Domingo Hindoyan has officially taken the helm as music director of L.A. Opera, commencing his tenure with a production of Georges Bizet’s "Carmen" on October 17 at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. At 46, Hindoyan becomes only the third individual to hold this position in the company’s 40-year history, marking a new chapter for both the conductor and the Los Angeles institution.

Born in Venezuela, Hindoyan’s early exposure to classical music came through his father, a professional musician and former president of the Orquesta Sinfónica Venezuela. Raised amid the diverse cultural influences of his Armenian, Turkish, and Syrian heritage, Hindoyan left Venezuela 26 years ago to pursue music studies in Geneva. He has since lived in Switzerland, where he met his wife, opera singer Sonya Yoncheva, and where they are currently raising their two children. Following his first season with L.A. Opera, Hindoyan and his family plan to relocate permanently to Los Angeles.

Hindoyan’s career includes a notable period as principal guest conductor of the Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra and, since 2021, as music director of the Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. In Liverpool, he has pushed for commissioning new operas and introducing Latin American compositions to audiences, reflecting his commitment to expanding operatic repertoire. His relationship with L.A. Opera began last year with his successful direction of "Romeo & Juliet," which led to a five-year contract offer to succeed James Conlon, who retired after two decades as the company’s music director.

Hindoyan is part of a distinguished line of Venezuelan conductors rising from the country’s music education program El Sistema, which has also produced renowned figures such as Gustavo Dudamel and Rafael Payare. Hindoyan maintains a close friendship with Dudamel and expressed regret that the two will not share the Los Angeles stage, underscoring the vibrant Venezuelan presence in the classical music world.

Reflecting on his multicultural upbringing and international career, Hindoyan describes himself as a “citizen of the world” and emphasizes the role of ambition and passion in his musical journey. He credits his early fascination with influential musicians such as violinist Jascha Heifetz and conductor Zubin Mehta, whose precise and expressive style notably inspired him. Hindoyan’s path to conducting was shaped by mentorship from Daniel Barenboim, who invited him to join the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra and helped launch his formal conducting studies.

Looking ahead, Hindoyan envisions a dynamic future for L.A. Opera with increased outreach to diverse communities, the staging of rarely performed works, and collaborations beyond traditional opera circles, including ambitions to work with Hollywood filmmakers. He has also expressed enthusiasm for exploring Los Angeles’s cultural and natural landscape, noting the city’s year-round pleasant weather as conducive to a distinctive “relaxed freedom” among its opera audiences.