Placidone Shocker, Part II: Domingo To Retire From Singing In January, 2011

Placido Domingo, doing much better -- thankfully -- after a scary bout with cancer -- told Jessica Duchen in The Independent that he plans to retire from singing in January, 2011:

"I just don't want to go further than I should. I suppose there's a certain limit: I don't want to be 70 and still singing opera. I don't think I will still be singing on 21 January 2011, which is my 70th birthday."

Oh, and Opera Chic got namechecked in the story:

Presenting this Ring, Domingo took a risk, aimed high and, many would say, shot straight. In public, he has kept relatively quiet about it – except when he was singing its Siegmund, that is. The ever-popular blogger Opera Chic nailed the issue, commenting: "This is one of the reasons why Placido Domingo is still around after all these years – he wrote the playbook on how to behave in public as a celebrity. Most politicians aren't nearly that skillful."

Comments

[C'est Moi]

Um, hello, he's singing Iphigenies at both the Met and Washington way past January 21st.

[Piccola Nelly]

Opera without Domingo? I never imagined to see this day, he seemed eternal. Like opera.

[olivia]

Kinda cute he's saying he'll be 70 in 2011. Most speculate he has shaved at least a few years off his official age. God bless the man, though. Amazing if he'll actually go through with retirement. Maybe there are some health considerations coming into play now.

[Kevin Edmund Youkilis 4MVP]

> Um, hello, he's singing Iphigenies at both
> the Met and Washington way past January 21st.

Um, hello, he has cancer.

[qui]

Has any tenor in opera history had such a career? I can't believe he man's capacity to undertake so many roles in Italian, German, French, Russian and Spanish. He must have at least 200 operas under his belt, which is without parallel. He started out in 1961 singing Edgardo opposite Lily Pons (!), and continues to sing today. His musical IQ must jump through the ceiling. He's gone through three generations of sopranos.

[El Cajon]

"I don't think I will be singing..." is not the same as "I will not be singing". As long as Domingo's health permits, he will continue to perform and for now I believe PD will stop singing in early 2011 about as much as I believe Obama won't seek reelection in 2012.

What PD may do is cut back on his schedule. Most of the world isn't waiting with bated breath for those Iphigenies, so if were to give up these engagements, it might be a good move.

Again, his health is the determining factor. And if Domingo doesn't feel like continuing the grind, no one is going is going to dis' him for this.

[Bruno]

Oh nooooooo
Than I have to go after him!! I need to hear him just once!! :O
Scandalous

[Bill Philin-Ploplis]

Maybe he will just retire from the opera stage to devote himself to recitals. He can, perhaps, traverse all the lieder of Schubert and Schumann with a good pianist. (A few Spanish encores.) That could take him to cent'anni.

[Lily]

You seem to have taken a fairly random comment as a definite announcement. Where's the evidence that PD intends to retire by January 21?

[vale]

Prayers have been answered!
Is it possible he's gotten wind of something about his LA and/or DC jobs and he's gathering himself up for God only knows what next?
He's so false... all that smiling and soft talking.
Aren't grandparents supposd to enjoy their grandchildren and great grandchldren?
We shall see...

[franco]

Maybe he alreday does not know his schedule. Three early biographies state that he was born on january 15th 1934 and not january 21st 1941. Anyway please do stop also conducting and directing. There are still restaurants to open and bazars and maybe Katherine Jenkins needs some 'advice'.

[Natarinka]

Seems strange. Not only because of the Iphigenies at the Met, WNO and Madrid (Januari 2011), but also because of the announced "Il Postino" in Paris (July 2011), Tamerlano at the Liceu and Boccanegra at the Vienna State Opera in September 2011. Natarinka

[Meg]

Those who love Placido shouldn't worry. He'll still be around to conduct. Fundraisers, galas, crossover, etc., he's still one of the most viable conducting "personalities" that's out there. So we'll miss his voice, but we always have those great recordings.

[deadtenors]

Hope his health is okay. Peaceful Sunday has given me much joy over the years.

[ChrstineLinke]

Maybe people should read the whole article before publishing something wrong!
It's clearly stated that he talked about his retirement at 70 two years ago...when it still seemed far away.
I don't understand why people want to know retirement dates of artists. They depend on the artistic, in this case vocal abilities, if we talk about Domingo as a singer. He'll be around as a conductor after finishing his singing career, so opera won't be without him!
He can still sing so he'll continue...as long as his voice allows him to do so! In bocca al lupo Maestro!!!

[Gianni]

A bad conducter, a bad director and a meanwhile mediocre singer should know when to resign. Domingo destroys his own monument if he does not stop. Pleaso do.

[flamant]

Does this mean that he will miss the Iphigénie HD from the Met?

[Fantomas]

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!! I was hoping that he'll some time visit my country!! What a pitty, he's my most favourite opera singer ever... ajajajajajajajjajajajajajaj..... On the other hand I can understand that he wants to have a rest in his life.... but it's sooooooooooooooo pitty.......

