The Conductors: Daniel Barenboim

Simon BoccanegraTeatro Alla Scala

Daniel Barenboim (2011–2014)

Stéphane Lissner, La Scala’s first non-Italian superintendent, ushered in a more outward-looking era. Daniel Barenboim, who had enamoured Milan with a formidable account of Beethoven's Symphony no. 9 in 2005, was appointed “maestro scaligero” the next year, and music director in 2011.

Daniel Barenboim dirige Die Walkure 2010Teatro Alla Scala

Wagner’s star ascends

During Barenboim’s tenure, Wagner reigned supreme. In 2007 he inaugurated the season with a historic production of Tristan und Isolde with Waltraud Meier as "Isolde" that marked Patrice Chéreau's return to La Scala.

LohengrinTeatro Alla Scala

In 2012, in preparation for the following year’s bicentenary celebrations of both Verdi and Wagner’s births, La Scala opened the season with Wagner’s Lohengrin in a remarkable production by Claus Guth with Jonas Kaufmann arousing a nationalist protest that echoed nineteenth-century controversy.

Opening the successive season in 2013, the actual bicentennial of the birth of Verdi, with La traviata conducted by Daniele Gatti partly appeased disgruntled audiences.

Messa Da RequiemTeatro Alla Scala

Thereafter, Barenboim conducted all four Ring cycle operas. The creation of the complete cycle with the same conductor and director represented a historical reparation for the theatre in which the previous versions conducted by Muti and Sawallisch had undergone changes and interruptions.

AidaTeatro Alla Scala

There was also room for Verdi. In 2009, the conductor took to the podium for a revival of Franco Zeffirelli’s huge production of Aida.

Simon BoccanegraTeatro Alla Scala

The following year, Barenboim conducted Verdi’s Simon Boccanegra. Barenboim also presented as conductor and pianist a complete cycle of Beethoven's symphonies, concerts and sonatas.

27 gennaio 2014 concerto in memoria di Abbado diretto da Barenboim trasmesso in piazzaTeatro Alla Scala

When Claudio Abbado died in 2014, Barenboin led La Scala’s traditional tribute to deceased conductors. Thousands gathered in Piazza della Scala on a cold January evening; the funeral march from Beethoven's Eroica symphony floated out from the empty auditorium through the theatre’s open doors. Broadcast on national television, it was the first event to be live streamed by La Scala.

Credits: Story

curated by James Imam and the Teatro alla Scala

Credits: All media
The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content.
Explore more
Related theme
Teatro alla Scala, Milan
Dating from 1778, one of the world's oldest and most famous theaters now opens its doors to everyone
View theme
Home
Discover
Play
Nearby
Favorites