LOS ANGELES, Feb. 22 (UPI) -- Placido Domingo has renewed his contract with the Los Angeles Opera for an additional five years, through 2011.
The contract extension for the world-famous tenor -- who helped found the company in 1986 and has served as its general director since 2003 -- came as no surprise, the Los Angeles Times reported.
"It's wonderful to have this new extension, which gives me the possibility to bring us to our 25th anniversary," Domingo said.
He said he was enthusiastic about the arrival this summer of James Conlon as the company's new music director, replacing Kent Nagano.
The Los Angeles Opera also announced that artistic director Edgar Baitzel has been promoted to chief operating officer. Baitzel, a native of Germany with experience in European companies, joined the Los Angeles Opera in 2000 as artistic administrator.
