Milan's world-famous opera house la Scala has announced Israeli conductor and pianist Daniel Barenboim will take over as its new music director in December.

Barenboim will replace the post long vacated by Italian conductor Riccardo Muti who left in 2005 following a dispute.

La Scala said in a statement Thursday that Argentine-born musician will help prepare operas, concerts and tours at the opera house for about four months each year until the end of 2016.

Currently music director at Berlin's State Opera, Barenboim has produced two operas a year for La Scala since Muti's departure.

The 68-year old musician is also renowned for his work with the West-Eastern Divan youth orchestra, which brings together Arabs and Israelis.

Barenboim began his career as a pianist and turned to conducting in the 1970s.