Italian maestro named CSO's 10th music director

Riccardo Muti, 66, one of the world's leading orchestral and opera conductors, has agreed to a five-year contract to become music director of the CSO, starting with the 2010-2011 season.

It is expected Muti will conduct at least 10 weeks of concerts each season at Symphony Center/Orchestra Hall, as well as lead domestic and overseas tours.

Muti will become the orchestra's 10th music director since its founding in 1891. He is the first Italian to lead the CSO, although Carlo Maria Giulini and Claudio Abbado each held the title of principal guest conductor during the 1970s and '80s.

Muti signed his contract Monday in Salzburg, Austria, in the presence of Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association President Deborah R. Card, acting with the unanimous approval of the orchestra's board of trustees and the overwhelming support of the CSO musicians, who enjoyed a highly successful European tour under Muti's baton last fall.

"From the moment Maestro Muti took the podium earlier this season, it became evident that something truly special was taking place," Card said. "The connection between Maestro Muti and our musicians was electric, and the music-making was astonishing. We are thrilled to appoint Riccardo Muti, one of the most extraordinary and respected conductors of all time, to the position of music director of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra."

Muti was a difficult "catch," often saying he did not want to take on another major American orchestral position after leaving the Philadelphia Orchestra in 1992 following a 12-year run. Fundraising and other non-musical obligations, part of the American orchestral scene, were cited by Daniel Barenboim as a major reason he left Chicago in 2006 after 15 years as music director.

That changed last fall, when Muti's rapport with the orchestra's musicians became very evident during the European tour, and their mutual admiration ultimately turned out to be the "deal maker."

"A great orchestra needs a great conductor, and in Riccardo Muti we have found an outstanding world-class musician to lead the CSO," said Michael Henoch, assistant principal oboe and a member of the music director search committee. "On behalf of the musician members of the search committee, we could not be more pleased and honored that Maestro Muti has agreed to become our next music director."

Several years ago, Muti turned down the New York Philharmonic's overtures to become Lorin Maazel's successor. That job subsequently went to American conductor Alan Gilbert, starting in 2009-10. Muti was then named the Philharmonic's principal guest conductor, starting in 2009. How the CSO appointment will affect his New York situation is not immediately clear.

"The Chicago Symphony Orchestra, after an absence of 32 years, re-entered my life last September, and the immediate connection with the wonderful musicians of the CSO made a powerful impression," Muti said. "This musical strength just kept growing during our successful European tour. Sometimes, when you least expect it, the timing and situation unite. This has happened in Chicago, a remarkable city, and I very much look forward to continuing making music with the great musicians of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra."

Muti was born July 28, 1941, in Naples. His most recent major artistic post was a 19-year tenure as music director of the La Scala opera house in Milan, which he resigned following an internal political dispute in 2005. Before his 12 years in Philadelphia, he was chief conductor of London's Philharmonia Orchestra (1972-82). He has conducted all the world's major orchestras. He has a particularly close association with the Vienna Philharmonic, which he has conducted at the Salzburg Festival since 1971.

During its nearly four-year search for Barenboim's successor, the CSO appointed Bernard Haitink principal conductor in April 2006, with Pierre Boulez at that time moving up from principal guest conductor to conductor emeritus. Both are expected to remain in those positions until Muti's 2010 arrival, although Boulez said he plans to take a sabbatical in order to turn his attention to composing.