At his first concert in Bulgaria, legendary Spanish tenor Placido Domingo prompted the ecstatic applause of the audience at Arena Armeec in Sofia, and this happened repeatedly. The enthusiastic music lovers greeted him at his very first appearance on stage and after each performance. Over 11,000 people decided to become part of the long-awaited musical event. Among them were well-known musicians, intellectuals, representatives of diplomatic missions, foreigners living in the country.
Domingo was accompanied by the Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Jordi Bernacer - Spain. With solos and duets with the maestro e heard young opera singers - Micaela Oeste and Virginia Tola (replacing Blue Angel on the last day before the concert). Both have won many new fans among the Bulgarian audience. Opera, operetta, musicals, La Zarzuela and three opera overtures - skillfully sorted and graded, a total of 18 works in the program and six or seven encores. The concert included wonderful performances of arias from Andrea Chenier of Jordan, A Masked Ball, Il Trovatore, Sicilian Nights, Rigoletto by Verdi, Gianni Schicchi by Puccini. The second part included excerpts from operettas such as The Merry Widow, Land of Smiles, of the popular musical My Fair Lady, The Wizard of Oz, South Pacific... At the end of the concert the three singers performed in Bulgarian the emblematic song "My country, my Bulgaria". It was the surprise for which Placido Domingo hinted several times at his meetings with Bulgarian journalists before the concert. Micaela Oeste had even memorized the text. And at the finale, the great tenor emotionally recited the words: "My country, my Bulgaria, my beautiful country, I'll be back!" Perhaps to confirm his desire to visit this country again - this time as an opera singer with a role in one of the performances of the Sofia Opera House.
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Translated and posted by Milena Daynova Photos: archive, Philip Koutev ensemble, BTA
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