A very adoring article about Plácido from the Observer the other day
Five decades into his brilliant career as one of the world's great tenors, Plácido Domingo – now a baritone – is working as hard as ever. Catch him while you can, says this devoted fan
There is a thrilling existential frenzy to Domingo, despite his unoperatically low-key personality...
...I realise I have taken him for granted for almost 40 years. With a kind of panic, I am starting to wonder whether I'll be able to cope without him.
Fortunately, there is good news. Last Thursday I tweeted that that was quite possibly Plácido Domingo's last performance in a full opera at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. He is exactly six months away from 70 and has no appearances scheduled at the Garden next season. I already knew that he has been planning his diary up until 2014, but I also know that for several years his contracts have given him the freedom to walk away. Last week I was perfectly able to accept that I might never see him in a full opera at ROH again; funnily enough, I got a definite feeling on Sunday night at the Proms that this wasn't it.
So it's rather delightful to read this article:
Neither has Domingo, as was widely believed, made his final appearance at Covent Garden. His publicist confirms that he will return to celebrate his 40th anniversary in opera on October 27. In addition, the Royal Opera House’s chief executive Tony Hall has said that he will return the season after that and beyond. Repertoire has yet to be announced.
I haven't a clue where I'll be in 2014 and certainly no guarantee I'll have a job, or indeed in October 2011. But if at all possible, I will love love to see him. If I'm on the dole, or if he decides to call it a day before then, I know I will always remember the tremendous experience of six glorious performances of Simon Boccanegra.
