Yesterday, the radio opera was not an opera but a series of excerpts from operas. An opera house will often do this for a special anniversary – of the house or of the music director – or if a log-time music director is leaving or retiring. This one was in the last category – James Conlon is retiring after 20 years with LA opera, which is now the4th largest opera company in the US – and he did that. I am assuming it’s a retirement because he’s 76 (not that 76 is all that old for a conductor, but it’s just my guess.) Since to me the drama is the point of opera- a complete opera is always worth getting up for, even if it’s not one of my favorites. A concert, not so much – even if it’s staged scenes and not just isolated arias. So I slept through it. But I salute Conlon and what he has achieved in Los Angeles, andI wish LA Opera the best with his successor, whoever that may be.
