Busan: Maestro Chung Myung-whun, recently appointed as the music director of Italy’s Teatro alla Scala, has described his new role as the culmination of a long-standing relationship with the prestigious opera house, likening it to a marriage. “We have maintained a lovely relationship for the past 36 years and suddenly gotten married, to put it simply,” the maestro said with a laugh during a press conference in Busan.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Chung became the first Asian to be appointed music director at the Milan opera house, which was established in 1778. He is set to succeed Riccardo Chailly at the end of next year and will serve in the position until February 2030. His connection with La Scala dates back to 1989, having been a constant presence by conducting nine opera productions over 84 performances and 141 concerts – the highest number of appearances by any conductor not holding an official music director title, as per the theater’s records.
In March 2023, he was named the La Scala Philharmonic Orchestra’s first-ever honorary conductor, acknowledging his enduring relationship with the institution. “Even if someone is exceptionally talented, if we don’t connect, I wouldn’t work with them,” he stated, adding, “The people there have been my closest friends for 36 years.” Chung also reminisced about their strong collaboration from the beginning, saying, “Even when I couldn’t speak the language, they understood what I wanted to express.”
While downplaying the personal significance of being the first Asian music director due to his life abroad, Chung remarked, “I think it is a great opportunity to bring honor to my country, and I felt the need to take the job.” As the artistic director at Classic Busan, the operator of the Busan Opera House, he expressed optimism for potential synergy between the Italian theater and the new Busan venue, which is scheduled to open in 2027.
Chung believes there could be positive effects on the operation of the Busan opera house, which is just starting out, while La Scala continues to demonstrate the highest standards. He also alluded to the possibility of collaboration for the inaugural performance, citing Giuseppe Verdi’s “Otello” as an example. Chung is set to make his debut as La Scala’s music director on December 7 next year.