| I, in all truth must say that I rarely have a favorite in | | | | On that night in Central Park I would also be dazzled |
| anything. As I tend to for the most part admire many | | | | by Domingo's acting ability which seemed to give so |
| people in certain fields; as is the case when the | | | | much life to the character of Mario Caravadossi; as if |
| subject is composers of opera and classical music. | | | | the role were being performed by an actor of the |
| This holding specially true in this area as I am equally a | | | | quality of John Gielgud. Domingo being one who did |
| fan of Wagner, Verdi, Puccini, Beethoven and Mozart | | | | more than merely sing the notes required of the part |
| along with several others yet if it concerns opera | | | | but made one feel as if one were observing a true |
| tenors; I must declare that my favorite of all time is | | | | drama on stage. For me it was this performance back |
| Placido Domingo. This being without any room for | | | | in 86 that led me to become a fan of Domingo; after |
| doubt as it is his strong tenor voice along with its | | | | which I started closely following his career. This being |
| harmonies and melodies that my ear seeks out | | | | not only of the singer who has performed more roles |
| whenever listening to the many roles he has | | | | than any other in the history of opera, ranging from |
| performed through out the years. | | | | Wagner to Verdi to Richard Strauss to Rossini but as |
| As for my relationship with opera, it in all truth started | | | | an interpreter of other kinds of music that include Latin |
| back in 1980 when I heard Pavarotti sing for the first | | | | American songs along with Mexican rancheras; as well |
| time and was truly impressed not only with his voice | | | | as Zarzuela. I was even once surprised at how |
| but that of the opera tenor. It being tenors who lent so | | | | Domingo, being a tenor took the baritone role of |
| much drama and passion to those roles they | | | | "Figaro" in Rossini's "The Barber Of Seville". It being his |
| performed such as Othello or Mario Cavaradossi or | | | | versatility that allows him to go beyond one realm of |
| Siegfried which truly required a voice of their not only | | | | music in to so many other kinds which in my opinion |
| strength but depth. Regarding Placido Domingo | | | | along with that of many others make him the great |
| however it was not till 1986 that I would be fortunate | | | | performer he is. |
| enough to hear him sing live; this being when he | | | | I, however despite being a huge opera fan and author |
| performed the opera "Tosca" in a free concert in | | | | of a book which mentions Placido Domingo have yet |
| Central Park. | | | | to meet the great maestro in person, though it was in |
| It was not that I had not heard this opera before yet | | | | 2006 while on a visit to Warsaw that he and I found |
| there was something new (at least for me) in | | | | ourselves at the same opera house (Teatr Wielki) for |
| Domingo's performance and voice that almost | | | | a performance of Puccini's "La Boheme". It being with |
| immediately caught my attention as being superb. As | | | | great enthusiasm that he was announced as a guest |
| his voice more than had the power required to rank | | | | though unfortunately not a performer. As for myself |
| him among such opera greats as Pavarotti, Caruso, Di | | | | however I would refrain from introducing myself; not |
| Stefano and several others; yet there was something | | | | wishing to distract Domingo from "La Boheme" yet I |
| else in his voice which my ear distinguished from any | | | | am hopeful that one day ours might be to converse. |
| other singer. This "something" being that which at the | | | | In conclusion I would say that though I enjoy many |
| time I could not classify in words yet could definitely | | | | opera singers such as Pavarotti, Carreras, Jerusalem |
| feel, as he performed arias such as "E Lucevan Le | | | | and some of today's newer talents that include |
| Stelle" and "Reondita Armonia" in a way that almost | | | | Rolando Villazon and Roberto Alagna; it is my ear that |
| made them his; it being the same as what Pavarotti | | | | favors Domingo's particular voice over the rest. This of |
| had done with "Nessun Dorma". As for this distinction in | | | | course being a preference of mine, for I feel that on a |
| Domingo's voice, it was not till much later that I noticed | | | | certain level it is not so much a matter of who be |
| what it was that separated his singing in my ear and | | | | better but who one prefers; this also being the case |
| that being how his voice is one which I would describe | | | | when deciding between Verdi and Wagner or |
| as honey coming out of a jar; thick while not streaking | | | | Beethoven and Mozart. |
| like other tenors tend to. | | | | |