A night to cherish

The kingdom was treated to a night at the opera by legendary Spanish tenor Plácido Domingo, serving as one of the major parts of the Ministry of Culture’s Manama Capital of Arab Culture 2012 programme of events.

As the audience were seated in the outdoor garden at the Bahrain National Museum, that was transformed into an open-air arena, they took in the bracing sea air and waited for the performance to begin on a starry night with the new National Theatre serving as a beautiful backdrop.

The concert opened with a dramatic performance from the Baden-Baden Philharmonic, which introduced the audience to the charismatic and energetic conductor Jordi Bernacer. The long overture set the tone of what was to follow … and in walked Domingo, welcomed by rapturous applause.

Domingo, now a sprightly 71, sang with passion and theatrical energy all evening, remaining strong with no sign of a strained bar or unsteady note despite the chilly environment.

And, to compliment his show, sopranos Micaela Oeste and Angel Blue joined him on stage wearing princess-esque blue and yellow lavish gowns that not only shone through the Arabian starry-night lit background of the stage but also reinforced the theatrical acts that followed.

Despite the weather conditions with a light drizzle and strong winds, the whole experience was truly incredible, even for those new to opera.

Domingo is known for his strong voice, possessing a ringing and dramatic tone throughout its range and the audience was treated to a show fully exploiting his versatility.

The concert took a turn when it switched into English vocals and the audience was soon singing along to well-known songs. I Could Have Danced All Night from My Fair Lady powered by Blue with a killer last note and Over the Rainbow from The Wizard of Oz sang by Oeste, plastered a smile across many a face and brought back warm memories of happy childhoods.
 
Although it was accompanied by ludicrous hand gestures and risible dance moves from the singers, it somehow had me wanting to do the same alongside them.

However, the happy and romantic songs took a tragic and darker turn throughout the second half of the show, with Domingo and Oeste singing a beautiful harmonised ode to West Side Story’s Tonight.

Domingo’s pain in his vocals was apparent through the tone, power and sincerity when he performed. It was all moodily successful and suited the orchestra’s affectionately strong and propulsive performance.

And the final performance by Domingo was a symphony by the sea. He provided mesmerising intensity throughout the song and had everyone on their feet by the end. What a way to close the show … a truly memorable night.

This artist is a master of his art and at the very top of his game.
– May Al Mousawi