Great Performances

Placido Domingo: My Favorite Roles

Placido Domingo is not only one of the most popular and celebrated tenors of his generation, but his international career has also led him to his dual directorships of the Washington National Opera and the Los Angeles Opera. In this performance documentary, Domingo looks back and reflects on his favorite roles from opera houses around the world. The story of Domingo's roots in Spain is interwoven with his famous performance as Don Jose in "Carmen" at the Vienna Staatsoper. His memories about his childhood in Mexico inform his acclaimed performance of "El Gato Montes" from the LA Opera. We see him in some of his earliest roles singing "cielo e mar" from "Gioconda" in Madrid, as well as his debut in "Ernani" at Milan's La Scala. Other highlights: from the Metropolitan Opera, his striking performance in Verdi's "Luisa Miller;" excerpts from the Emmy-winning "Tosca" from Rome; and Domingo's star turns in "Simon Boccanegra," "Les Contes D'Hoffmann," "Samson et Dalilah," "I Pagliacci" in Zefirelli's film (La Scala) and his enduring signature role in Verdi's "Otello."