To shine a spotlight on the music by composers suppressed by the Nazi regime, LA Opera Music Director James Conlon founded the groundbreaking Recovered Voices project. The Ziering-Conlon Initiative for Recovered Voices sponsors seminars, academic conferences, and competitions in an effort to present a deeper understanding of the history of the émigré music from the first half of the 20th century.

The afternoon of music with Maestro James Conlon is held in the spirit of the gatherings in the home of musical connoisseur Thomas Mann. Friends, neighbors and other émigrés met regularly at the piano and the gramophone in the living room of the Mann family on San Remo Drive.The event with the Colburn School turns the attention to chamber music from émigré composers in Southern California and invites to joint conversation.

Maestro James Conlon is Los Angeles Opera Music Director and founder of the Ziering-Conlon Initiative for Recovered Voices. He is one of the most versatile and eminent conductors of our time. Prior to his engagement in Los Angeles, Maestro Conlon was the Principal Conductor of Paris Opera (1995-2004) and Music Director of the Gürzenich Orchestra and Cologne Opera (1989-2003).