Domingo moved by his SiGMA Central Europe performance in Rome: “An incredible emotion”
It was a full house at the Auditorium via della Conciliazione this evening, with delegates eager to catch a once-in-a-lifetime glimpse of Placido Domingo in action. Powered by REDCORE, SiGMA’s private concert brought together three-tenor star Domingo and Pretty Yende, a South African soprano who is known especially for her performance at the 2023 coronation of the UK’s King Charles III, for a two-act compilation of popular pieces from Verdi, Giordano, Gounod, Puccini, Sorozábal, and Lehár.
Guests were greeted with an elegant prosecco reception before heading in to take their seats. The Fountain of Youth Orchestra, which is, as its name suggests, composed of outstanding young musicians under the age of 30, opened with Bellini’s Norma under the direction of conductor Marcello Rota.
Domingo then performed the dramatic baritone aria from the third act of Giordano’s opera Andrea Chénier – Nemico della patria, which loosely translates as Enemy of the fatherland. The opera itself is loosely based on the life of French poet André Chénier, who was executed during the French Revolution. Pretty Yende followed with a joyful rendition of Mercè, dilette amiche (Thank you, beloved friends), a soprano aria from the final act of Giuseppe Verdi’s opera, I vespri siciliani.
Next up is Verdi’s Macbeth. Domingo sings Perfidi! – Pietà, rispetto, amore (Traitors! Pity, respect, love. It is a beautiful performance, sung with the gravitas the piece requires – unsurprising considering that he started his career as a baritone and converted to tenor later.
Rounding off the first act, Yende is back with the waltz song Je viex vivre (I want to live) from Gounod’s Romeo and Juliette.
Puccini’s Manon Lescaut brings on the intermission. Next up, La Traviata with Plácido Domingo and Pretty Yende singing D’ Alfredo il padre (Of Alfred, the father).
On to the second act, and it’s a nautical romance with La tabenera del puerto (The port’s tavernkeeper), a zarzuela from Pablo Sorozábal. Plácido Domingo sings No puede ser (It just can’t be). Pretty Yende follows with Me llaman la primarosa (They call me the most beautiful) from Raúl Giménez’s Ideale.
An orchestral rendition of Amarcord Nino Rota delivers something a little more theatrical. The album is a tribute to composer Nino Rota and contains adaptations of his compositions for Federico Fellini films.
Domingo is then back with Dein ist mein ganzes Herz (You are my heart’s delight) from Das land des Lacheins (The land of smiles), followed by Vilja-Lied from Die lustige Witwe (The merry widow) – both by Franz Lehár. Pretty Yende then sang Lippen schweigen (Lips are silent) from Die lustige Witwe (The Merry Widow).
The evening moved on to a lighter note with Mambo from West Side Story before Domingo and Yende came together to sing the balcony scene.
Elegantly sung, O mio babbino caro was full of emotional depth, touching the audience. Meanwhile, Granada and Besame mucho proved popular with the audience. Non ti scordae di me brought things to a close – and the audience to their feet.
Speaking to Antonino Colapinto from SiGMA’s news team, Domingo remarked that “it was incredible emotion, an incredible audience and a great performance” and that he hoped to return.
