Two of Three Tenors in town
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Opera singer and conductor Placido Domingo smiles during a press conference in Seoul, Friday. / Korea Times photo
By Kwon Ji-youn
With two of the renowned Three Tenors in Seoul this weekend, audiences may find themselves split for choice when deciding which performance to indulge in ― Placido Domingo’s and Jose Carreras’. To this, Domingo, who will perform on Sunday at Seoul Olympic Park’s Gymnastics Stadium, assured audiences that this only proves the country’s love for classical music.
“This goes to how high cultural standards are in Korea, which is why it was possible Carreras and me arrive in Seoul on the same day,” the 73-year-old said during a press conference at the Lotte Hotel World in southern Seoul.
“This shows Korea's great love for music and proves how much they care about making sure their children dedicate their lives to music.
“It’s a beautiful coincidence, and I’m sorry we cannot stand on the same stage. I wish him great success, and I hope today or tomorrow we can meet.”
Carreras will perform at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, Saturday and Sunday.
“Performing on the same day as Domingo will be enjoyable,” Carreras said. “Korean fans are known to have a depth of knowledge about classical music so I believe that it is possible for them to request that we both perform here at the same time. It’s been four years since I last visited Korea. I will do my best to put on a superb performance.”
Jose Carreras
The tenor will perform alongside young soprano Park So-young, a quarter-finalist at Operalia, the World Opera Competition, founded by Domingo himself.
“You should be very proud of your country and your singers,” Domingo said. “Korea has given birth to some superb singers like baritone Yang Tae-joong, tenor Kim Woo-kyung and Park.”
Domingo also gave hints as to what performances will unfold at the concert Sunday.
“I don’t like to give away too much of the details, but the first half will be filled with operatic performances, like arias and duets,” he said. “But there is a need to please the public, so the second half will include other genres like musicals.”
The audience will be able to hear Domingo perform as a baritone, though he began a tenor.
“I had a very long career as a tenor, and when I was approaching the year that I thought I would retire, I dreamed of doing a role that I really love, which is Simon Boccanegra,” he said when asked why he switched to baritone. “Recently, I decided not only to do Simon Boccanegra, but to continue singing in other roles. Particularly in Verdi, I love the role of father over daughter or son. These are some of the best melodies, but as a tenor, I cannot take on these roles, so I decided to try baritone. Then I will have a combination in my concert.”
Domingo, now as active as a conductor, made his Spanish operatic debut in 1961 _ as a leading role, no less. Following a U.S. debut later that year, he jostled his way onto the Metropolitan Opera stage in Francesco Cilea’s “Adriana Lecouvreur.” He followed with a debut at the Salzburg Festival, a prominent music and drama fiesta, among an all-star cast.
In 1981, Domingo made a name for himself outside of opera, with his duet with folk singer John Denver, “Perhaps Love.”
Through the 1990s, his prominence held the fort, and even surged after the nine-time Grammy winner performed alongside Carreras and Luciano Pavarotti on the eve of the 1990 FIFA World Cup final in Rome. The three subsequently became known as the Three Tenors and they went on to perform at 35 concerts together, including benefits and a world tour from 1996 through 1997.
Pavarotti died in Sept. 2007 from pancreatic cancer.
Domingo, after undergoing several surgical procedures himself, went from tenor to baritone in 2009 to put his deepened voice to better use. He also served as director for the Washington National Opera and the Los Angeles Opera, widening his scope of work to include conducting.
“If I rest, I rust,” he would say to those who worried he was taking on too much.