After 27 years, Plácido Domingo meets with his followers in Colombia: “It is the first time that I am before such an affectionate audience”

It was a different concert from the one he gave in Bogotá before more than 40,000 spectators in 1996. This time it was a more intimate presentation in which he was accompanied by 80 musicians from the Medellín Philharmonic Orchestra to perform opera, zarzuela, boleros and popular music.

On a night in which it was praised by powerful voices, the lyrical group Montecarlo was a great appetizer in a kind of tribute on the eve of the Mother’s Day celebration, which was held under the baton of the American pianist and conductor Eugene Kohn, on a trip that gained momentum when he entered Placido Domingo to the stage singing “Romanza de Germán”.

Uruguayan soprano María José Siri appeared in a dazzling red dress to sing “Carceleras” and perform a duet with one of the survivors of “Los Tres Tenores”, in the interpretation of “Ten pena de mis dolores”, a sublime passage from her presentation in Colombia after almost three decades.

The 82-year-old lyrical singer lived a pleasant moment with the warmth of his followers, after a turbulent time due to the sexual accusations that have been made against him for years and that were revived by a report on the “Salvados” program of La Sixth.

With his stage presence and a well-constructed show, he conquered the audience. The appearance of the Colombian baritone Valeriano Lanchas moved the attendees and then led them to surrender before Domingo’s greeting.

“It is the first time that I am before such an affectionate audience on this stage”, said the Madrid-born tenor in front of 14,000 spectators, who did not forget to congratulate the mothers on their day, whom he praised with a serenade at the end.

The evening at the Coliseo Cubierto de Envigado continued to the rhythm of the verses of “Pueblito Viejo” and “Espumas”, emblematic Colombian songs that the two lyrical singers sang as a duet to provoke an ovation and applause before the break.

The show grew in an atmosphere of sophistication that was well nuanced by Plácido Domingo JR with boleros like “Sabor a mí” and “Adoro”, a theme he sang as a duet with his father, who had already toured songs like “Mi Aldea” and “El Gato Montés”, again with Siri.

Plácido, who sang several solo pieces for the public to enjoy, received a flowery tribute from the Medellín silleteros, and reciprocated with a vibrant closing well supported by the artists with whom he alternated until reaching the peak moment.

In that part, a group of mariachis appeared to interpret “Granada” and “Bésame Mucho” along with the three singers he chose for the reunion with the Colombian public with whom he completely connected in the middle of the celebration for the mothers, who ended for giving them a serenade to their style and to show off their prodigious voice even more.

The curtain was lowered by that very Mexican segment that showed the Spanish tenor moved by the lyrics and wearing a blue charro suit to be cheered by the audience that to the rhythm of “El Rey” put the finishing touch on the dazzling return to Colombia of one of the great voices of world opera.

WITH INFORMATION FROM EFE.