Placido Domingo to open new convention center in Zacatecas, Mexico

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One ‘Ring’ is apparently not enough for Plácido Domingo. On Saturday, the busy tenor, who also serves as general manager of Los Angeles Opera, will open in Los Angeles Opera’s production of ‘Die Walkure’ -- the second opera in Wagner’s ‘Ring’ cycle -- at Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. And on April 28, he will jaunt to New York City to appear in with the Metropolitan Opera in Otto Schenck’s landmark production of ‘Die Walkure.’

But between ‘Rings,’ Domingo will detour to the city of Zacatecas, capital of the Mexican state of Zacatecas, to give a concert to open the new, state-of-the-art Palacio De Convenciones convention center on April 22, performing with soprano Virginia Tola and the Orquesta Filarmonica de Zacatecas, directed by Israel Gursky. It will be the singer’s first performance in the city in 19 years.

This explains why Amelia Garcia Medina, governor of the state of Zacatecas, showed up on the Music Center plaza Wednesday afternoon to chat with Domingo in advance of a ‘Walkure’ dress rehearsal, along with other invited guests, including members of the Opera Guild support group. ‘For me, it is very impressive to be at the rehearsal, it is the first time I have been at a rehearsal,’ Medina said.

Born in Madrid to parents who were zarzuela performers, Domingo, 68, moved to Mexico City with his family at age 8 and studied at Mexico City’s Conservatory of Music. ‘Mexico is my home,’ Domingo said before dashing into the rehearsal. Responding to a question on recent news stories about danger to tourists in Mexico, Domingo said: ‘Life is funny, too, but people need to go and enjoy events and everything.’

Medina said that residents of all parts of Mexico are special friends of Domingo because the tenor came to Mexico City and rolled up his sleeves after the devastating 8.1 earthquake hit the city in 1985. ‘He had some relatives in the heart of Mexico City ... he could have just given money, but even though it was maybe difficult for his throat, with the dust, he worked to save people.’ She added that there is an orphanage named after Domingo in Zacatecas.

An image of the new convention center appears below:

-- Diane Haithman