Pau Gasol says hello to Placido Domingo after Lakers beat Heat
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Three Spanish talents finished up afternoon performances Sunday and then aligned backstage at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion.
After helping the Lakers put away the Miami Heat at Staples Center, Pau Gasol headed a few miles north to catch the final act of L.A. Opera’s ‘Simon Boccanegra,’ starring Plácido Domingo.
Another Spaniard happened to be in town as well and stopped by to make it a Spanish trifecta of sorts. After conducting his third concert with the Los Angeles Philharmonic at Walt Disney Concert Hall, Pablo Heras-Casado went across the street to greet his fellow countrymen.
Gasol has spoken in the past of his appreciation of opera in general and the superstar tenor in particular. And Domingo is an avid sports fan -- he has attended Lakers games, he sang the National Anthem before a Dodgers game last season and most enthusiastically supported Spain’s World Cup champion team.
With Sunday’s performance, Domingo wrapped up a run of ‘Simon Boccanegra’ that was well-received by critics and proved to be popular with audiences. Sunday’s performance was sold out. Domingo, who is also general director of L.A. Opera, soon will be heading back to Spain, where he has singing and conducting engagements in Valencia and Madrid. He’ll be back at L.A. Opera in the fall to perform in ‘The Two Foscari,’ an early Verdi opera.
Heras-Casado returns to Los Angeles in January for several concert dates at Disney Hall.
And Gasol, of course, continues to play with the Lakers (future possible trades not withstanding).
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Music review: Pablo Heras-Casado, Martin Chalifour and L.A. Phil
Plácido Domingo celebrates with Spain’s World Cup champions
-- Sherry Stern