Los Angeles Opera
An American opera company based at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles, California.
Last updated August 21, 2026
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Overview
Los Angeles Opera, commonly styled as LA Opera, is a major American opera company headquartered at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in the Los Angeles Music Center. It presents standard repertory, rarely performed works, contemporary opera, concerts, educational programs, and community performances. The company is generally described as the fourth-largest opera company in the United States. The modern company emerged from a long history of opera presentation in Los Angeles. The Los Angeles Civic Grand Opera was established in 1948 and staged productions in the region during the 1950s. Later, the Music Center Opera Association brought productions from established companies, including San Francisco Opera and New York City Opera, to Los Angeles. In 1984, Peter Hemmings was hired to create a resident company capable of producing its own operas. The resulting organization was initially known as Los Angeles Music Center Opera and was inaugurated in 1986 with Verdi's Otello, featuring Plácido Domingo. Hemmings served as the inaugural general director until 2000. Domingo, who had been associated with the company from its beginning as an artistic adviser and performer, subsequently became its general director. During his tenure, he appeared in 31 roles, conducted 18 operas, and led numerous concerts. He resigned in 2019 after multiple allegations of sexual misconduct. An independent investigation commissioned by Los Angeles Opera and conducted by Gibson Dunn found no sexual quid pro quo or professional retaliation against women who rejected Domingo's advances, while recommending improvements to the company's policies and procedures. The company accepted the recommendations. The company's artistic identity combines traditional repertory with ambitious programming. Its projects have included a complete production of Wagner's Der Ring des Nibelungen, a multi-year Recovered Voices initiative devoted to composers persecuted or marginalized under the Third Reich, major American presentations of contemporary operas, and collaborations with directors from film and theater. Notable productions have included Philip Glass's Portrait Trilogy, John Corigliano's The Ghosts of Versailles, Daniel Catán's Il Postino, Matthew Aucoin's Eurydice, and the West Coast premiere of Omar by Rhiannon Giddens and Michael Abels. James Conlon has served as music director since 2006 and is scheduled to become conductor laureate after the 2025–26 season. Domingo Hindoyan is scheduled to succeed him as music director in fall 2026. Christopher Koelsch has served as president and chief executive officer since 2012. LA Opera also operates education and community-engagement programs, including school productions, student matinees, teacher training, Opera Camp, lectures, open rehearsals, and free community events. Its work therefore extends beyond ticketed performances to arts education, civic participation, and the expansion of the operatic canon.
History
Opera in Los Angeles predates the present company by several decades. The Los Angeles Civic Grand Opera was formed in 1948 and presented staged works in a Beverly Hills church during the 1950s, with financial support from furniture manufacturer Francesco Pace. Los Angeles also became a regular destination for visiting companies. San Francisco Opera presented productions in the city during the autumn season from 1937 to 1969, while New York City Opera brought productions from 1966 through 1982. Following the establishment of the Los Angeles Music Center, the Music Center Opera Association initially concentrated on importing productions rather than maintaining a complete resident producing organization. In 1984, it hired Peter Hemmings and tasked him with building a local company that could develop and stage its own productions. The organization was first called Los Angeles Music Center Opera. Its public inauguration came in 1986 with Verdi's Otello, starring Plácido Domingo. Hemmings led the company as its inaugural general director until 2000. Domingo, who had been an artistic adviser from the company's earliest period, assumed the general-director role in the following season and formally led the company from 2003 until his resignation in October 2019. He maintained a substantial artistic presence, performing 31 roles and conducting 18 operas as well as concerts. After allegations of sexual misconduct emerged, LA Opera commissioned Gibson Dunn to conduct an independent investigation. The firm interviewed 44 people and reported that it found no sexual quid pro quo or professional retaliation against women who rejected Domingo's advances. It also said that the company's anti-harassment policies were adequate on their face but recommended improvements. The company accepted those findings and committed to implementing the recommendations. James Conlon became music director in 2006 after Kent Nagano's tenure as principal conductor and music director. Conlon led more than 500 performances and is scheduled to leave the music-director position in 2026, becoming conductor laureate. Domingo Hindoyan is scheduled to succeed him. Christopher Koelsch became president and chief executive officer in 2012, after serving as senior vice president and chief operating officer and earlier working in artistic planning. The company's repertoire has included major works by Verdi, Wagner, Puccini, Britten, Glass, Corigliano, Catán, Aucoin, Giddens, Abels, Still, Frank, Cruz, Thompson, Golijov, and others. Its 2010 Ring Festival LA marked the first complete Los Angeles Opera presentation of Wagner's Der Ring des Nibelungen. The production, directed and designed by Achim Freyer and conducted by Conlon, generated debate because of Wagner's antisemitism and the use of his music in Nazi concentration camps. Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich criticized the festival's exclusive focus on Wagner and sought a broader festival format, but the county board rejected his proposal. Production costs and reduced sponsorship later contributed to a request for emergency county financing; the company repaid the loan in two installments in 2012. LA Opera has also built an institutional identity around neglected repertoire. Its Recovered Voices project, launched during the 2006–07 season, presents operas by composers whose careers were damaged or ended by the Third Reich. The initiative has included works by Zemlinsky, Viktor Ullmann, Walter Braunfels, Franz Schreker, and Hans Krása. Alongside mainstage programming, the company runs school operas, student matinees, teacher training, Opera Camp, lectures, open rehearsals, and free community performances. These activities make the company both a producing arts institution and a civic education organization serving audiences across Southern California.
- 2020
Eurydice receives its world premiere
[1]Matthew Aucoin's opera, with a libretto by Sarah Ruhl, receives its world premiere at the company.
