Placido Domingo

Every time I see Domingo (which is quite a few times over the last 25 years), I think it’ll be the last but somehow the now 66-year old keeps going. He was in good voice last night as Siegmund at Covent Garden in another  knock-out performance of Die Walkure.  He was joined by Susan Bullock as Brunnhilde (Lisa Gasteen being off with a bad cold) who was flown in from France at lunchtime.  It’s extraordinary how opera singers do that – give a terrific performance in an unknown production with virtually no rehearsal.  I have some insight into how you do that, having done some "original Shakespeare" practise in the past (where you learn your part and go on stage without having rehearsed with your fellow actors) but it’s incredibly impressive when a singer can do it with stuff of this magnitude. 

If this isn’t the last we’ve seen of Domingo, it has to be the last chance to see him sing this role in the UK (well,Sunday will be when he sings his second and final performance).  He is extraordinary but it has to end eventually and this is surely the final time for London audiences.

Comments

[Matt]

Domingo is truly special! I have been lucky enough to see all of his London Siegmunds, but last night's performance as part of Ring 3 at ROH was sadly the weakest from a vocal perspective. His rather insecure and recalcitrant wig, which took flight in the fury of the opening storm, was symptomatic of troubles below. A cold in the offing perhaps. There were glorious moments of burnished and intense tone, the annunciation of death was as chilling as ever I remember it, but Act 1 was hard work and pales beside the Proms performance of only 2 years ago. His commitment to the drama was never in doubt and I was one of the many who stood at the final curtain. Tomlinson is truly special too!

[SimonT]

That's a shame. I've only heard Domingo sound off once - in a Boheme years ago - and each time I've seen him sing Siegmund (three times including the Prom), he was great.