 05 2008

Muti to Join CSO. In Two Years.

Only a couple years after Daniel Barenboim's departure from the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Riccardo Muti has been named as music director. He will officially take over the position for the 2010-2011 season. Muti's most notable tenures have been with the Philadelphia Orchestra and La Scala. He has also been a guest conductor with numerous European orchestras, as well as the New York Philharmonic.

Perhaps taking a dig at Barenboim's displeasure with the music director's role in fundraising, Muti remarked on his openness to community relations, stating, "This is the most exciting part of the position of the music director." Although, Muti himself arrives with some baggage following his late turmoil at La Scala that effectively ended after a no-confidence vote from musicians and staff.

- James Ziegenfus