La Scala nets Barenboim as guest conductor

Daniel Barenboim will join Italy's famous La Scala opera house as its new principal guest conductor.

"For the next five or six years, the musical director most present at La Scala will be Daniel Barenboim," La Scala's general and artistic director Stephane Lissner told a news conference in Milan on Monday.

Last week, La Scala hinted vaguely that the acclaimed conductor, 63, was set to take on a prominent role with the company. However, officials also stressed that he would not be taking the place of Riccardo Muti, the longtime La Scala musical director who resigned last spring during a public spat with the orchestra players and opera house staff.

Barenboim said Monday he turned down the post of music director because it would involve too many administrative responsibilities.

"I cannot and do not want the position at this moment," he said in fluent Italian. He added, however, that the offer to be a regular guest conductor provided much more freedom.

"There is no title, there is no contract, there's nothing, and for that reason, there's everything."

Regular conducting gigs for next five years

Barenboim is expected to remain with La Scala for five to six years and will conduct a minimum of two opera productions each season. He is also hoping to create a musical education project with the opera house. Among his many credits, Barenboim co-created a foundation and orchestra designed to promote music and co-operation among young musicians from Israel and from Arab countries.

Barenboim will kick off his new relationship with La Scala by conducting Giuseppe Verdi's Requiem Mass in November 2007 at a performance marking the 50th anniversary of the death of renowned Italian conductor and former La Scala director Arturo Toscanini.

He will also conduct Richard Wagner's Tristan und Isoldeon Dec. 7, 2007 the traditional season opener at the Milanese house.

Milan's LaScala to exchange with Berlin's Staatsoper

Barenboim's new relationship with the opera house has also paved the way for a new collaboration between La Scala and Berlin's Staatsoper, where he will continue to serve as general music director.

The Milanese and Berlin opera houses now plan to exchange productions.

Rumours had been circling that Barenboim was the prime candidate to replace the fiery Muti at La Scala, especially since Barenboim is set to complete his contract as chief conductor of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra this year. Barenboim also received a warm reception from both players and patrons when he conducted the La Scala orchestra in December.

The Argentine-born conductor also holds the title conductor-for-life of Berlin's Staatskapelle orchestra.