Daniele Gatti has canceled all his upcoming performances at the Teatro alla Scala.

According to the Italian press, Gatti, who was considered the favorite to become the new Music Director of La Scala, decided to cancel his engagements with the theater after Myung-Whun Chung was named Music Director.

His next engagement with the company would have been Debussy’s “Pelléas et Mélisande” this coming season, but instead the opera will now be conducted by Maxime Pascal.

Back in April, when Fortunato Ortombina was named the new General Director, he consulted with the board and orchestra about selecting a new music director to replace Riccardo Chailly, and the board expressed interest in Daniele Gatti. However, in April of 2025, Teatro alla Scala announced that Myung-Whun Chung would be the company’s next Music Director.

Gatti is currently the new Chief Conductor of the Sächsische Staatskapelle Dresden, Chief Conductor of the Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, and Artistic Advisor of the Mahler Chamber Orchestra.

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