By Jae-Ha Kim
Tribune Media Services
October 9, 2012
Opera star Placido Domingo, 71, was born in Spain. At the age of eight, he traveled to Mexico, where he studied piano and conducting at Mexico City’s Conservatory of Music. Since then, his repertoire includes more than 140 stage roles, 100 recordings and multiple television appearances. For his work, he has won an Emmy and 13 Grammys.
The general director of the Los Angeles Opera and the Washington National Opera, Domingo earned new fans when he teamed up with Jose Carreras and Luciano Pavarotti to become the Three Tenors. He currently is promoting his latest CD, “Songs,” which features collaborations with artists such as Josh Groban, Chris Botti and Harry Connick Jr. Sung in four different languages, the album also includes a poignant rendition of “What a Wonderful World,” which he performs with his son, Placido Domingo Jr. For more information, go to his website.
Q. What was the first trip you took as a child?
A. The first major trip was leaving Spain, with my sister and our aunt, to travel by ship to Mexico, where my parents had set up their own zarzuela company. That was in December 1948 and January 1949, just before my eighth birthday.
Q. What is your favorite vacation destination?
A. In this case, it’s easy for me to choose a favorite: Acapulco. I’ve gradually built and expanded a home there where my wife Marta and I, our sons and grandchildren, my sister’s family, my sister-in-law’s family and often many friends, too, can gather together at holiday times and enjoy each other’s company in the warm climate of Mexico’s Pacific Coast.
Q. In what city did you have your most memorable concert?
A. I’m often asked about favorite this or most memorable that. In a career that is now more than 50 years long, there have been so many memorable concerts and opera performances that it would be impossible for me to choose one above any of the others. Usually, the most recent performance seems the most memorable one, especially if it went particularly well.
Q. What do you do when you feel traveled out?
A. I travel so much for work that I admit that when I don’t have to travel, I sometimes prefer to stay where I am. But after a while, I’m ready to get out there again.
Q. What are your favorite cities?
A. Of course, I have a special love for Madrid, my hometown. But apart from that, I enjoy being almost everywhere that my work takes me, whether it’s New York or Los Angeles, Tokyo or Beijing, London or Paris, Milan or Vienna — all over the world!
Q. Where have you traveled to that most reminded you of home?
A. My home is everywhere!
Q. When you go away, what are some of your must-have items?
A. Apart from clothes and other basics, I always travel with the printed music that I am studying, either for singing or for conducting.
Q. What would be your dream trip?
A. Going in a bus with the entire family on the highway to visit all the beautiful cities of Spain and Italy.
Q. When you’re on tour, who’s the most difficult to impress?
A. Children never know who I am. Anywhere in the world, I enjoy seeing little children, because they are completely unimpressed with celebrity. It’s very refreshing. I think that all famous people should spend time with children. It gives a sense of proportion.
Q. What is the worst part of a vacation?
A. I only remember our vacations as great ones. A worst part? The bad thing is that they are always too short.
© 2012 JAE-HA KIM
DISTRIBUTED BY TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES, INC.
