Internationally recognized as one of today’s leading conductors, James Conlon has cultivated a vast symphonic, operatic and choral repertoire, and has developed enduring relationships with many of the world's most prestigious symphony orchestras and opera houses. Since his New York Philharmonic debut in 1974, he has appeared as guest conductor with virtually every major North American and European orchestra and has been a frequent guest conductor at the Metropolitan Opera for over thirty years. He is Music Director of Los Angeles Opera, Music Director of the Ravinia Festival, the summer home of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and Music Director of the Cincinnati May Festival, where he has provided the artistic leadership for more May Festivals than any other Music Director in the Festival’s 138-year history and holds a place among the longest-tenured Music Directors of any major classical music institution in North America. Mr. Conlon served as Principal Conductor of the Paris National Opera (1995-2004); General Music Director of the City of Cologne, Germany (1989-2002); and Music Director of the Rotterdam Philharmonic (1983-1991).
In an effort to raise public consciousness to the significance of works of composers whose lives and compositions were suppressed by the Nazi regime, Mr. Conlon has devoted himself to extensive programming of this music in North America and Europe, and through his “Breaking the Silence” series at the Ravinia Festival and his “Recovered Voices” series at LA Opera. For championing the works of these composers, he received the Crystal Globe Award from the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and the Zemlinsky Prize for his efforts in bringing the composer’s music to international attention. He is also Founder and Artistic Advisor of the Orel Foundation, an organization dedicated to giving attention to these composers and the performance of their works ... read full bio
Internationally recognized as one of today’s leading conductors, James Conlon has cultivated a vast symphonic, operatic and choral repertoire, and has developed enduring relationships with many of the world's most prestigious symphony orchestras and opera houses. Since his New York Philharmonic debut in 1974, he has appeared as guest conductor with virtually every major North American and European orchestra and has been a frequent guest conductor at the Metropolitan Opera for over thirty years. He is Music Director of Los Angeles Opera, Music Director of the Ravinia Festival, the summer home of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and Music Director of the Cincinnati May Festival, where he has provided the artistic leadership for more May Festivals than any other Music Director in the Festival’s 138-year history and holds a place among the longest-tenured Music Directors of any major classical music institution in North America. Mr. Conlon served as Principal Conductor of the Paris National Opera (1995-2004); General Music Director of the City of Cologne, Germany (1989-2002); and Music Director of the Rotterdam Philharmonic (1983-1991).
In an effort to raise public consciousness to the significance of works of composers whose lives and compositions were suppressed by the Nazi regime, Mr. Conlon has devoted himself to extensive programming of this music in North America and Europe, and through his “Breaking the Silence” series at the Ravinia Festival and his “Recovered Voices” series at LA Opera. For championing the works of these composers, he received the Crystal Globe Award from the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and the Zemlinsky Prize for his efforts in bringing the composer’s music to international attention. He is also Founder and Artistic Advisor of the Orel Foundation, an organization dedicated to giving attention to these composers and the performance of their works.
Renowned for his interpretations of Wagner’s repertoire in Europe, since his tenure began at L.A. Opera in 2006, Mr. Conlon has sought to establish a Wagnerian tradition in Los Angeles. Over a span of five years, he has led seven Wagner works, including his first Ring Cycle in the United States. A month-long citywide Ring Festival, with the collaboration of 125 cultural institutions, accompanied the performances of the Ring at LA Opera in June 2010. This series will continue into and beyond the Wagner bicentennial in 2013.
Mr. Conlon recently began a three-year homage to Benjamin Britten, set to culminate in 2013 for the 100th anniversary of Britten’s birth. A long-time devotee of Britten’s music, he will conduct six different Britten operas in the U.S. and Europe in the coming seasons, including performances at LA Opera of Turn of the Screw, Albert Herring and a third opera in the anniversary year. The tribute includes symphonic and choral works including the violin concerto with the NDR Sinfonie Orchester in Hamburg and the Orchestre National de France in Paris, and he will collaborate with the Los Angeles Philharmonic on a program including Britten’s Sinfonia da Requiem.
Mr. Conlon has recorded extensively for the EMI, Sony Classical, Erato, Capriccio, and Telarc labels for which he has received numerous citations. He has appeared in several television series on PBS and his Metropolitan Opera performances have been featured on DVDs released by Decca. Most recently, a double-bill of Zemlinsky’s The Dwarf and Ullmann’s The Broken Jug, and Braunfel’s The Birds, both part of his Recovered Voices series at LA Opera, were released on DVD by the ArtHaus label. He is the recipient of two Grammy Awards – Best Classical Recording and Best Opera Album – for conducting LA Opera’s production of Kurt Weill’s Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny, released on DVD by EuroArts.
Mr. Conlon was named an Officier de L’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French Government in 1996, and in 2004 was promoted to Commander. In 2002, James Conlon received France’s highest distinction from the President of the French Republic, Jacques Chirac—the Légion d’Honneur.
Last updated October 2011. Contact Opus 3 Artists for the most up-to-date version.
