Los Angeles Opera Background Information
An opera company based in the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion of the Los Angeles Music Center in California, the Los Angeles Opera made its debut in 1986 with Placido Domingo in the starring role of Verdi's Otello. The opera company's roots can be traced back to the Los Angeles Civic Grand Opera created in 1948. The Los Angeles Civic Grand Opera was founded in 1948 and gave staged productions until the 1950s. However, after its third production, it stopped pursuing its projects. Instead, it launched itself as a company that would take opera from other cities, particularly the New York City Opera (NYCO), to its own music center.
more Thus, the Music Center Opera Association was born. From 1966 to 1982, the NYCO did bring productions to Los Angeles each fall.
In 1984, Peter Hemmings was taken in by the Music Center Opera Association. He was to create a local opera company that would have its own productions again. Through Hemmings' efforts, the Los Angeles Opera was formed. In 2000, Hemmings gave up the position of General Director, which was passed on to Placido Domingo during the next season. Prior to this, Domingo already served in the company as artistic consultant from as early as 1984. Each year, the Los Angeles Opera presents between 70 and 100 performances. The company has productions in the standard operatic repertory and also presents new and rarely-staged operas.
In the 2003-2004 season, the Los Angeles Opera performed the world premiere of Nicholas and Alexandra. The company also diversified into theater and cinema for its directors and different productions. In the 2001-2002 season, the company presented Lohengrin, with Austrian actor Maximilian Schell as director. The company also presented Duke Bluebeard's Castle and Gianni Schicchi, with filmmaker William Friedkin as director. Placido Domingo continues to be the group's general director. The company's first chief conductor was elected in 2001 and Kent Nagano was chosen. In 2003, Nagano became music director and continued in his post until James Conlon took over in 2006.
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