Generous star

“Plácido bought me plane tickets to the USA”

At the after-show party: Plácido Domingo with his wife Marta, Cecilia Bartoli and Artistic Director Markus Hinterhäuser (from right to left).(Bild: SF / Marco Borrelli)

Plácido Domingo always had the next generation at heart. They in turn thanked him with a gala at the festival.

"Plácido Domingo bought me plane tickets to New York at the beginning of my career so that I could go to auditions there. Without him and his generous help, my career would not have been possible," says tenor Rolando Villazón. On Monday evening, he thanked his supporter and idol with a special serenade (Rodrigue's aria "Ô souverain, ô juge, ô père" from Le Cid) at the "50 Years of Domingo in Salzburg" gala in the Grosses Festspielhaus.

Erwin Schrott described Plácido Domingo as his "beacon". He said he had significantly influenced his professional career.(Bild: SF / Marco Borrelli)

In addition to Villazón, other high-caliber artists were also on stage and recalled anecdotes with world star Domingo. Erwin Schrott even described the native Spaniard as the "beacon" of his career. Domingo inspired him and gave him courage, especially in the early days of his career. More pioneers like Domingo are needed, he said.

Opera star Plácido Domingo surrounded by Erwin Schrott, Cecilia Bartoli, Rolando Villazón, Sonya Yoncheva, Elena Stikhina, Dmitry Korchak , Aida Garifullina, Bekhzod Davronov and René Barbera during the final applause.(Bild: © Marco Borrelli)

It was hardly possible to get any more applause from the audience. Minutes of thunderous applause, standing ovations and the warm embraces of the singers did not leave even the seasoned stage star Plácido Domingo cold.

The gala in the Grosses Festspielhaus on Monday evening marked the end of this year's Whitsun Festival.