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Who is Placido Domingo? / CLASSIC fM

The internationally renowned tenor is performing at the Red Square Gala Concert in Moscow on Wednesday in the run-up to the World Cup. Here's everything you need to know about Plácido Domingo.

A Spanish conductor and one of the most popular operatic tenors of his time, Domingo was born on 21 January 1941 in Madrid, Spain, Domingo moved to Mexico with his family when he was eight. He studied piano and conducting at the National Conservatory of Music, but focused more on singing when his vocal talent became clear.

In 1961 when he was 20 years old, the tenor made his operatic debut in Mexico City. In 1965, he made his debut at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City, and in 1968 he performed at La Scala in Milan. Throughout his long career, Domingo has performed more than 120 different opera roles, including Otello and Cavaradossi in Puccini's Tosca. He continued to learn new roles well into his 60s, but began to focus on baritone roles in his 70s. In 1993, Domingo founded the competition ‘Operalia' to discover great young opera singers. In 2013, the competition was won by the young Russian soprano Aida Garifullina, who will perform at the 2018 World Cup opening ceremony with popstar Robbie Williams.

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