Conlon extends Ravinia contract

Los Angeles Opera music director James Conlon has extended his contract as music director of the Ravinia Festival through the 2011 summer season, the festival announced Thursday.

“At the opera, we have planned through about 2010, and those plans take into account that my summer activities are what they are,” Conlon said. “Since most of the L.A. Opera season is contained between September and June, that doesn’t present a problem. In fact, it’s just more good things. It’s a very exciting time for me.”

Conlon became music director of the Ravinia Festival in Illinois, which runs June through September, in 2005.