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The concert began with a rousing rendition of the overture to Richard Wagner's Die Meistersinger. It was played on stage by the Los Angeles Opera Orchestra led by Music Director James Conlon who brought out every nuance and coloration of the piece.

Domingo first appeared to sing the less well known but innately moving aria 'O souverain, ô juge, ô père' from Jules Massenet's Le Cid. Patricia Racette followed him with a butter smooth rendition of 'Laltra notte in fondo al mare' from Arrigo Boito's Mefistofele. The tenor returned to sing the evocative 'Lamento di Federico' from Francesco Cilea's L'Arlesiana, and the soprano countered with Tosca's poignant 'Vissi d'arte'.

Plácido Domingo and Patricia Racette. Photo © 2008 Robert Millard
Plácido Domingo and Patricia Racette. Photo © 2008 Robert Millard

Going from the more lyrical French and Italian composers to the heart of the German repertory, Domingo produced a vocally opulent, robust 'Winterstürme', the tenor monologue from Richard Wagner's Die Walküre. One might have wished it to be followed by 'Du bist der Lenz', but this was a varied program designed to cater to many different tastes in music. The first half of the concert ended with a rhythmically alert reading of the overture to Giuseppe Verdi's La forza del destino and the Act I finale of his Otello, which was exquisitely rendered by the two soloists.

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Copyright © 27 April 2008 Maria Nockin, Arazona USA

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