Frenchman to take over at La Scala

Milan’s La Scala theater, trying to end the turmoil that led to conductor Riccardo Muti’s resignation, named the director of the opera festival in Aix-en-Provence, France, to be its top administrator and artistic director Thursday.

Stephane Lissner is replacing embattled superintendent Mauro Meli and will take over next month, said a statement from Milan Mayor Gabriele Albertini, who is also president of the private foundation that controls La Scala.

“My absolute priority will be music,” Lissner told reporters as he left Milan City Hall. The silver-haired Frenchman said he would focus immediately on the 2005-06 opera season, which starts Dec. 7, and on how La Scala will mark the 250th anniversary of the birth of Mozart next year.