Domingo Hindoyan Named LA Opera Music Director for 2026

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    Domingo Hindoyan is poised to take over as the music director at LA Opera, succeeding James Conlon. His five-year tenure will officially commence on July 1, 2026. The announcement, made on a Friday night, marked a new chapter for the 45-year-old Venezuelan-Armenian conductor, who is married to the acclaimed soprano, Sonya Yoncheva. Conlon, who has served since the 2006-07 season, plans to retire following the 2025-26 season.

    Hindoyan expressed his enthusiasm for LA Opera during a visit to New York, where his wife performs with the Metropolitan Opera. “LA is synonymous with innovation and taking bold steps in productions,” he commented, “Our focus will be on blending new works, commissions, and contemporary pieces, maintaining a balance while pushing classical boundaries further.”

    LA Opera President Christopher Koelsch outlined Hindoyan’s future schedule of conducting two productions in the 2026-27 season, followed by three each season thereafter. Koelsch hopes that Hindoyan’s leadership might eventually include performances with Yoncheva, who has yet to perform in a staged production in Los Angeles.

    Like many organizations, LA Opera is grappling with rising costs post-pandemic, leading to the cancellation of planned world premieres due to financial constraints. Legendary tenor and conductor Plácido Domingo, who served as general director from 2003 to 2019, played a pivotal role in fundraising efforts for the company. Hindoyan emphasized the responsibilities inherent in his new position, stating, “Beyond the stage and rehearsals, it’s crucial to engage with the community and our donors.”

    Hindoyan, a native of Caracas and a violinist, is a product of El Sistema, the Venezuelan music education initiative that also shaped the careers of luminaries like Gustavo Dudamel and Rafael Payare. He honed his skills under Daniel Barenboim at Berlin’s Staatsoper unter den Linden. According to Koelsch, “Barenboim’s rigorous standards make Hindoyan’s past role as his assistant noteworthy.” Hindoyan’s performance of ‘Tosca’ left a lasting impression on Koelsch due to the elegance and clarity of his conducting style.

    Currently, Hindoyan holds the position of chief conductor with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic since the 2021-22 season. His debut with the LA Opera was last November with Gounod’s “Roméo et Juliette.”

    “His natural warmth and charisma are compelling,” Koelsch remarked. “During the ‘Roméo’ performances, we observed how well these qualities resonated internally with the orchestra, chorus, administrative team, and audiences alike.” This debut performance served as a test to evaluate Hindoyan’s compatibility with the company, suggesting a promising future for his leadership at LA Opera.