Placido Domingo sings Nabucco

Verdi: Nabucco

Liudmyla Monastyrska, Abigaille
Jamie Barton, Fenena
Russell Thomas, Ismaele
Placido Domingo, Nabucco
Dmitry Belosselskiy, Zaccaria

James Levine, conductor
Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus

7 January 2017,  The Metropolitan Opera New York, live cinema broadcast
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Placido Domingo as Nabucco

Placido Domingo has for some years now been taking on baritone roles after his tenor voice weakened.  Now in his 70s, the voice carries less burnished metal and heft, but Domingo's greatness has always rested on a charismatic and acting talent equal to his technical musical gifts.

He can most certainly still act and carry a stage, is quite wonderfully musical, and the voice too communicates with ease. 


Around him were more powerful, youthful voices, not least the impressive Liudmyla Monastyrska.   Though of quality they seemed a little cumbersome in comparison.  Or was that the Met Live close miking again, making almost everyone sound like a belter.

In the pit was James Levine, it would appear now wheelchair bound.  The commentary at interval stated Domingo and Levine had done over 1000 performances at the Met together.  As Levine had introduced Nabucco back into the Met's reportoire, it was a fitting choice.  The production was Met-lavish as we have come to expect, and critically the chorus was splendid throughout.  Their rendition of the famous slaves chorus more than justified its immediate repeat.