James Conlon to Conclude Two Decades as LA Opera’s Music Director

After serving for 20 years as Music Director of the Los Angeles Opera, James Conlon, 74, will step down from the position in 2026.

Throughout his distinguished career, Conlon has held several major conducting roles. He was Principal Conductor of the RAI National Symphony Orchestra in Torino, Italy, from 2016 to 2020, and served as Principal Conductor of the Paris Opera between 1995 and 2004. He also spent over a decade as General Music Director of the City of Cologne (1989–2003) and was Music Director of the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra from 1983 to 1991.