- 2015
The Ghosts of Versailles returns in a major new production
[1]LA Opera presents the first major United States staging of John Corigliano's opera in two decades.
- 2013
Einstein on the Beach is presented
[1]The company stages the first part of Philip Glass's Portrait Trilogy.
- 2012
Christopher Koelsch becomes president and CEO
[1]Koelsch assumes the company's top executive role after serving in operations and artistic planning.
- 2010
The complete Ring cycle is presented
[1]Three complete cycles of Wagner's Der Ring des Nibelungen are staged as part of Ring Festival LA.
- 2006
Recovered Voices begins
[1]The company launches a multi-year project devoted to operas by composers affected by the Third Reich.
- 2003
Nicholas and Alexandra receives its world premiere
[1]Los Angeles Opera presents the premiere of Deborah Drattell's opera with text by Nicholas von Hoffman.
- 1986
The company is inaugurated with Otello
[1]The newly established Los Angeles Music Center Opera opens with Verdi's Otello, starring Plácido Domingo.
- 1984
Peter Hemmings is hired to create a resident company
[1]The Music Center Opera Association recruits Hemmings to develop a locally producing opera company.
- 1948
Los Angeles Civic Grand Opera is formed
[1]An earlier Los Angeles opera organization begins presenting staged productions, establishing an important institutional predecessor.
Products and positioning
A major resident opera company that combines canonical productions with contemporary opera, neglected repertoire, historically informed cultural programming, and broad education and community access.
Opera performance · 1986
Mainstage opera productions
The company's core offering is a seasonal program of fully staged operas at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. The repertory ranges from canonical works by Verdi, Puccini, Wagner, Britten, and Rossini to modern American and international works. Productions may feature prominent singers, guest directors, resident conductors, and new visual interpretations.
Repertoire initiative · 2006
Recovered Voices
Recovered Voices is a long-running programming initiative focused on operas by composers whose careers were interrupted, suppressed, or erased by the Third Reich. Presentations have included works by Alexander von Zemlinsky, Viktor Ullmann, Walter Braunfels, Franz Schreker, and Hans Krása, connecting performance with historical recovery and cultural education.
Opera festival · 2010
Ring Festival LA
Ring Festival LA accompanied the company's first complete staging of Wagner's four-part Der Ring des Nibelungen. The project combined newly produced installments, complete cycles, lectures, and contextual activity around the work and its historical controversies.
Arts education
Education and community programs
LA Opera provides school productions, student matinees, Opera Camp, teacher training, lectures, open dress rehearsals, and free family or community performances. The programs are designed to introduce opera to children and nontraditional audiences while supporting teachers and experienced opera-goers.
Controversies
2019
Allegations involving Plácido Domingo
Domingo resigned as general director after numerous allegations of sexual misconduct. LA Opera commissioned Gibson Dunn to conduct an independent investigation. The firm reported that it found no sexual quid pro quo or professional retaliation, while recommending improvements to company procedures.
2010
Debate over the Wagner Ring Festival
The Ring Festival drew criticism from Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich because of Wagner's antisemitic views and the historical use of his music by the Nazi regime. The company maintained that the festival provided appropriate context and rejected a proposal to broaden its focus.
Marketing campaigns
- 2010Ring Festival LA
Los Angeles · United States
A citywide cultural program built around three complete cycles of Wagner's Der Ring des Nibelungen.
Outcome. Created a major artistic event but also generated debate about Wagner's antisemitism and substantial production costs.
- 2008Education and community engagement expansion
Los Angeles · Southern California
The company expanded school, family, teacher, senior-center, and community programming, reportedly reaching more than 159,000 students, teachers, and community members during that year.
Outcome. Strengthened LA Opera's role as a civic and educational institution.
- 2006Recovered Voices
United States
A multi-year artistic and educational initiative presenting neglected operas by composers affected by Nazi persecution and the Third Reich.
Outcome. Expanded the company's historical and contemporary repertoire through revivals and United States premieres.
Brand decisions
2026
Transition from James Conlon to Domingo HindoyanOtherBackground
After more than 500 performances as music director, Conlon is scheduled to move into a conductor-laureate role.
Action taken
Domingo Hindoyan is scheduled to become music director beginning in fall 2026.
Aftermath
The transition is expected to mark a new phase in the company's principal musical leadership.
2019
Accept the resignation of Plácido DomingoOtherBackground
Domingo resigned after allegations of sexual misconduct.
Action taken
The company ended his general-director tenure and commissioned an independent investigation.
Aftermath
Gibson Dunn reported no sexual quid pro quo or professional retaliation but recommended procedural improvements, which LA Opera accepted.
2010
Stage the complete Der Ring des NibelungenProduct launchBackground
The company had not previously presented Wagner's complete four-opera cycle.
Action taken
LA Opera produced all four operas in a new production directed and designed by Achim Freyer and conducted by James Conlon, with three complete cycles.
Aftermath
The project became one of the company's largest artistic undertakings, although its cost contributed to later financial pressure.
Emergency loan requested. $14 million loan approved (2010–2012)
2006
Launch the Recovered Voices initiativeStrategyBackground
The company sought to broaden its repertory and restore works by composers whose careers were disrupted by the Third Reich.
Action taken
LA Opera began presenting rarely staged works and United States premieres under the Recovered Voices banner.
Aftermath
The initiative became a defining element of the company's programming and historical mission.
1984
Create a resident producing opera companyStrategyBackground
Los Angeles had a history of visiting opera productions but lacked a stable resident company producing its own full season.
Action taken
The Music Center Opera Association hired Peter Hemmings to establish a local company, initially called Los Angeles Music Center Opera.
Aftermath
The company was inaugurated in 1986 and subsequently became Los Angeles Opera.
Sources2 sources
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