What is Plácido Domingo’s Net Worth?

Plácido Domingo, the Spanish tenor and conductor, has a net worth of $300 million. He has recorded over 100 operas and performed in more than 150 roles in various languages, including Italian, French, English, Russian, German, and Spanish. Domingo has also released successful crossover pop albums. He has served as the general director of the Los Angeles Opera and the Washington National Opera.

Early Life and Education

Plácido Domingo was born in Madrid, Spain in 1941 and moved to Mexico with his family when he was eight years old. His parents were singers who established a zarzuela company in Mexico. At a young age, Domingo won a boys’ singing contest and went on to study piano. He later entered the National Conservatory of Music in Mexico at the age of 14.

Early Career of Plácido Domingo

At 16, Domingo made his first professional appearance alongside his mother in Mérida. He went on to sing tenor roles in productions like “Luisa Fernanda” and “El Gato Montés.” In 1959, he auditioned for the Mexico National Opera and sang the role of Borsa in Verdi’s “Rigoletto” in his debut. He later performed in other operas like “Dialogues of the Carmelites,” “Turandot,” and “Otello,” for which he is best known.

Plácido Domingo’s Operatic Career

Plácido Domingo made his operatic debut in 1961, performing the leading role in “La Traviata” in Monterrey. He later made his US debut with the Dallas Civic Opera, singing the role of Arturo in “Lucia di Lammermoor.” Domingo went on to perform with prestigious institutions such as the Vienna State Opera, the Lyric Opera of Chicago, the San Francisco Opera, Covent Garden, and the Salzburg Festival.

In 1975, Domingo debuted in the titular role in Verdi’s “Otello” at the Hamburg State Opera, which quickly became his signature role.

Plácido Domingo’s Rise to Fame in the 80s

Plácido Domingo gained widespread recognition for his duet of “Perhaps Love” with John Denver and released many pop music albums. He earned a Grammy nomination for Best Latin Pop Performance and won a Grammy for his collection of Ernesto Lecuona songs. Domingo appeared in several opera films, including “La Traviata,” “Carmen,” and “Otello.” He also made many television appearances, including the Emmy Award-winning holiday special “The Sound of Christmas” alongside Julie Andrews.

Plácido Domingo’s Expanding Repertoire

Plácido Domingo has continued to add new roles to his repertoire since the 90s, expanding beyond the standard French and Italian ones and increasing his involvement in Wagnerian operas. He debuted in a Mozart opera, “Idomeneo,” for the first time in more than three decades and appeared in works such as “Stiffelio,” “Il Guarany,” “Hérodiade,” and “Le Prophète.”

In the 2000s, Domingo sang his last performances of many of his most famous roles, including in the operas “Andrea Chénier,” “Otello,” “Fedora,” and “Pagliacci.” He also created a number of new roles in modern operas, such as the titular role in Tan Dun’s “The First Emperor” and Pablo Neruda in “Il Postino.”

Later in the 00s, Domingo began taking on demanding baritone roles, such as the titular role in Verdi’s “Simon Boccanegra.” He went on to perform in other baritone roles in “Rigoletto,” “Thaïs,” “I due Foscari,” “Giovanna d’Arco,” “Nabucco,” and “Gianni Schicchi,” among others.

In the summer of 2018, Domingo performed at the FIFA World Cup opening gala concert in Moscow.

Artistic and General Director Roles at Opera Companies

Starting in 1996, Plácido Domingo became artistic director of the Washington National Opera, where he later became general director in 2003. In 2000, he also began serving as artistic director for the Los Angeles Opera, eventually being promoted to general director, a role he held until 2011. However, he resigned from this position following multiple allegations of sexual assault from female colleagues.

Plácido Domingo’s Personal Life

At 16, Domingo married Ana María Guerra Cué and had a son named José before their divorce a year later. He then married Marta Omelas, a lyric soprano he met at conservatory, and they have two sons named Plácido Jr. and Alvaro. Domingo owns properties in New York, Madrid, and Acapulco.

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