Laurel Diskin, NRO Intern in 2012 and NRO Assistant Librarian in 2013, recently accepted a position with the LA Opera.
As the Assistant Librarian with the LA Opera, Laurel spends most of her time in the library doing music preparation. This includes proofing and binding finished performance parts, prepping operas, and assisting at rehearsals and shows. Laurel also spend time helping participants in the Young Artists Program (YAP), assisting orchestra members, and assisting the Principal Librarian with any tasks as deemed necessary. Additionally, she assists the Director of Chorus, Dancers, and Supernumeraries, helping her with the administrative aspects of dealing with a rather large group of people.
Inaugurated in 1986 with a production of Verdi’s Otello, starring Plácido Domingo in the title role, the LA Opera can trace its history back to the Los Angeles Civic Grand Opera, formed in 1948, which presented staged productions throughout the 1950s before recreating itself as the Music Center Opera Association, working with opera companies from other cities to bring outstanding opera to Los Angeles. In 1984, the Music Center Opera Association charged Peter Hemmings with once again creating a local opera company. Hemmings led the LA Opera as General Director until 2000, when he handed the reins to Domingo, a fitting move for an amazing artist who has been the company’s artistic consultant since 1984. The company’s music director is the highly lauded and well-traveled conductor James Conlon, and the company’s current CEO is Christopher Koelsch. The LA Opera presents 6 to 8 productions a year, as well as recitals by major artists. This season, in addition to an all-star line-up of some of opera’s greatest hits (Carmen, Falstaff, The Magic Flute, Billy Budd, Lucia di Lammermoor and Thais), we are excited to present Audra McDonald (soprano) and Dmitri Hvorostovsky (baritone) in concert.
The NRO wishes Laurel great success in her new role!