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Conductor Riccardo Muti
The Chicago Sun-Times has reported that Riccardo Muti has resigned as the regular lead conductor of the Rome Opera after ongoing funding, management and labor issues have continued unresolved.
In his resignation letter, Muti wrote he will not be conducting planned productions of Verdi's Aida or Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro, the Sun-Times' Andrew Patner reports.
"There are no conditions [there] to ensure the serenity necessary to my leading successful productions," Muti wrote, according to the Italian national news service ANSA Sunday.
"Unfortunately, despite all my efforts to contribute to your cause," Muti wrote, problems of state and city funding, management authority and labor peace "have emerged [again] in just the last few days."
Muti said that he would dedicate his time "in Italy" instead to the Luigi Cherubini Orchestra that he founded for young professional musicians in his homeland.
The Naples-born conductor, 73, said he had reached the decision "with the greatest regret, after long and troubled reflection."
Muti continues as music director of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, a role he has held since 2010. The CSO just began its new season this past week.
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