Distinguished artist Plácido Domingo set to receive UCLA's highest honor, the UCLA Medal.
Plaídico Domingo Honoured at UCLA, Renowned Opera Legend's Legacy Recognised
Plaídico Domingo, the acclaimed operatic tenor and baritone, is set to receive UCLA's highest honour, the UCLA Medal, on November 12. This prestigious award is bestowed upon individuals who have achieved academic and professional acclaim and whose work embodies the university's highest ideals.
Domingo's association with UCLA extends beyond the award ceremony. He served as an adjunct professor, leading choral and orchestral master classes, and has been instrumental in nurturing young talent. His dedication to fostering the careers of up-and-coming performers is evident in his roles as the founder of the Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Program at the Washington National Opera, the Domingo-Colburn-Stein Young Artist Program at the LA Opera, and the Centre de Perfeccionament Plaídico Domingo in Valencia, Spain.
The UCLA Medal ceremony will be followed by an 80-minute master class with Domingo, two students from UCLA's voice and opera program, and two singers from the Domingo-Colburn-Stein program. Judith Smith, dean of the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music, praised Domingo's commitment to nurturing talent and providing opportunities for young performers.
Domingo's involvement with LA Opera spans over three decades. He joined the artistic administration in 1984, serving as artistic consultant from 1984 to 2000 and as artistic director from 2001 to 2003. In 2003, he was appointed as the General Director, a position he held until 2011. During this time, he played a significant role in shaping the company’s artistic direction and expanding its repertoire.
Before his tenure at LA Opera, Domingo was the artistic director of the Washington Opera from 1996 to 2011, demonstrating his administrative experience in major American opera institutions.
Domingo's performance history is unparalleled. Renowned as one of the most versatile and prolific operatic tenors and baritones, he has sung over 150 different roles in more than 3,900 performances in the world's greatest opera houses. His American debut was in 1961 singing Arturo in "Lucia di Lammermoor" with the Dallas Civic Opera. He made his mark in Los Angeles in 1967 with a performance in a New York City Opera touring production of "Don Rodrigo" at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion.
Notable artists like Joyce DiDonato, Rolando Villazón, Erwin Schrott, and Isabel Bayrakdarian have been helped by Domingo's Operalia voice competition, which he has organised since 1993 to promote young singers.
However, following allegations of sexual misconduct in 2019, Domingo left both the Metropolitan Opera and the LA Opera, withdrawing from upcoming performances in the U.S.
The UCLA Medal ceremony for Plaídico Domingo will be held at 3 p.m. on November 12 in UCLA's Schoenberg Hall. The event is free and open to the public, but advance reservations are required. This ceremony is a testament to Domingo's significant contributions to the world of opera and his enduring legacy.
Education and self-development at UCLA was significantly influenced by Plaídico Domingo's presence, as he served as an adjunct professor and led master classes, fostering young talent. Meanwhile, entertainment and learning took a musical turn with Domingo's involvement, as he nurtured up-and-coming performers through various programs and competitions such as the Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Program and the Operalia voice competition.
