Plácido Domingo

Born and raised in the Retiro district of Madrid until the age of eight, in 1949 the Spaniard moved to Mexico with his family where he learned to sing and play the piano. Domingo made his debut live performance in 1957 alongside his mother at Mérida, Yucatán, followed by a baritone role in Maneul Fernández Caballero’s “Gigantes y cabezudoes” the same year. The singer and pianist would regularly contribute to his parents’ zarzuela company productions, which amounted to almost 200 performances including “My Fair Lady”, and also provided vocals to the rock and roll band led by César Costa.

In 1959 Domingo was invited by the National Opera to become the tenor comprimario as well as to provide tuition for upcoming singers. His debut leading tenor role came in 1961 however, performing as Alfredo in Verdi’s “La Traviata”, the same year in which he made his U.S. debut with the Dallas Civic Opera. The singer went on to perform at the New York City Opera in 1965 as Pinkerton in Puccini’s “Madama Butterfly”, debut at the Metropolitan Opera stage, before also appearing at Milan’s La Scala in 1968, Vienna State Opera in 1967, and London’s Covent Garden in 1971.

In the early seventies Domingo began pursuing his love for conducting, making his debut with La Travita at the New York City Opera in 1973. Domingo has subsequently conducted orchestras the world over whilst transitioning further into a dramatic tenor singer, expanding his repertoire to unprecedented levels for a contemporary singer. In 1987 Domingo appeared in the 100th anniversary of Vedi’s “Otello” at La Scala, subsequently making his Mozart debut with “Idomeneo” at the Met in 1994.

By this time, despite initial antagonism towards one another, Domingo had become well-acquainted with fellow classical singers Luciano Pavarotti and José Carreras and the trio began performing every four years at the World Cup football tournament under the name “The Three Tenors”. On top of his classical successes Domingo has almost proved popular within Latin and pop music audiences, showcased on his 1981 album “Perhaps Love”, the titled track of which sold over four million copies. He has gone on to win 14 Grammy and Latin Grammy awards, sold millions of records worldwide and played at a host of the most revered opera house in the world, making him one of the most successful tenor singers of all time.