7 Plácido Domingo 7imposing physical stature, good looks, and remarkable
dramatic ability, was one of the most popular tenors of
his time.
Domingo’s parents were noted performers in zarzuela,
a form of Spanish light opera. The family moved to Mexico
when he was eight. He studied piano and conducting at
the National Conservatory of Music, but he changed his
emphasis when his rich vocal ability was revealed. In 1961
he made his operatic debut in Mexico City and then went
to Dallas to perform in its opera company. From 1962 to
1965 he was a resident performer at Tel Aviv’s Hebrew
National Opera. He made his debut at the New York City
Opera in 1965, at the Metropolitan Opera House in New
York City in 1968 (subsequently becoming a regular per-
former there), and at La Scala in Milan in 1969. Over the
course of an opera career that lasted more than 45 years,
Domingo sang an unprecedented number of different
roles—more than 120—and he continued to learn new
parts into his 60s.
A prolific and versatile performer, Domingo made
numerous recordings and several film versions of operas,
and he ventured into popular music as well. With Luciano
Pavarotti and José Carreras, he performed around the
world as one of the “Three Tenors,” exposing millions of
people to the operatic repertoire. He received 11 Grammy
Awards in several categories, as well as a Kennedy Center
Honor (2000), the U.S. Medal of Freedom (2002), and an
honorary British knighthood (2002), among many other
honours. In 2009 he was awarded the first Birgit Nilsson
Prize for outstanding achievement in classical music.
From 1996 he was artistic director, then from 2001
general director, of the Washington (D.C.) Opera, and
from 2000 he was general director of the Los Angeles
Opera. Domingo also conducted major symphony and