Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Placido Domingo on PBS SoCal March 9

“SoCaL Insider with Rick Reiff” takes an up-close-and-personal look at one of the finest and most influential singing actors in the history of opera, when it airs an exclusive interview with the world-renowned Plácido Domingo on Friday, March 9, at 7:30 p.m. on PBS SoCaL. The episode also will be available online at www.pbssocal.org and will feature several extra minutes not included in the broadcast version.



A 12-time Grammy® Award winner, Domingo has sung 138 different roles, more than any other tenor in the annals of music, with more than 3500 career performances. He also is working as a conductor and a major force as an opera administrator in his role as general director of the Los Angeles Opera.



In this all-new episode of “SoCaL Insider,” Domingo sits down with Reiff for a wide-ranging interview to discuss many subjects, including his legendary rivalry with Luciano Pavarotti, the prospects of his morphing from the widely acknowledged greatest living tenor into a baritone, and his contract with L.A. Opera. He also reveals what he thinks of the current crop of tenors, and shares his thoughts on the future of opera, how long he will continue to perform, and even some observations on the Lakers and his favorite player, fellow Spaniard Pau Gasol.



In 2009 Domingo added the title baritone role of Simon Boccanegra to his repertoire, with performances at the Met, La Scala, Covent Garden and in Madrid and Berlin. In 2010, his appearances included Pablo Neruda in the world premiere of Daniel Catán's Il Postino in Los Angeles (filmed for subsequent telecast and DVD release. During the 2011-12 season, he is conducting Roméo et Juliette and just concluded singing the title role in Simon Boccanegra with L.A. Opera. Upcoming performances also include Neptune in The Enchanted Island at the Metropolitan Opera, where he also will conduct Madama Butterfly.



In his exclusive interview with PBS SoCaL, Domingo commented on his future as a tenor and baritone: “I know I am not a baritone but, you know, you never know,” says Domingo, a native of Madrid, Spain who turned 71 in January. “I am singing now baritone parts. I might become one. Every day I feel the voice is going deeper and deeper.”



Domingo also said he would be interested in discussing a possible contract extension for his general director role with L.A. Opera after his contract expires at the end of 2013. He said he expects to sit down again to talk contract at the end of this season. “We are talking now about two years every time,” says Domingo. “It’s good for the board and it’s good for me.”

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