Muti picked for Chicago post

Ending months of rumors, Riccardo Muti, former music director of Milan’s La Scala opera, has been named music director of the Chicago Symphony, the orchestra announced Monday. The post has been vacant since Daniel Barenboim retired in 2006.

Muti’s five-year Chicago contract, beginning in September 2010, will entail a minimum of 10 weeks of subscription concerts each season, in addition to national and international tours. --