Colburn School will honor conductor James Conlon during its annual gala on April 7, 2024. During the event, Conlon will receive the Richard D. Colburn Award for his “exemplary contributions to the world of classical music and arts.” The program will feature music by Mozart and features the Colburn Orchestra. Conlon recently announced that he would be retiring from his {…}
James Conlon is set to become Conductor Laureate of the Los Angeles Opera in 2026. Conlon announced that the 2025-26 season will be his final one at the helm of the organization marking his 20th anniversary in the position of music director and his 40th with the company. “The long, productive relationship that I have shared with LA Opera and {…}
Welcome back for this week’s look at the latest CD and DVD releases in the opera world. This week audiences are in for two full recordings of well-known works with some of the world’s greatest singers. There are also choral recoridngs and some less known works to discover. Heaven to Earth Signum Classics releases Heaven to Earth, a collection of singable, {…}
The Cincinnati May Festival has announced a conductor change for its Mahler Symphony No. 8 on May 27, 2023. The festival said, “Principal Conductor Juanjo Mena has been forced to withdraw from the performance of Mahler’s Symphony of a Thousand on May 27 due to a family emergency. May Festival Music Director Laureate James Conlon will step in for rehearsals {…}
The 2023 Aspen Music Festival has released its livestream lineup. All livestreamed performances are free and will be available on the AMFS virtual stage website. This article will focus solely on vocal performances. LA Opera’s James Conlon leads Sasha Cooke and Rodrick Dixon in “Conlon Conducts Mendelssohn, Mahler.” Cooke and Dixon present Mahler’s “Das Lied von der Erde.” Performance Date: July {…}
The Cincinnati May Festival has announced the program for its 150th anniversary season. The festival will run from May 19 to 27, 2023, with four performances over two weekends at Music Hall. Bach’s Magnificat Principal Conductor Juanjo Mena will lead sopranos Berit Norbakken and Robin Johannsen, mezzo Marianne Beate Kielland, tenor Toby Spence, and bass Christian Immler. The piece first {…}
Photo: Bob-Estremera, Bonnie Perkinson, & Tania Baricklo The name and reputation of the revolutionary Classical composer Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges were once nearly forgotten. Through the work of Los Angeles Opera Music Director James Conlon, Marlon Daniel founder of the Saint-Georges International Music Festival, and stage director Maria Todaro, Bologne is returning to the spotlight. Below these individuals discuss {…}
(Credit: Cory Weaver/Metropolitan Opera) The Los Angeles Opera will present simulcast for Verdi’s “Aida” on June 4, 2022. The performance stars soprano Latonia Moore, tenor Russell Thomas, bass Peixin Chen, baritone George Gagnidze, bass Morris Robinson, and soprano Melody Moore. The work will be conducted by James Conlon. Using nine HD cameras, the company will transmit the showcase live from {…}
Los Angeles Opera has announced that it will extend the contract of Music Director James Conlon until the 2024-25 season. Conlon took over the role in 2006 and has led more than 400 performances with the company in 62 different operas we well as two world premieres and 29 company premieres. “I am extremely happy to continue my collaboration with {…}
On Sept. 18, 2021, LA Opera will open its 2021-22 season with Verdi’s “Il Trovatore,” officially making its return to fully-staged productions since March 8, 2020. Renowned Verdi conductor James Conlon will conduct six performances, leading a cast featuring Guanqun Yu as Leonora, tenors Limmie Pulliam and Gregory Kunde sharing the role of Manrico, Raehann Bryce-Davis as Azucena, Vladimir Stoyanov {…}
It is going to be a fun opera week with a lot of unique viewing experiences for opera lovers around the world. There are modern operas. There are concerts with famed arias. There’s a mystery story. There’s a battle between two queens. There’s some Schubert songs. And a Rossini mass. And of course, there is a high-profile company premiere of {…}