Spanish tenor Plácido Domingo has pulled out of his Royal Opera House appearances next month to undergo ‘preventive surgery’. The 69-year-old singer recently complained of abdominal pain and, after returning to New York for a check-up, was advised to have the surgery.
Domingo, who made his debut as a baritone in a production of Verdi’s Simon Boccanegra at the State Opera in Berlin last October, was due to sing the tenor role of Bajazet in Handel’s Tamerlano at Covent Garden this March. The singer is due to sing a mixture of baritone and tenor roles over the upcoming season.
‘After surgery they [the doctors] will have a better idea when Plácido Domingo will return to his performing schedule,’ says his spokesperson Nancy Seltzer. ‘It is hoped that it will be in about six weeks.’
The US tenor Kurt Streit, who was already due to sing Bajazet in two of the Handel performances is to step into Domingo’s shoes for the entire run. The Royal Opera House is to offer all ticket holders a 20% credit note ‘in recognition of the withdrawal of such an exceptional artist in a rarely-performed opera.’