PLACIDO DOMINGO – KING OF THE OPERA WORLD

He has to be the busiest man in the world, but Placido Domingo never forgets his Latin heritage.  When Alicia Garcia Clark approached him 18 years ago to support the Hispanics for the Opera – his answer was: ¨”What can I do to help?”

    Today Latinos comprise more than 11% of the L.A. Opera’s audience, and the annual Hispanics for the Opera Awards dinner is one of the most spectacular events in town.

Chaired by President, Dolores Elena Richardson, more than 275 guests attended the dinner where Placido presented an award to Peruvian tenor, Juan Diego Florez, who had just performed the role of Count Almaviva, and L.A. Opera Chairman, Marc Stern,  CEO of the TCW Asset Management Firm.

Domingo hailed Florez as his heir apparent, and since Domingo has always been his idol, this certainly made his day. The production of The Barber of Seville was light and engaging, and the singing, spectacular.  Joyce DiDonato, who made her company debut as Rosina,  showed she not only has a full rich voice, but her acting chops are hard to top.

We are an opera-fanatic, because there is no other medium that combines beautiful voices, superb acting, and fabulous stage settings. All this, and Placido Domingo as the General  Director of the Los Angeles Opera  - who could ask for anything more!

Some of the Diplomats, Celebs, and VIP’s  feasting on Roasted Tenderloin of Beef, followed by rich pumpkin cheesecake, included Frank Baxter, Former Ambassador to Uruguay,  The Honorable and Mrs. Julio Balbuena, Consul General of Peru,  Carol and Warner Henry, Carlos and Haydee Mollura, and  Cybil Shepard, who was seated at our table, along with her escort.

We were there with our camera crew from KNBSTV – Channel 10, and I had the opportunity to interview Domingo in English, and my  Producer, Tony Lewis, followed suit in Spanish.

Alicia Clark who is Chair of the Hispancis for the Opera, is a great supporter of Mexican composer, Daniel Catan, who has written the opera Il Postino (The Postman).  Based upon the Italian hit film, the world premiere will be held on September  23rd, and will open  the Los Angeles Opera Season.    Domingo will star in this new production, and we know it will be a major success.

If you would like to receive information about Hispanics for Los Angeles Opera activities, their newsletters and invitations for their social and opera events, send your information to: balticed@aol.com.