MILAN (AP) ― The Milanese opera house La Scala took another step in its artistic and managerial transition on Tuesday by confirming that Riccardo Chailly will be its new musical director, replacing Daniel Barenboim.

Chailly, 60, currently conductor of the Gewandhaus Symphony Orchestra in Leipzig, will be La Scala’s principal conductor from 2015 before becoming musical director in 2017.

Due to previous commitments, Chailly can only conduct three operas and two concert runs during the first two years of his La Scala tenure, not a sufficient presence for the musical director title, La Scala spokesman Carlo Maria Cella said by telephone.

“Originally Barenboim was going to be in the position until 2017,” Cella said. But Barenboim, 71, announced recently that he would leave two years early to pursue many other projects.

The confirmation of Chailly’s new role comes just months after the opera house announced a change of management, which has been pushed ahead to next summer from 2015.