## Shining at the Latvian Opera Domingo is a luminary of world opera, who has captivated the entire world, with a creative career spanning over sixty years! He is well-known to the general public, primarily due to the concerts of the Three Tenors (Luciano Pavarotti, José Carreras, Plácido Domingo), which thrilled the planet in the 1980s and 90s. It should be noted that the still-living Carreras has performed in Latvia three times. Unfortunately, the genius Luciano, who has already passed away, did not make it to us. But the 85-year-old Plácido is in Latvia for the second time! Plácido first visited us about four years ago, from October 24 to 30, 2022, when he held his famous Operalia competition on the stage of the Latvian National Opera. He received a call with the proposal to hold this vocal competition in Latvia a year prior. The Latvian Ministry of Culture took the initiative and approached the then-director of the theater, the world-renowned baritone Egils Silins. And it all happened! The great Domingo lived in the Latvian capital for over a week and interacted with journalists. However, he did not sing. Instead, he conducted the final gala concert of the competition at the Opera, which is already a historical fact. At that time, Domingo mentioned that he could return as a vocalist, suggesting to sing the role of Giorgio Germont in Verdi's "La Traviata." But the stars did not align (and finances were clearly an issue too!) - inviting the great tenor costs a lot of money. Now it has all come together thanks to opera singer Kristine Opolais. ## From Rezekne to New York and Vienna Kristine was born in 1979 in Rezekne. After graduating from the Latvian Academy of Music, she started in the choir of the Latvian Opera and became a soloist in 2003. She married the then-principal conductor of our opera, Andris Nelsons, with whom she moved to the West, where she built a global career. In 2006, she performed the role of Tosca at the Berlin State Opera, which opened the doors to the major stages of the world. She performs at the Metropolitan Opera (New York), La Scala (Milan), Covent Garden (London), and the Vienna and Bavarian State Operas. ## Agreed 10 Years Ago Initially, it was planned that on Wednesday, July 29, she would have her solo concert at "Dzintari" - together with Michael Fabiano, which already ensured a full house. Fabiano is a well-known American tenor, 42 years old. He regularly performs at the Metropolitan Opera, La Scala, the Royal Opera Covent Garden, the Paris Opera, and other major theaters around the world. But just three months before the concert, it became known that Domingo would join them! The cheapest tickets at 90 euros were sold out a month ago, and by the time the concert started, there were still a couple available for 520 euros in the front rows. And a miracle happened! Kristine shared that she spoke with Plácido about coming to Latvia as a singer back in 2016 when she was singing in Puccini's "Madama Butterfly" at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, and Domingo, along with his wife Marta, attended the performance. Kristine was then invited to a family dinner. After that, Kristine first performed with Domingo at the Metropolitan Opera in Puccini's "Il Trittico." And again, there was a family dinner, during which the great tenor said, "We need to sing a concert in Latvia, in your country!" In 2019, there was a concert with Kristine and Plácido in Kyiv - at the stadium! After another dinner, the maestro expressed his desire to come to Latvia! "I understood that it was not easy: the maestro has a very heavy schedule - he performs not only as a singer but also as a conductor. A year ago, we met in Hanoi, Vietnam, and I was invited to dinner again. I sat next to him, and he said to me again: 'Kristinette, I want to sing with you in Latvia!' ## Despite the Third '40 Years' And so, Plácido flew to Riga as part of his European tour - a day and a half before the concert. He came to the Congress House, where Kristine and Michael were already rehearsing the concert with the orchestra conducted by Ukrainian maestro Vladimir Urupin. Applause erupted as Plácido embraced Kristine. Then he took the stage and sang "Nemico della patria," an aria from the opera by Italian composer Umberto Giordano "Andrea Chénier." It is impressive - not only his charisma and artistry but also how the maestro has managed to preserve his great voice at such an advanced age. Domingo then performed several more pieces, but he was already conserving his voice in places (and rightly so!) for the concert in Jurmala. In the concert, Michael Fabiano was there to support Kristine, with whom she had a significant debut - she sang the grand final duet from "Andrea Chénier" for the first time. With Domingo, she performed a grand duet from Verdi's opera "Il Trovatore." Kristine also sang the mermaid's aria from Dvořák's opera of the same name - one of her signature roles. Additionally, she performed arias from the operettas "The Merry Widow" and "The Land of Smiles" by Lehár. In 1990, in what was then the Soviet Union, Plácido Domingo's autobiography "My First Forty Years" was published. The classic signed this book for "Today." And when asked if there would be a continuation - "My Second Forty Years," Domingo answered affirmatively. But the most interesting thing is that the great tenor is already in his third forty years! Bravo!