The Los Angeles Opera won’t immediately replace Plácido Domingo as general director; President and CEO Christopher Koelsch has taken over Domingo’s duties on the administrative side of things. But Domingo’s resignation, in October amid sexual harassment allegations, has also meant the exit of a star singer.
The company’s upcoming Roberto Devereux, originally billed with Domingo in a role debut as the Duke of Nottingham, will now feature Hawaiian baritone Quinn Kelsey in that part — and in his LA Opera debut. Kelsey sings five of six performances, Feb. 22 to March 8, 2020. Kihun Yoon, an LA regular and graduate of the Opera’s young artist program, replaces Kelsey for the final performance, March 14.
Bay Area readers might appreciate more than a few elements in this Roberto Devereux. A Canadian Opera Company production, it played at San Francisco Opera last season. This time around in Los Angeles, SF Opera Music Director Designate Eun Sun Kim conducts. And for those with a good memory, Kelsey graduated from San Francisco’s Merola Opera Program in 2002, before going on to frequent engagements with Lyric Opera of Chicago and the Metropolitan Opera.
