Obituary: Edgar Baitzel, Los Angeles Opera Chief

Hailed by his peers as brilliant, creative, and dedicated, Edgar Baitzel, chief operating officer of the Los Angeles Opera, died March 11 of cancer, reports the Los Angeles Times.

Mr. Baitzel, 51, was lured to the opera by its general director, Placido Domingo, and started as its artistic director in 2003. In 2006 the organization named him chief operating officer, the paper reports.

“I always appreciated his knowledge, culture, and preparation,” Mr. Domingo tells the Times.

Mr. Baitzel set out to expand the organization, and in his six years it increased the number of performances from 66 to 77, saw several new productions each season, and sparked collaborations with Hollywood and Broadway directors. The German-born leader also oversaw the opera through some tough times and had to cancel some productions.