[Finess]

Too late already. He should have retired a few years ago.

[Marshie]

About time! He won't be missed, not by me. Best music industry news I've heard in a long long long while. Music to my ears. Me thinks this opens up a world of opportunity for the man to focus solely on his restaurants, chopping onions and the like. Now, if only we could convince Renee Fleming to switch careers to TV variety-show hostess before she finishes off her own artistic self immolation. Some say it's a done deal.

[richie]

Sorry to say. But Placidone is already a little ridiculous. What about starting a career as gondoliere in Venice?

[qui]

I can't believe some of these postings. Placido Domingo was NOT born in 1934! He was born in 1941. I recently read a review of his Edgardo in "Lucia" in Fort Worth in 1961 with Lily Pons. It said, "the incredibly youthful 20 year old tenor looked like Lucia's grandson, and Miss Pons did herself no favor by appearing opposite such a tenor just out of his teens".

Moreover, I'd hardly call any tenor who's accomplished what he's accomplished as "mediocre". Want a definition of "mediocre? Try Kurt Baum, Johan Bohta, Anson Austin, etc.

I personally feel that Domingo should retire from singing, and has waited perhaps a few years late, but so did Joan Sutherland, Renata Tebaldi, Luciano Pavarotti , Montserrat Caballe, and many others. The smart ones were Marilyn Horne, Franco Corelli, Nicolai Gedda, Alfredo Krauss, and a few others. Most singers sing too long, but when they have critics and fans cheering them on, they continue.

I find it unbelievable that Placido's voice has held up so well for so long. His repertoire reads like an encyclopedia of opera.

[Bill Philin-Ploplis]

I wonder if a telenovela could be created around a world-famous opera singer and the intrigues of his personal and professional life. Telemundo calling!

[olivia]

Hey I'm a fan of Domingo, as people have already said one has to respect such a career - and I am not saying he's perfect or that I agree with all of his activities, but just because an article stated his supposed age way back when does not establish it as truth. In fact, whenever ages are mentioned in reviews or articles about singers it almost always makes me wonder. There are many singers whose ages sort of shift around as the years go by, also, even if they have taken great pains to shave off 5-10 years when they are first being noticed and written about. It's funny, and pointless, in my opinion.

I care about the condition and quality of the voice and certainly the quality of the artistry. I could care less whether a singer is young or old - or looks younger or older - as long as there is some semblance of believability (and that's a very relative concept in the world of opera). I do not care about a singer's face, or body, or hair, or weight, or fashion sense (or lack thereof).

I heartily agree that Placido Domingo can not rationally be characterized as mediocre (except as a conductor), whatever gripes one has about him. His career has been nothing short of impressive, to say the very least.

[Lily]

I only hope Domingo does not embarrass himself too much by dragging his feet about retiring. Critics have been especially soft on him lately, and that's the truth, because when a singer reaches his status the usual critical ruler gets thrown out.

There is an element of wonder in seeing even the dregs of a great talent, and there are moments of sheer joy when he still soars. But wait a minute, that's what galas and concerts are for, right? Placido, time to hang it up and move on to the next stage.

[Ricky]

Maybe one should not treat too seriously a quote from an interview that took place in April 2006 (when Domingo sang Cyrano in London). This quote was then reused by Ms. Duchen for her June 2010 article prior to Domingo's return to Covent Garden as Simon Boccanegra. Based on Domingo's other recent interviews, his recently published plans for appearances after 21 January 2010 etc. one can safely assume that Domingo has changed his mind.

[Lindsay]

Well, like many of you I am not going to believe his retirement until he says, without equivocation, "I am retiring." But this Rigoletto thing is interesting. I saw his Boccanegra on the Met HD broadcast (sadly not in person) and while I didn't 100% love it, it intrigued me. For him to sing Rigoletto at his advanced age (whatever it may be) and of course after years as a tenor would be a huge achievement. I am glad to hear that he is not completely committed. I hope that he will end his career with the dignity that he has shown throughout.

That being said, what is it about the Internet and opera fans to bring out the worst in people? Good god, with all this cattiness, one would think we were all in 4th grade!

[Ashton]

Enjoyed all the comments. RE: Fort Worth, just because the review says he is 20 it doesn't make him 20 at that time!!! I think he is older. He had been singing for several years in Mexico and it is very hard to fathom that a 20 year old would have the voice and stamina for Edgardo. Again the reviewer could write what he wants but it doesn't make it the truth! :-)

[Constantine A. Papas]

With all respect and love for Domingo, his Simon B., was a travesty to feed his ego. The HD was the worst telcast of the season. Domingo sang all the correct note as a tenor lacking the gravitas of a Verdi baritone. MaCneil and Milnes, hello!

[A]

I can recall "my" beloved Pavarotti saying the same thing about retirement at 70 years old almost word for word. I hope that his retirement turns out better than LuPa's.

[Mr Anonymous]

Get out of the show NOW Mr Placid Sunday! Give chance to others! Don't be so greedy man!