Claudio Abbado is returning to La Scala after more than 20 years, and the city is planting 90,000 trees in his honor.
Abbado is a native of the city, and was musical director at La Scala for 17 years.
His return is part of an effort by La Scala's general manager Stephane Lissner to bring great conductors to La Scala's podium. The effort even includes an invitation to Riccardo Muti, who stepped down as music director and principal conductor in 2005 in open conflict with musicians.
La Scala has not had a music director since, instead naming Daniel Barenboim its principal guest conductor.
Abbado will conduct Mahler's "Eighth Symphony" in two concerts in June 2010, plus a rehearsal open to youth, his first concerts with La Scala's orchestra since departing as musical director in 1985, Lissner announced Tuesday.
His last appearance at La Scala was with the Berlin Philharmonic in 1987.
Abbado, 75, requested that the trees be planted in his name for the benefit of Milan's residents as a living memorial to mark his return to his native city. He met with the mayor and other officials Monday to discuss what kind of trees would be planted and where, said La Scala spokesman Carlo Maria Cella.
"He mentioned Magnolias, trees that are hearty enough to survive in the city," Cella said.
Mayor Letizia Moratti told a news conference that the first trees would be planted in the coming months along a central shopping thoroughfare.
Lissner said Tuesday he had not yet heard back from Muti, to whom he wrote several months ago inviting to work on a project in 2013. Lissner joined La Scala in May 2005, after Muti's departure.
La Scala announced that its 2009-10 season will open with Bizet's "Carmen," by tradition on Dec. 7, conducted by Barenboim. Emma Dante will direct the production. German tenor Jonas Kaufmann will sing the role of Don Jose and Uruguayan baritone Erwin Schrott will perform Escamillo.
Also appearing at La Scala next season will be Daniele Gatti, who conducted this season's gala premiere, Zubin Mehta and tenor Placido Domingo, who will sing the lead in "Simon Boccanegra" next April. Domingo will mark the 40th anniversary of his first La Scala appearance on Dec. 9, singing the role of Siegmund in the first act of Wagner's "Die Walkuere" in a concert version conducted by Barenboim. The Spanish tenor debuted at La Scala in Verdi's "Ernani" in 1969.