Kahane to quit Colorado group

Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra music director Jeffrey Kahane plans to end his relatively brief tenure as music director of another ensemble, the Colorado Symphony, following the 2009-10 season, citing the severe hypertension that caused him to cancel a series of appearances with the Colorado Symphony as well as with the Los Angeles orchestra last year.

“I had a real scare,” Kahane, 51, told the Denver Post. “That forced me to really stop and take a look at my life and say, ‘You know what? You can’t do everything.’ ”

Kahane, who also frequently performs as a concert pianist, became music director of the Colorado orchestra in 2004. He has been director of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra since 1997 and in March extended his contract there through the 2011-12 season.

A spokeswoman said Thursday that he has no plans to change that commitment.