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'BORDER' PATROLMAN With concert at Coors, Plácido Domingo raises funds to help solve immigration problem
August 8, 2004
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"You see in the news how people have died of asphyxiation or frozen in refrigerators in the back of trucks trying to cross the border. This shouldn't be happening." – Plácido Domingo |
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Despite perhaps being the busiest man in opera, Plácido Domingo has a big sense of humor. After all, the Spanish singer was raised in Mexico, a country known for making fun of public figures. And Domingo, whose name in Spanish literally means "Placid Sunday," is one of those names with which Mexicans can really get creative. Here's a joke that has made the rounds: Question: What's the name of Plácido Domingo's brother? Answer: Manic Monday. Domingo laughs. The singer hasn't heard that one in a while. It's about 3 a.m. and Domingo's just finished a performance in Vienna, Austria. As often happens after an energizing show, the adrenaline keeps him awake. "That's a good one," he says about the joke. "But do you know what comes before Plácido Domingo"? he asks, countering with his own one-liner. "Holy Saturday." Domingo will attempt to make this Thursday as holy as possible when he performs at Coors Amphitheatre with the San Diego Symphony in a concert called "Meeting at the Border." The eclectic program includes a mix of arias, orchestral selections, Spanish zarzuelas, Mexican songs and popular tunes from such Broadway shows as "West Side Story." But the concert's title doesn't tell the whole story behind the performance, which features maestro Eugene Kohn and Puerto Rican soprano Ana María Martínez. "Meeting at the Border" is in fact a concert to raise money for academic research on the contentious issue of immigration, one of the oldest and most complex problems affecting Mexico and the United States. Funds from the concert will benefit the prestigious Mexico City-based Universidad Iberoamericana, which is working on establishing ties between the two countries to study the issue and lobby for legislation. "Immigration is a problem that is out of control," said Domingo with a gentle, tired voice, his mind traveling across the miles back to the problems he left behind. "It's an issue very important to resolve. You see in the news how people have died of asphyxiation or frozen in refrigerators in the back of trucks trying to cross the border. This shouldn't be happening." Domingo is careful when he talks about the subject, which can be a divisive political and social issue. Yet, he remains firm that immigration is something that needs to be resolved, regardless of political views. "I agree that everything should have an order," he says. "But it's very clear that there are many Mexicans that come to the U.S. to do jobs that citizens here don't want to do. There should be some kind of control that can prevent people from dying this way." The university sponsoring the concert plans to dive into the subject on Wednesday when its Tijuana campus hosts a daylong workshop featuring speakers and government officials from both sides of the border. Aside from the panels, the university is working on setting up a joint graduate immigration program with Washington, D.C.'s Georgetown University, which like Iberoamericana, is Catholic. The goal is to produce professionals that can study the problem and offer solutions.
Mexican roots The charming 64-year-old Grammy-winning singer has kept in touch with his Mexican roots, even as he spends most of his time traveling and managing both the Los Angeles Opera and the Washington National Opera. He also recently opened Pampano Taquería, a Mexican taco shop restaurant in New York. And it's his close relationship with Mexico that led the superstar to work with the university. He teamed also with Universidad Iberoamericana to help victims of the devastating 1985 Mexico City earthquake. Domingo lost several relatives in that tragedy but won the hearts of millions of Mexicans when he canceled a series of shows and flew to Mexico City to join in the search for survivors, help purchase equipment and provide leadership. TV news cameras often captured Domingo with a face mask, boots and gloves as he removed debris from collapsed buildings. He later dedicated a year of performances to raise funds for the victims. "He was and still is a very generous man," said Enrique González Torres, a Jesuit who worked with Domingo on several reconstruction projects in Mexico City and who until a few weeks ago was the university's president. "He helped to bring the world's attention to the victims of the quake and we hope this concert will bring awareness to the issue of immigration," said Torres.
Sensitive issue Helping raise funds for the victims of a natural disaster is one thing. Getting involved in a politically sensitive issue such as immigration is another. Singer Linda Ronstadt learned that the hard way when she got booed off the stage in Las Vegas after dedicating a song to controversial political filmmaker Michael Moore (in San Diego, many in attendance at her concert angrily walked out). The incident sparked a national debate about the role of entertainers when it comes to expressing personal opinions. Many fans argue that they don't want to hear about political issues at live performances. This issue, says Domingo, is different. "I want to help a cause without getting into politics," he said. "The truth is that I'm in a privileged position as an entertainer and I want to offer a show that makes people happy and makes them forget about their problems. "I don't want to use that to impose my beliefs, but I do believe that you can help a cause, politics aside. After all, I do have my own opinions."
Placido
Domingo, accompanied by Ana
Triple role These days Domingo has plenty of manic Mondays. His triple role of singer, conductor and administrator – and owner of a New York taco shop – makes him one of the world's most successful and powerful artists. Since the singer took over the Los Angeles Opera about five years ago, the company's budget has doubled to $48 million and the number of performances continues to climb. This year, the company is featuring more than 100 shows. Domingo is also the man behind the annual youth opera competition, Operalia, which promotes the development of young singers. In fact, Martínez, the soprano who will sing with him on Thursday, won a Zarzuela prize at the 1995 competition held in Madrid. This year, the six-day event will be in Los Angeles starting Aug. 23. Domingo himself has a few awards of which to boast. In 2002, he received France's Legion of Honor, which is rarely given to non-French citizens, and he an Honorary Knight of the British Empire. In the United States, he received the Medal of Freedom. His biggest joy, however, comes from helping others. Since 1985, the singer has raised millions of dollars for numerous causes, from AIDS to the victims of natural disasters, and now immigration. "It's one thing for people to tell you about a problem or to call you and tell you over the phone," he said about doing charitable concerts. "It's another to see yourself involved, to see it with your own eyes." Hiram Soto: (619) 293-2027; hiram.soto@uniontrib.com |
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Meeting at the border
