According to the Post-Gazette, the Pittsburgh Opera recently extended Hahn's contract because the company wanted to prevent his departure. Nevertheless, the paper says, Hahn, who ran the SFO's operatic training program at one time, could still get the job.

The announcement this week that Matthew Epstein would not return as artistic director of the Lyric Opera of Chicago is also making the Pittsburgh Opera nervous. The Post-Gazette suggests that Hahn could be a candidate for that post as well.

"Christopher is an incredibly talented artist director, capable of running the artistic duties of San Francisco, the Lyric or Pittsburgh," said Pittsburgh Opera general director Mark Weinstein. "We want him to stay here, but it will be his choice if he is offered the job. Christopher, [music director] John [Mauceri] and I have every intent of being here in Pittsburgh for the next several years. We want to keep the team together."