Gianandrea Gavazzeni; Conductor at La Scala Opera House

Gianandrea Gavazzeni, 87, a conductor at La Scala for nearly half a century and a composer. La Scala, the Milan opera house where Gavazzeni first took the podium in 1948, planned a funeral concert in his honor similar to that afforded conducting legend Arturo Toscanini. A lifelong resident of Bergamo, Italy, Gavazzeni had conducted as recently as Jan. 3. Educated at the Milan conservatory, Gavazzeni composed chamber and symphonic music, but made his reputation conducting more than 80 productions. He also wrote his memoirs and books on other composers, including Richard Wagner. On Monday in Bergamo of cancer.