“It is a real pleasure for me to visit Riga and Latvia for the first time in my life, which is also very long artistically – I am 65 years on stage, so – it is never too late. And I am happy that now I have come as the founder of the “Operalia” competition, but
I hope someday I’ll come here as a singer too. There is no other European country from which so many famous and recognized musicians come from than Latvia. I have performed with many of them.
You can be proud of names like Aleksandrs Antonenko, Elīna Garanča, Marina Rebeka, Kristīne Opolais, Egils Siliņš, Andris Nelsons “, said the master in a conversation with Latvijas Radio 3” Klasika “, when asked about his first impressions when arrived in Riga and collaboration with our best so far for singers and conductors.
Placido Domingo and Marina Rebeca in a production of La Traviata by Giuseppe Verdi at the Paris National Opera
Photo: Emilie Brouchon / National Opera of Paris
Looking at the list in which places and countries the “Operalia” competition was held, it can be seen that it is held for the first time in the Baltic States. “Operalia” should also choose the venue where the competition will be held this year, similar to the Olympic Games, and with which venues did Riga compete?
“The venues of the” Operalia “competition are always special. And Latvia is special because of the number of famous and recognized artists from this country, so I thought this was a very good reason why this competition was finally held in Riga, and today – This is happening for the first time in the Baltic states.
I believe that following these artists, who are currently among the elite of world opera art, will also come the next generation of successful and talented artists; I believe that Riga will have the opportunity to feed future generations of artists as well, “said Domingo.
Placido Domingo and the winners of the “Operalia 2022” competition.
Photo: Aivars Liepiņš
Asked which of the stages gave him the most inspiration, the Maestro says: “It is very difficult to answer this question, having performed on so many opera stages in 65 years. There are already these big four: the Metropolitan Opera of New York, the Staatsoper in Vienna, the opera “La Scala” in Milan and the Covent Garden Opera in London. Of course, these are special houses and performing there is also special. I have special memories of Los Angeles in the United States, where I have founded an opera company – it wasn’t there before. But I’d say every country has potential. The more I travel, the more I feel, the more I truly believe future stars can be born from every opera house, and we’ll see again this week. ” .
When asked if a different jury is chosen for each competition and if there is an “Operalia” jury circle, the master replies: “The jury’s trust in us is very high, because about 70% of the representatives of the jury worked in this competition. for many years. Some of them have been competing since its founding, although the jury is also integrated and changed – people from new opera houses are coming who are interested in collaborating with us. The jury includes non opera houses. only from Europe, but from all over the world, their artistic directors, directors, specialists in the selection of soloists and artistic consultants, thus giving the opportunity to the rising stars – these young talents – to immediately obtain the first engagements, the first contracts, to develop their careers. This is where they are seen and build their careers further. “
The jury of this year’s competition includes the director of the Dutch National Opera in Amsterdam, Placido Domingo’s wife, Marta Domingo, who is the executive director of this competition. Also Artistic Consultant of the Metropolitan Opera, Strategic Director of the Washington National Opera, Artistic Director of the Berlin State Opera, Casting Director at the Royal Opera House in London, Creative Director of the Vienna State Opera, Chief Artistic Director of the Opera of Santa Fe, Consultants for the Munich Opera, Dallas, as well as the Chief Artistic Coordinator for the Buenos Aires Opera, the direction of the Vienna opera “An der Wien”, as well as representatives of the new singer project in the Salzburg operas and Chicago.
“Operalia 2022” jury.
Photo: Aivars Liepiņš
When asked if he remembers his first competition and what advice he could give to new competitors, Plácido Domingo laughs and jokingly reveals: “I’ve never participated in any competition in my life, because if I did, I would definitely lose …”
But thinking about advice for the competitors, she wants each of the participants to take the competition seriously and responsibly, expressing particular sympathy and specific support for the female competitors, because it is more difficult for them to build a career: “If we remember first times – Maria Callas and other divas had no family, the stage was their vocation, mission and fulfillment, but today, when young artists are also mothers, traveling with children and performing in these conditions requires much more patience, much more strength, so I especially wish these women all the best. ”
But speaking of the success factor in the opera career, Plácido Domingo says that, of course, luck is of great importance: “For example, the performance of Aida could not take place at the Latvian National Opera, because not only the performer of the role of Radames of the first cast, but Radames of the second cast also fell ill. Think how lucky it would be if one of the soloists of the quarter-finals of Operalia had this role in the repertoire and could make his debut! It would not be luck, and not would shape their careers for the future? “
In this regard, the Maestro recounts the case in which he himself had come to a recital in Vienna, and when it happened, the telephone of the Vienna State Opera rang and it was heard that the singer Giuseppe di Stefano, who he was supposed to sing in the performance of “Mask Ball” that evening, he was suddenly ill. .
“During the audition I was asked the question: are you ready to debut here in Vienna tonight in this role? Unfortunately the role in question was not in my repertoire, so I could not take full advantage of this luck factor, but luck can decide how play in your favor “.
When asked if he had heard of Latvia for the first time in 2006, when the young singer Maija Kovalevska won the “Operalia” competition, Plácido Domingo replies in the affirmative:
“It actually happened in 2006 when Maija Kovalevska became one of the winners of the Operalia competition. Maybe that was when I first heard the word Latvia and paid more attention to it.
But later, following the progress of the young and emerging, I saw the name Latvia repeated, and really, it never ceases to amaze me: as I have said so many times, wonderful and talented musicians have grown up in this country. Later, Maija Kovalevska and I performed together several times, both in performances of the opera “Simons Bocanegra” and in the Opera Metropole, where she played the role of Mimi in the opera “Bohemia”. We have had such performances several times after the competition. “
From left: LR Minister of Culture Nauris Puntulis, Placido Domingo and LNO Director Egils Siliņš
Photo: Agnese Zeltiņa
Finally, when asked what role he could or would like to sing on the stage of the Latvian National Opera, Plácido Domingo says: “At the moment I don’t sing many roles and I don’t participate in many operas, mainly they are” Simons Bokanegra “,” Traviata “and also” Nabucco “. So I think one of the roles of these three works could be heard on the stage of the Latvian National Opera in my performance. But I could also sing a concert here – and that would be great!”
