BOSTON — Legendary tenor and conductor Placido Domingo comes to Boston on Thursday night for a show at the Boch Center.
The 77-year-old Domingo is known as the King of Opera, famous for his take on Tosca’s “Cavardossi” to Verdi’s “Otello.” He’s won 14 Grammy and Latin Grammy Awards as well as two Emmy Awards, and, of course, spent time with Luciano Pavarotti and Jose Carreras as one of The Three Tenors.
I recently chatted with Domingo via an email interview. Here’s a transcript of that exchange.
Sun: How long has it been since you’ve done a tour of the United States, and when was the last time you performed in Boston?
PD: I don’t usually do “tours” as such. I will be conducting Gounod’s “Roméo et Juliette” at the Met in New York in April and May, and since I have some free days, I have agreed to sing in this concert in Boston — but it will be my only concert in the U.S. during that period. I think it has been about 10 years since I last performed in Boston, and I am looking forward to being in your wonderful city.
Sun: What do you know about the city of Boston, and what are you most looking forward to while you’re here?
PD: Of course, I’m aware of Boston’s essential part in the birth of the United States. For me, personally, Boston played an important part in my American career. I made my local debut when I was 24 years old, singing in the “Messiah” with the Handel and Haydn Society, and the following year, I sang in Sarah Caldwell’s pioneering Opera Company of Boston, opposite Beverly Sills in Rameau’s “Hippolyte et Aricie” and opposite Renata Tebaldi in “La Bohème” — very exciting experiences for a young tenor! What I’m most looking forward to, as always, is to perform as well as I can and to bring enjoyment to the public.
Sun: I know in recent years you have had some documented health problems. How is your health now?
PD: I am very lucky to have made a complete recovery, and I feel very healthy.
Sun: How do you keep your voice in performance shape after all of the performances you’ve given over your distinguished career?
PD: It is partly because I chose roles that fit my voice, partly because I have learned how to use my voice without abusing it, partly because I can study my roles from a score without having to sing them over and over again, and partly, again, because I have been extremely lucky.
Sun: I just found out you’ll be accompanied by Micaela, Camila and Eugene. Have you performed with them before, and what can you tell us about them in terms of what the Boston audience should expect?
PD: Micaëla Oeste was part of our Young Artist program at Washington National Opera when I was the company’s General Director, and I have often chosen her to perform in concerts with me. Camila Titinger, a young Brazilian soprano, was a finalist in my Operalia competition and is now studying in the Young Artist program that I founded in Valencia, Spain. She sang with Micaëla and me in a recent concert in Ljubljana, Slovenia, and I am happy that she is able to perform with us again. Eugene Kohn is a wonderful musician and an outstanding conductor who has worked with me hundreds of times over the years. I trust him completely!
Sun: Do you have any message or words for the fans here who are looking forward to seeing you?
PD: Only that I am excited to be able to sing in Boston again, 53 years after my debut there, and that I hope that the audience members will enjoy the performance as much as I will enjoy the privilege of performing for them.
