Several European newspapers are reporting that opera insiders expect conductor Daniel Barenboim to shortly be named music director at Italy’s famed La Scala opera house, succeeding Riccardo Muti. Barenboim will wrap up his tenure as music director of the Chicago Symphony next month. “Ironically, Muti, 64, who resigned from La Scala in April 2005 after acrimonious relations with orchestra members, is considered one of the leading candidates for Barenboim’s Chicago post.”