North America
Italy's Muti named new Chicago Symphony director
By Reuters
May 6, 2008, 00:18

CHICAGO (Reuters) - The Chicago Symphony Orchestra named Italian conductor Riccardo Muti on Monday as the 10th music director in its 117-year history.

Muti is "one of the most extraordinary and respected conductors of all time," symphony President Deborah Card said in announcing he had accepted a five-year contract beginning in September 2010.

He will conduct a minimum of 10 weeks of subscription concerts each season and lead domestic and international tours, the announcement said.

The Chicago Symphony is one of the premier U.S. music institutions, and has won numerous Grammy awards over the years.

Muti, 66, succeeds Daniel Barenboim who left the orchestra two years ago.

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