Legendary tenor on his final world tour
By Yun Suh-young
Jose Carreras speaks during a meeting with the press Thursday in central Seoul. Yonhap
Jose Carreras, one of the three most famous tenors in the world alongside Placido Domingo and Luciano Pavarotti, has embarked on a final world tour and performs for the last time in Seoul, today.
The tour dubbed "A Life in Music," is prepared as a token of gratitude to worldwide audiences who have shown great affection and support for him over the years.
"I'm trying to go to places that I have been singing before in my life. We'll try as much as we can to repeat the places that I sang even 30 years ago. Let's see how this tour is going to be," said Carreras, during a meeting with the press Thursday in central Seoul.
"Sooner or later I will retire and this is probably the right time to end the world tour. I will sing for another two to two-and-a-half years and then it will be time to retire. I'm already melancholic thinking about retirement."
But as is the nature of life, he is prepared to meet his retirement and, until then, sing as long and as much as he can.
"That's the law of life. The day must arrive. That's why I'm pleased and honored to still sing for another couple of years and visit places that I've been singing my entire career. That doesn't mean I won't be performing after retirement. I'll still be appearing on stages," he said, smiling.
"Yesterday in an interview, Placido Domingo said he will sing ‘until God gives him enough voice.’ I think that's a good answer."
Born in Barcelona, Spain, Carreras debuted in 1970 performing as a counterpart to soprano Montserrat Caballe. The following year he won first place at the prestigious Voci Verdiane competition and four years after his debut at the age of 28, he had already performed 24 main roles in operas. In 1987, however, he was hit by leukemia but recovered completely by the following year. After his recovery from the disease in 1988, he built the Jose Carreras International Leukaemia Foundation to which he plans to devote his time after retirement. He has released 160 albums in his career including 50 operas _ total sales amount to 85 million.
"I consider myself fortunate because over the past 20 years, I cancelled only three or four concerts. I regret that I had to cancel one here in Seoul due to a heavy cold three years ago but don't feel responsible for it," said Carreras.
"It is a matter of how disciplined I am but also a matter of luck."
The repertoire for his Seoul concert this time include "T'estimo," "Je te Veux," "The Impossible Dream" from the musical Man of La Mancha, "Serenata Sincera," and "Passione" to name a few. He will be also singing a duet with soprano Salome Jicia. Conductor David Gimenez will be leading the Korean Symphony Orchestra.
"I've been singing for 47 years as of today. I'm already nostalgic thinking about the day I will retire. But it has to be a happy day, not a sad day," said Carreras.
When asked whether the Korean audience will be able to meet him again, he said, "Honestly, I hope so."
Before coming to Seoul, he performed in Russia, Germany, China, Japan, Ukraine, Hungary and Australia as part of the final tour, and has Austria, Turkey, Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Chile coming up after Seoul.
Carreras' performance will be held at the Seoul Arts Center tonight at 8 p.m. For more information call (02) 580-1300.