Barenboim has triumphant finale in Chicago

CHICAGO, June 18 (UPI) -- Daniel Barenboim has concluded his 15-year-run as the Chicago Symphony Orchestra's music director with an emotional final concert.

The program for the sold-out Saturday concert was comprised exclusively of the works of Beethoven and concluded with Beethoven's Ninth Symphony -- followed by a 15-minute standing ovation for Barenboim, the Chicago Sun-Times reported.

Barenboim, who is scheduled to join Milan's La Scala Opera next year as principal guest conductor, was honored by the members of his orchestra by being named honorary conductor for life.

Barenboim concluded his final CSO concert by shaking the hand of each member of the orchestra.

"He is without a doubt one of the world's most extraordinary musical brains," Lincoln Park resident Hubert Dololeza told the Sun-Times, "When he's up on the podium, he gives nothing but pure love to the audience."

Dutch conductor Bernard Haitink has been named as the replacement resident conductor for the orchestra for the next four years, the newspaper said.