Myung-Whun Chung Named Music Director at Milan’s La Scala

The South Korean conductor will be the first Asian conductor to take the lead at the famed opera house

The Teatro alla Scala in Milan announced today that Myung-whun Chung will serve as its next Music Director. Chung has enjoyed a long relationship with the opera house, conducting nine operas in 84 performances, plus 141 concerts, since the 1980s. He also conducted La Scala’s Philharmonic on tours throughout Italy and abroad, setting the record for the most appearances at the opera house, aside from music directors.

In the opera house's 247-year history, Chung will be the first Asian, and one of the first conductors born outside Italy, to hold the position. In 2023, he became the first maestro to be named honorary conductor of the Filarmonica della Scala, one of La Scala's ensembles.

Chung will replace Riccardo Chailly at the end of 2026 and remain in the role for an initial term of three years.

Chung is currently the Artistic Director at the new Busan Opera and Concert Hall in South Korea, which hosts its grand opening Festival in June 2025.

He holds the titles of the inaugural Principal Guest Conductor of Dresden Staatskapelle; Honorary Music Director at Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, and Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France in Paris. He also served as the music director of the Korean Broadcasting System.

His prizes include the Commandeur de Légion d’Honneur from France, Commentatore dell’ordine della stella d’Italia, the Premio Abbiati for outstanding conducting at La Fenice in Venice, and Keumkwan, the highest culture award of the Korean government. In 2008, Chung was designated the first conductor named as Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).