Placido Domingo has announced he will leave his post as general director of the Washington National Opera when his contract ends next year. The Washington Post reports that Domingo made his announcement during a conference call with the opera's board.

Domingo, 69, just renewed his contract with the Los Angeles Opera last week, extending his term as general director through 2013. Domingo began as as an artistic director for the opera in 2000, and ascended to the role of general director in 2003.

His career followed a similar trajectory at the National Opera: he was named artistic director in 1996, and became general director in 2003.