MUSIC

Foster Heads to Aspen Hills: Announced Tuesday as the ninth music director in the 42-year history of the Aspen Music Festival and School, American conductor Lawrence Foster said Wednesday, “This job means more to me than any other in this country.” Foster has visited the festival almost every year since 1955, when he first attended as a 14-year-old piano student. The Los Angeles-born Foster, now 48, just completed his last season as music director of the Monte Carlo Philharmonic. In September, he takes over directorship of the Jerusalem Symphony, to which he is committed for 10 weeks annually. His new Aspen contract runs for three years. A regular visitor to Los Angeles Music Center Opera, Foster’s next Music Center assignment is Richard Strauss’ “Elektra” in February.