Scala's Got A Brand New Board; Dudamel, Harding Mentioned As Possible New Music Director

Now that la Scala finally has, as of today, a spanking new board of directors, and that Stéphane Lissner has been confirmed as GM until 2013 -- but he'll stay on until 2015, the year when the Expo2015 rocks Milan -- there's increased chatter about the possible decision to finally name a Music Director. Daniel Barenboim enjoys the glorified status, the cash, the co-productions with Berlin and the largely ceremonial title of "Maestro Scaligero" that his idol Wilhelm Fuertwangler used to have, a glorified title of Guest Conductor that leaves the actual choices and the power safely in Lissner's hands.

Over the years, since 2005, when Lissner took over after the Riccardo Muti era, a sequence of high-profile Italian conductors has been initially mentioned as possible new MD -- Riccardo Chailly, then Daniele Gatti -- and their phantom campaigns have consistently crashed and burned in the famously Machiavellian world of Scala affairs.

And now the mostly all-powerful Lissner, safe until 2015 in his place, might -- it is said -- finally choose a Music Director. A Music Director he'd have to share power with, obviously (keep in mind, as mean Ioan Holender famously mentioned, Lissner can't read music). 

The two names being floated are Gustavo Dudamel's and Daniel Harding's.

Comments

[Warren]

No, not Dudamel. Let the baby chick focus on his L.A. orchestra, already! Maybe he can do something interesting there in the wake of Pekka's brilliant tenure.

I wasn't terribly impressed with Gustavo and the Angelenos' Mahler 1 a while back (actually it sucked), but I'll give him some time to adjust, settle in.

[Tobias]

Well, it makes sense. The other candidates had at least 20 years on Harding and Dudamel. All the Americans and Brits are going with young MDs and PCs. Why not La Scala?

But I can't see how Deb Borda would ever put up with something like that.

[Dill]

Oh great. At this point, it's a circus. I wouldn't be surprised to hear that Muti that comes back.

[Rock Me, Amadeus]

I think they should put Harding and Dudamel into a caged ring and make them fight it out, man to man! Whoever exits the steel cage unscathed wins the prestigious title of Music Director.

For the record, I'm putting fifty bucks on Harding. Sure, he looks scrappy up against the Venezuelan pugilist, but you can tell he's quick! And he looks like a dirty fighter. He'd definitely punch below the belt! :)

[Bec]

Youth tends to win out, in time Dudamel may become the genius many already proclaim him to be......

[Lou Ann D.]

Apparently, not everyone in LA is happy with the Dud(amel). http://outwestarts.blogspot.com/index.html

[Alan, London]

Please, take Harding. I was at this (there weren't many of us - the Barbican Hall was at most half-full), and actually this is quite generous. The LSO were definitely NOT on their best form for Harding in the Mahler, though Clements doesn't mention it.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2009/nov/15/lso-harding-review

[me]

Ummmm....I think I would take this with a VERY large pinch of salt for the moment.

If either of these two young conductors were appointed, they whould be the first non-Italian Music Directors of La Scala in its history and I am fairly sure that they would have to rewrite their charter to do so...

It is NOT unprecedented for La Scala to operate without a MD. The last time, the interregnum lasted nearly 14 years.

If they were to appoint an MD, the two most obvious candidates at this time would be Noseda and Papano.

[ciocio]

there is an italian saying that sums it all: "siamo alla frutta"...which means: we have come to the fruit, meaning the end of the meal... that is :if la Scala is reduced to these two names it means that everything is lost. Dudamel knows nothing about opera and Harding is the most boring conductor on the planet. did you guys read the review on the Requiem in Paris with Barenboim? read :http://www.concertonet.com/scripts/review.php?ID_review=6021

[walter]

Oh dear! Just what Scala needs. More wunderkind running around!

[not me]

Commenter "me" does not know what she or he is talking about. There is no "charter" that forbids to hire a non Italian, because it would among other things be illegal. Noseda has no chance because he has never conducted an opera in Scala and his name has never been discussed. Pappano (two "p"'s) who's as Italian as Mario Cuomo, will never get it as long as Lissner runs the show.

[LIANE]

I hope Pappano is not getting it because we love him to stay the ROH in London. For me he is the most wonderful conductor and personality.

[me]

Music Directors of La Scala have always been Italian, and it is likely that it will always be thus. Pappano has the right to Italian citizenship, he was born in England to Italian parents who were working there. No, Noseda has never conducted an opera at La Scala. but he has conducted the orchestra His not having conducted an opera in the house would make precious little difference to his being appointed as MD.

[Willy]

We'll keep Pappano right here in Roma thank you - don't need him defecting to the North!

[MarkM]

Pappano has renewed his Covent Garden contract till 2014. It's a long time for La Scala to wait.

[lohengrin]

The place of Music Director at La Scala has to be given to DANIELE GATTI!