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Meeting at the border
UIA Foundation
presents
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A magical, masterful night Domingo deftly raises money for a cause By Valerie
Scher August 14, 2004 When tenor Placido Domingo stood on the stage of Chula Vista's Coors Amphitheatre and sang "Some Enchanted Evening, "the romantic ballad from the musical "South Pacific," he made it seem as if the evening really was enchanted. Domingo has that power, that magic.
Placido
Domingo, accompanied by Ana
After decades of performances – he made his San Diego Opera debut back in 1966, at age 25 – Domingo still has a dashing charisma and a voice with remarkable luster, flexibility and allure. Call him the ultra-tenor. He not only sings, but conducts and serves as the boss of both Los Angeles Opera and Washington National Opera, all of which helps explain his busy schedule. Thursday's concert was his first local appearance since his 1997 performance at downtown's Civic Theatre, presented by San Diego Opera. This time, he was joined by soprano Ana Maria Martinez, the San Diego Symphony, and guest conductor Eugene Kohn for a program titled "Meeting at the Border." With tickets costing as much as $1,008.85, the event was a benefit for the Mexico City-based Universidad Iberoamericana to study the immigration issue and, according to the program booklet, "come up with new ways of thinking and alternative ways to manage this complex social phenomenon." Though the topic is volatile, Domingo didn't fan the flames of controversy. Unlike Linda Ronstadt, who caused a furor in concerts last month by praising "Fahrenheit 9/11" filmmaker Michael Moore, Domingo didn't make any incendiary comments. And whatever the individual viewpoints of the approximately 6,200 audience members at Coors, they were united in their enthusiasm for Domingo. "It's an honor and privilege to hear him," said San Bernardino resident Robin Cochran, 61, a board member of that city's Sinfonia Mexicana, which promotes symphonic Mexican music. "My mom and dad love his music, so I have heard his recordings since I was a little boy," said Rodolfo Ortiz, 33, of Chula Vista, who was pleased to be attending his first Domingo concert. The program, which lasted 2½ hours including intermission and encores, featured assorted songs, arias and duets (many of them sung in Spanish), plus orchestra selections that ranged from Saint-Saëns' "Bacchanal" to the overture to Bernstein's "Candide." Though Kohn's utilitarian conducting had more to do with efficiency than inspiration, and the electronic amplification was less than ideal, the orchestra played well and supplied sturdy accompaniment to the singers. Soprano Martinez had a smile as beguiling as her gown and a voice that was unfailingly pretty, if not particularly expressive. While too dignified to convey the giddy abandon of "I Could Have Danced All Night," she excelled in the coloratura passages of Rossini's "Una voce poco fa" and was an appealing duet partner for Domingo.
With a concert at Coors,
Placido Domingo raises The Spanish tenor, who grew up in Mexico City, had a slightly wider vibrato than in years past. Yet his voice was undeniably attractive, with a bright upper range and burnished lower register. Domingo's command of his repertoire was evident in everything from an excerpt from Verdi's "Otello" to the song "Granada," which was a cheer-inciting encore. During the lilting excerpt from Lehar's "The Merry Widow," Domingo even invited the audience to join in. Few did. It was far better to leave the performing to a master. Valerie Scher: (619) 293-1038; valerie.scher@uniontrib.com |
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