TOP Laureate Plácido Domingo

The 25th

Laureate

Music

Plácido Domingo

  Plácido Domingo is one of the world's best known and respected tenors. He was born into a musical family – his Spanish parents were zarzuela performers who moved the family to Mexico when Domingo was only eight years old. From an early age,he appeared on stage as a child actor in his parents' zarzuela company,laying down the foundations for his career as one of the most influential singing actors in opera.
   Domingo enrolled in Mexico City's Conservatory of Music to study piano and conducting but soon he was encouraged to focus on singing. He made his debut at eighteen and played his first lead role,Alfredo in La Traviata,when only twenty. He spent three seasons with the Israel National Opera before moving to the United States. He has performed at all the world's major Opera houses and has a huge repertoire of 150 roles.
   In 1990,on the eve of the World Cup Final in Rome,the beauty of opera was introduced to a completely new global audience when he joined with José Carreras and Luciano Pavarotti to create the Three Tenors.
   This July he was hospitalized for a while because of illness. Nevertheless,with a personal motto of "If I rest,I rust," Domingo continues to perform as an actor singer – both as tenor and baritone,as conductor and as General Director of Los Angeles Opera. He is also fully involved with encouraging the development of the next generation through a variety of projects,including Operalia,an annual international opera competition that he founded in 1993.

Biography

Among the tenors of the world,he towers above the rest in singing techniques,acting ability and emotional expressions: justifiably,Plácido Domingo is called "The King of Opera." Yet,while he has toured the world as a singer,he has also been conducting opera and working as the General Director of the Los Angeles Opera.
   Domingo was born in Spain and moved to Mexico when he was eight. His parents were zarzuela performers – performers in the national music theater of Spain – and he appeared on stage with in their zarzuela's company as a child actor. He is thankful for his childhood experiences,saying,"I owe much to zarzuela and my parents." Later he entered Mexico City's Conservatory of Music where he initially studied piano and conducting but was encouraged to focus on singing,once his vocal talents were recognized.
   He began his international career in Israel and after several seasons moved to the New York City Opera and made the USA his home. Though young,within a relatively short time,he became internationally renowned,performing to much acclaim in the major opera houses of the world such as the Vienna State Opera,the Metropolitan Opera,La Scala,and the Royal Opera House.
   In 1990,on the eve of the World Cup Final in Rome,Domingo joined with José Carreras and Luciano Pavarotti to create The Three Tenors. Their concerts contributed enormously to expansion of opera fans globally; demystifying and popularizing an art form that many had considered inaccessible.
   On stage he has performed an amazing 150 different roles – a considerable feat for any musical actor. Yet,he keeps studying,saying,"I feel like I'm still a student. I always feel that I have to carry sheets of music with me,so I can keep on practicing." Even when he experiences ill health,he says,"I can stand any hardship because I have surging passion. I do not mind traveling on planes. As long as I can sleep well and have a good rest,I can sing."
   In addition to his work as actor,singer and conductor,Domingo also works enthusiastically to help the next generation fulfill their potential. He founded Operalia in 1993,an annual international opera competition,that has helped start the careers of many young singers,such as Erwin Schrott and Rolando Villazón.
   Domingo had been greatly affected by the 1985 earthquake in Mexico City and when he toured Japan in April 2011,just after the Great East Japan Earthquake,he sang a song in Japanese,Furusato (Home): moving and impressing an emotional audience. He said that by doing so,he wanted to express his condolences to the Japanese victims.
   At 72,he still has a young sounding and beautiful voice and has further extended his range by including baritone roles into his repertoire recently. In October he will be on stage in Japan,and he will not only be performing as an opera singer but he will also be acting as a cultural ambassador for his native Spain; celebrating 400 years of Japan/Spain relationships.

Chronology

1941
Born in Madrid
1949
Moved to Mexico with his family
1957
Sang a baritone role in his parents’ zarzuela company
1961
Played his first lead role,Alfredo in La Traviata
1962-65
Signed contract with the Israel National Opera in Tel Aviv
1965
Made his New York debut as B. F. Pinkerton at the New York City Opera
1966
Metropolitan Opera
1967
Made his debut at the Vienna State Opera
1968
Made his debut at the Lyric Opera of Chicago
1969
Made his debut at both La Scala and San Francisco Opera
1981
Gained considerable recognition outside of the opera world with the song Perhaps Love as a duet with John Denver
1990
Joined with José Carreras and Luciano Pavarotti to create The Three Tenors on the eve of the World Cup Final in Rome
1993
Found Operalia,an annual international opera competition
2002-11
General Director,Washington National Opera
2003-
General Director,Los Angeles Opera (Present)
2008
Performed at the Summer Olympics closing ceremony in Beijing
2009
Sang the title role in Simon Boccanegra,one of Verdi’s most demanding baritone roles
2011
Concert in Japan in April,just after the Great East Japan Earthquake
  • At the Los Angeles Opera

  • Simon Boccanegra

  • Simon Boccanegra

  • The Enchanted Island

  • The Enchanted Island

  • At the Los Angeles Opera

At the Los Angeles Opera, USA

Simon Boccanegra, 2010
©2013 Marty Sohl/ Metropolitan Opera

Simon Boccanegra, 2010
©2013 Marty Sohl/ Metropolitan Opera

The Enchanted Island, 2012
©2013 Ken Howard/ Metropolitan Opera

The Enchanted Island, 2012
©2013 Ken Howard/ Metropolitan Opera

At the Los Angeles Opera, USA