Plácido Domingo achieved an unprecedented feat last week when he performed his 150th role. On 23 August the Spanish tenor-turned-baritone took to the stage as Zurga in Bizet’s Les Pêcheurs de perles for the first time.
For comparison, Renée Fleming has sung around 55 roles, while fellow Three Tenors member José Carreras has managed just over 60.
Domingo’s performance came 54 years, seven months and two days after his Les Pêcheurs de perles debut. Back in 1964 he sang the role of Nadir at the Israeli Opera House.
For his 2018 stint as Zurga, Domingo appeared with Javier Camarena (Nadir) and Aida Garifullina (Leïla). Riccardo Minasi conducted the Vienna Philharmonia Chorus and Mozarteum Orchestra Salzburg.
After his debut Domingo sang the role again on 26 August. A recording of the first performance was broadcast on ORF Radio Ö1 on 25 August.